The power and passion of the northern rivers people who stood up to unconventional gas mining at Bentley is striking a chord around the world, with the documentary The Bentley Effect being named Best Documentary Feature Film in the Barcelona Planet Film Festival.
The festival is a monthly international event meant to showcase innovative, independent cinema from around the world by up-and-coming artists.
The festival hopes to be the voice and representation for films with a unique voice and message, regardless of how low the budget might be.
Each month film industry specialists watch and vote for The Best of The Festival in each category. Aiming to inspire, motivate and award new talent. All monthly winners will get Barcelona Planet Film Festival Certificate.
Filmed over five years, The Bentley Effect documents the highs and lows of the battle to keep a unique part of Australia gasfield-free
It celebrates the non-violent ‘Eureka Stockade’ of our time and chronicles one of the fastest growing social movements we have ever witnessed.
The award comes as the director of the documentary, Brendan Shoebridge, Lock the Gate coordinator Ian Gaillard and former Lismore City deputy mayor Simon Clough fundraise to take the film to the United Kingdom.
They have set up a crowd-funding campaign to raise $15,000 and have so far raised $2,650.
Mr Shoebridge said he had received numerous requests to take the documentary to the UK, where there are over 200 sites earmarked for possible fracking, including the historic Sherwood Forest.
‘We believe we have a critically important message of hope to deliver to threatened UK communities,’ he said.
‘These communities have been ground down by government support for the frackers, strong arm police tactics and a very negative political environment.
‘Not only will we be bringing a message of hope because of our successes in the northern rivers, but we also can contribute to strategic planning and non-violent direct action training. Simon and Ian have had considerable experience in both these areas.’
To donate go to his crowdfunder page.
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