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'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' Out February 10

The new Indian comedy EK MAIN AUR EKK TU opens on 10th February. Starring: Kareena Kapoor, Imran Khan, Randhir Kapoor, Boman Irani, Ram Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah Directed By: Shakun Batra Synopsis: 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' is a witty, feel-good, slice-of-life comedy....

Over The Fence Comedy Film Deadline

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Rottofest 2012: Call For Entries Now Open!

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Australia’s Silent Film Festival To Present Restored Silent Classics

Darlinghurst(NSW)

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James Cameron Loses Long Time Australian Collaborators

James Cameron Loses Long Time Australian Collaborators

Producer Andrew Wight and cinematographer Mike deGruy lose their lives in a helicopter crash.

Tropfest Finalists Announced For 2012

Fifteen filmmakers have been shortlisted for the country’s biggest short film festival...

Inaugural AACTA Award Winners Announced

'Red Dog', 'Snowtown' and 'The Slap' proved the big winners of the night.

Aussie Films at the Box Office in 2011

See how our host of local flicks fared at the box office last year...

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Response to: The Truth Is Out There. Day 9 of the Sydney Film Festival. A Daily Blog.

Kamal Fedal, Western Sahara Representative to Australia, responds to our reportage of the controversial Sydney Film Fest screening of 'Stolen'.

I’d like to draw your attention to some serious issues related to this film: concerns relating to the truth; copyrights; ethical conduct; consent and individual rights.

 

Since the screening of “Stolen” during the Sydney Film Festival on 11 June 2009, few important issues have come to light: http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/06/15/2598994.htm  


"Stolen" is seriously misleading in alleging slavery in the camps and it misuses the story of Fetim Sellami who withdrew her consent, as have most of the other Saharawis who were filmed.

 

The following are some of the main problems with “Stolen”:

 

Most of the translation Hassania (local language) into English is completely wrong.

 

Many of the scenes in the film were constructed (acted, cut and mixed to give certain false impressions…etc) so this is not a documentary.

 

The filmmakers have included in the film footage shot by an American cameraman called Carlos Gonzales without his permission. This is a breach of copyrights. The filmmakers have now been forced to delete that part of the film.

 

Saharawis involved in the film have testified that they were given money to speak: Please check: http://media.smh.com.au/entertainment/red-carpet/sahara-slavery-fiercely-denied-582354.html,

 

Screen Australia has admitted that it has no release (consent) signed or otherwise from the Saharawis involved in the documentary.

 

There is also a serious issue regarding the involvement of the Moroccan regime in the documentary and its use of the film as propaganda tool to harm the Saharawi struggle for freedom and self-determination.

 

For Australian media coverage on this controversy, Kamal has provided the following links:

The 7.30 Report: http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/06/15/2598994.htm
 
Bob Ellis article: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2598993.htm

 

http://media.smh.com.au/entertainment/red-carpet/sahara-slavery-fiercely-denied-582354.html   (watch video).

http://artneuro.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/slave-to-the-funding/
 
http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/film/sydney-film-festival-2009/protesters-step-up-campaign-to-have-slave-film-banned/2009/06/16/1244918036854.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/film/sydney-film-festival-2009/i-am-not-a-slave-says-film-subject/2009/06/11/1244664795732.html

 

Sunday 12:00 - ABC NewsRadio's 'Out of Africa' with Fiona Ellis-Jones ...

An in-depth look at African cultural, political and economic affairs, featuring news stories and extended interviews from across the continent:    Listen : http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/newsradio/audio/20090614-outofafrica.mp3