By Tanya Steele
The Yarra Ranges Film Society (YRFS) is including Ukrainian-made films in this year’s Mini Film Festival as a way to raise awareness and act as a fundraiser.
The festival which is held each year at The Memo in Healesville traditionally features three films which have a connecting idea represented through the storytelling style, the director or the country of origin.
This year the decision was made to screen films about Ukraine and also fundraise alongside the event for the first time.
It was something the YRFS committee felt strongly about and the focus on Ukraine is intended to both highlight awareness and support the Ukrainian community in Victoria.
Festival organiser Keith Wade said that people attending will get to experience Ukrainian stories through film and it is a chance to see something quite different on a big screen.
“It is not well known in Australia, mainly because these movies are not regularly screened in this country, that Ukraine has an excellent and thriving film production business,” Keith said.
Once the decision was made to screen films about Ukraine the YRFS initially had trouble sourcing them in Australia.
Fortunately, the group found out about a Ukrainian Film festival in Geelong late last year and were able to source films after attending it and contacting the organiser there.
Working to choose the films took a lot of research and effort from the YRFS and its committee members.
The films were carefully curated by the committee to present varied subjects such as family life, sport and history in Ukraine.
Tatiana Zachariak, Chair of The Association of Ukrainians in Victoria, will be opening the festival and Keith said the Society was honoured to have her.
The proceeds from a raffle, the afternoon tea, donations and any profits from the festival itself, will be passed on to the Association to support their work with Ukrainian refugees in Victoria.
Committee Member, Kath Gannaway, said the generosity of Healesville and other Yarra Valley businesses in supporting the fundraising, including the raffle so far, has been overwhelming.
“The generosity of this community is heart-warming,” Kath said.
“We are hoping for a sell-out festival which will not only pay tribute to Ukraine as a nation of contemporary film-makers, but maximise our fundraising efforts.”
Kath is excited to bring people a good experience at the theatre.
“Film is such a great way just to tell stories and seeing it on the big screen is the real experience,” she said.
The raffle is on display at the Healesville Bendigo Community Bank.
Tickets are available at the bank, and at the film festival.
The program commences at 10am on Sunday 26 March but advance bookings are strongly recommended.
Tickets are available through the Yarra Ranges Council’s Culturetracks website.
https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Healesville-Mini-Film-Festival-2023
or in person at The Memo Healesville and Arts Centre Warburton, or visit https://www.yarrarangesfilmsociety.org.au/film-festival.html
