Film festival visits Thirroul and Corrimal

To celebrate the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages, a film festival featuring Indigenous voices from around the world will be held at Corrimal and Thirroul libraries next month.

The first week of the festival in July coincides with NAIDOC Week and features Australian Indigenous content, with the second week highlighting movies that tell Indigenous stories from across the world.

Wollongong City Council’s Manager Library and Community Services, Jenny Thompson, said 40 per cent of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world are in danger of disappearing.

“However, in recent years there has been an increasing awareness of the importance of preserving and reinstating First Nations languages, including here in Australia,” she said.

“Celebrating the 2019 Year of Indigenous Languages helps promote and protect Indigenous languages and cultures.”

The festival will take place from July 5 to 19 at five Wollongong City Council libraries, including Thirroul and Corrimal, with tea and cake served at each session.

There will be two film events at Thirroul on Wednesday July 10  from 2pm to 3.30pm and Friday July 17 from 2pm to 4pm.

The July 10 film features a portrait of one of Australia’s most celebrated voices, Indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – one of the most important and acclaimed voices to ever come out of Australia. Blind from birth, he found purpose and meaning through songs and music inspired by his community and country on Elcho Island in far North East Arnhem Land.

Bookings are essential for each screening and can be made at Eventbrite, or by phoning Thirroul Library on 4227 8191 and Corrimal Library on 4227 8179. Programs are also available at each of the libraries.

For details on the films to book a seat visit the Wollongong City Council website.

The festival will be launched at 10am on Friday July 5 at Wollongong Library’s The LAB and includes a screening of The Song Keepers, a documentary about the inspiring story of a Central Australian Aboriginal women’s’ choir and their first tour of Germany.