Australian film maker David Fedele generally works alone directing, producing, self-funding, filming and editing his award winning documentaries.
Fedele is particularly interested in exploring cultural, humanitarian and social justice issues.
He has films have covered such diverse interests as African migration in Morocco, e-waste in Ghana and illegal logging in Papua New Guinea.
His latest multi-award winning film The Land Between made in 2014 follows Sub-Saharan African migrants living in the mountains of Northern Morocco dreaming of entering Europe for a better life. The film premiered and was awarded “Best Feature-Length Documentary” at the FIFE International Environmental Film Festival in Paris, and has since screened widely around the world and won many other awards.
With unique and unprecedented access the film documents the everyday life and extreme hardships of these people who are prepared to risk everything, including their life, to leave their country, their family and friends, in search of a new and better life.
“I knew before I went (to Morocco), that I wanted to show people as people, that the top layer was to try and humanise the story. But I didn’t know where or how I’d shoot. Once I entered the Mountains, though, I knew I’d never seen anything like it in my life ... the conditions were so extreme and the stories I was being told were very, very powerful,” he said.
Residents have an opportunity to witness the powerful story told in The Land Between at a film night on Sunday May 7 at Blackheath Community Hall at 6.30pm. You will have an opportunity to ask questions of the filmmaker via Skype in Morocco where he is filming his next production.
Local permaculture expert Rosemary Morrow will speak about her recent experiences in the the refugee camps of Mosul in Northern Iraq, scene of very recent and intense conflict.
The evening is being presented by Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group and Upper Blue Mountains Amnesty. There will be no admission fee and supper will be available by donation.
The film has won numerous awards including Winner Best Film, Naples Human Rights Film Festival and Best Feature length documentary at the FIFE International Environmental Film Festival and best film at the Festival of Migrant Film and at the Lampeduse Festival.
