MEDIA RELEASE

Springboard puts Western Sydney stories on screen

Released 5 February 2008

Information and Cultural Exchange
PO Box 4033 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia
T: +61(2) 9897 5744 / F: +61(2) 9897 5766

Western Sydney’s diverse community produces rich and fascinating stories: an Afghan girl struggles against the pressure to marry; a Sudanese migrant sees the funny side of Australian culture, a group of strangers become firm friends through the Winston Hills Cricket Team.

These are among the unique perspectives on Sydney’s west being filmed in January under the Springboard project, which will launch a swag of exciting new filmmakers.

Supported by Parramatta City Council and coordinated by Information Culture Exchange (ICE), the Granville-based community arts and technology organisation, Springboard offers free training to nine filmmakers under 25.

During the course, participants will develop skills in video production, directing, editing and post-production, using the cutting-edge facilities at ICE’s Switch Multimedia & Digital Arts Access Centre.

Trainer Kirstie Redshaw Boerst, a filmmaker with 20 years experience in film and television, says the Springboard participants are producing excellent work. ‘They’re all very interested and very talented and motivated by their ideas and now they’re being given the opportunity to put their ideas into a digital medium,’ she says.

Course participant Mina Zaki will look at the pressures on a young Afghan-Australian woman to marry. ‘I feel there is greater pressure on girls from migrant communities to get married, not to just anyone, but to someone within their own community, to find “the catch”,’ she says.

Originally from the Sudan, Abdelrahim Salih, 25, will use his film to explore the humour of the migrant experience. ‘My Film will focus on a newcomer to Australia,’ he says. ‘Through various situations, this character will reveal the humorous side of language and being misunderstood as a new Australian.’

Hasan Noor, 24 and originally from Iraq, hopes to develop his storytelling skills. ‘I would like to discover the creative and emotional side of filmmaking, how to connect with my subject and build a meaningful story,’ he says.

The course commenced on 5 January and the films will be screened in Parramatta in March.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Contact Caitlin at ICE on 02 9897 5744.