Looking After Our Country has been selected for Through My Eyes Film Festival, LA's 4th annual Indigenous short film festival.
The multi award winning short advocacy film, starring Albert Wiggan was produced in 2012 by Balangara Films for The Wilderness Society. The short, which showcases First Nations culture and heritage in the north west of Australia was initially used for one of the most incredible defences of the environment in the country’s history.
Australia’s largest oil and gas company, Woodside, along with corporate giants Shell, BP, MIMI Browse and PetroChina, proposed to build an industrial gas hub 50km north of Broome, Western Australia, at Walmadany (James Price Point).
In February 2013, environment groups came together from all over the country when 20,000 rallied in the city of Melbourne and then another 20,000 in Fremantle a week later for a ‘Kimberley Concert’. The film was part of a powerful resistance featuring some of Australia’s most respected musicians and activists, including John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins, Bob Brown and Scott Ludlam.
The people mobilised, and on April 12, 2013 the gas cartel pulled out of the James Price Point project.
The battle was won, but the war is not yet over to protect the Kimberley; one of the world’s last great wilderness areas. Today, the Kimberley community is banding together once again with threats remaining to this region of gas fracking and large scale irrigated agriculture.
Director of Looking After Our Country, Mark Pearce said:
“The Kimberley is truly like nowhere else on this Earth. It’s impossible to set foot on that country without its ancient energies going right through you. It’s one of the last great cultural landscapes left on the planet and we have a responsibility to ensure this stunning region is protected for future generations. That’s the core of what this story is about; it’s a message of true wisdom told by First Nations leader, Albert Wiggan, who passes down the knowledge of survival and self-actualisation to see what kind of future he can make for his children. This is a meaningful festival, brimming with extraordinary stories. The cast and crew are honoured to be part of a cutting-edge and courageous event to awaken beings all over the planet. It's time to listen to our First Nation leaders and the birdsong that has bestowed our beautiful lands.”
Image of Albert Wiggan and son, Zirren on the shores of the Kimberley, Western Australia.
Through My Eyes 2020 is an international and Indigenous short film festival that seeks to showcase the stories of Indigenous peoples from all over the world. It embraces stories from the land we come from and the places that our ancestors once called home.
The festival is hosted by TRIBE Project and will be held in Los Angeles, March 20-22. Program Manager, Iris Gonzalez was thrilled to welcome Albert Wiggan’s passionate story to this year’s festival.
"We had a wide array of diverse and beautifully crafted films and Looking After Our Country was no exception. It has been a privilege for us to review these films. We want to acknowledge and express deep gratitude to the cast and crew for sharing your artistic contribution with us. Moreover, we are beyond excited to share your story with our diverse audiences at this year's festival."
Looking After Our Country will be screened during the festival's Australia/New Zealand segment on March 21st.
More info here...
https://www.tribeproject7.com/
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Credits:
Featuring: Albert Wiggan, Vanessa Cox, Corbyn Wiggan, Zirren Wiggan
Writer, Director, Producer, Editor: Mark Pearce
Executive Producers: Glen Klatovsky, Maritza Schafer
Production Manager: Jessie Mawson
Cinematographers: Nick Hayward, Michael Fletcher, Christian Fletcher
Colourist: Miles Bennett
Post Sound: Michael Slater
Composers: Ian Livingston, Aaron Wheeler, Ben Wheeler, Emily Taylor, Albert Wiggan
Special thanks to: Beagle Bay Community
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land during the production of this film.