Here at Dream Engine we are always looking to the world of cinema to see what’s happening at the cutting edge of film-making, especially the documentaries. The best way to get new ideas and techniques for our video production is to be exposed to the greats of world cinema. The Melbourne International Film Festival kicks off on the 3rd of August for two weeks of high quality world cinema. The festival has been running continuously since 1952 and is highly regarded for unearthing local talent and sharing the best of world cinema. Here are a few of the documentaries we are looking forward to the most:
Blue (2017) Australia
Director: Karina Holden
Karina Holden has created a timely documentary about the rapid decline of the Great Barrier Reef and what it means for the planet. The film looks at the struggle to save the Reef through the eyes of seven scientists and activists working tirelessly to make global change. Should be an eye-opening look to the damage of one of our national treasures.
The Song Keepers (2017) Australia
Director: Naina Sen
The Song Keepers tells the uplifting story of women from the world’s oldest culture preserving some of the world’s oldest sacred songs, connecting Germany to Indigenous history in the process. The women of the Hermannsburg region of Alice Springs are trying to save the songs of their native languages, as well as the songs of the German missionaries that settled there. The film deals with cultural survival, identity and collaboration between two cultures separated by thousands of kilometres.
The Work (2017) USA
Directors: Gethin Aldous, Jairus McLeary
The Work is a gritty, confronting film about prison rehabilitation. Filmed inside the notorious Folsom Prison, the documentary follows a group of hardened criminals as they undertake an intensive four day group therapy session that helps these broken men get in touch with their emotions and getting to the root of their problems.
City of Ghosts (2017) USA
Director: Matthew Heineman
Oscar nominated director Matthew Heineman’s City of Ghosts focuses on the anonymous activists of RBBS (Raqqa Being Slaughtered Silently) and their fight to keep their city from slipping further into the hands of ISIS. Through their use of citizen journalism and filming the horrific deeds of ISIS, they are fighting the war on misinformation with knowledge.
Hope Road (2017) Australia, (Melbourne Premiere)
Director: Tom Zubrycki
Zacharia Machiek is one of Sudan’s ‘lost boys’, the child soldiers that were forced to fight in a brutal civil war. As a refugee to Australia in 2003, Machiek decided to do something for his struggling home of South Sudan, so he organised an 850km walk across New South Wales to raise money to build a school.
There are hundreds of films playing throughout the Melbourne International Film Festival, so join us to see what the best film-makers and documentarians in the world have to offer.
If you’re looking for a Melbourne based video production company, get in touch with Dream Engine today.
Ryan Spanger is one of Melbourne’s most respected and sought-after video production professionals. Ryan founded Dream Engine in 2002, and specialises in helping medium to large corporates, government departments, and the non-profit sector to connect with their audience more effectively by using video.
