Locally made film The Crossing Project has had its official launch in front of a home crowd at Roxy Gallery in Kyogle.
The film features creative responses from local writers to the many waterways and the old wooden bridges criss-crossing Bundjalung Country.
The screening event began with a Welcome to Country by Gullibal Traditional Owner Aunty Marcia Brooks, and a one-minute silence for all those ancestors who have now passed on around the regions.
Andrew Johnston, Carlie Daley, Christabel Strehle, Dusk Dundler, Jarrah Dundler, Jenny Fraser, Paul Shields, and Vince Stead are the eight writers who responded to place in the film, each with different spoken and written word approaches and each focusing on a specific site.
Highlights included Christabel Strehle’s ‘I am Water’ filmed at Bailey’s bridge, Carlie Daley’s strong woman response to the Richmond River, Gullibul elder Uncle Andrew Johnston’s musical work ‘Crossing Over’ and Jenny Fraser, from neighbouring Migunberri Yugambeh Country’s work, which was filmed at Little Round Mountain and Tamrookum, drawing on direct descendant knowledge of a massacre story delivered in spoken word.
‘They were like ghosts being dragged around by a set of tall boots,’ Ms Strehle said.
‘It was scary. Government scary.’
The Crossing Project was directed by Paul Shields who was also responsible for the original concept, with spectacular cinematography and editing by Paul Daley from A Lush Forest Media, and professional audio treatment by Chris Wesley.
A trailer of the project is available on the Kyogle Writers Festival website.
More local screenings of the completed 25 minute film are also planned for upcoming events later in 2022 and 2023, along with a tour on the film festival circuit internationally.
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