From One Love Films Bondi and Genna Chanelle Hayes comes the story of a homeless refugee who struggles to integrate into Australia society after escaping conflict in his homeland, until he meets a woman who opens her home, and ultimately heart, to him.
“AKONI” marks award-winning Australian filmmaker Genna Chanelle Hayes’ feature directorial debut and she hopes to use film as medium to raise awareness of the dire global human rights issues and institutional racism facing close to 100 million refugees globally. The labour of love, which saw Hayes produce across Australia, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Kingdom, will premiere with a series of Q&A events around the country throughout Refugee Week (19th – 25th June).
UK actor and rising star of London’s West End, Kit Esuruoso (“West Side Story,” “TINA The Musical,” “Show Boat”) takes the titular role for which he was recently nominated as “Best Actor” by the Australian Screen and Industry Network Awards, with Hayes playing alongside him in the role of “Violet”. Other actors to grace the feature include Nigerian actress Jemima Osunde (“Shuga,” “The Delivery Boy”), and Australian talent Mark Coles Smith (“Last Cab to Darwin,” “Mystery Road”), Simon Elrahi and Pippa Grandison.
Speaking about the project, Hayes explains: “When I first wrote “AKONI” in 2017, there were 67 million globally displaced. Cut to now, there are over 100 million people seeking a safe place to live. These numbers and this trajectory is not only beyond imaginable, but also exactly where we find ourselves today. What I hope for most upon the release of “AKONI” is that it encourages a more empathic and compassionate response to displaced persons globally, and contributes to the re-building of community through eliminating the idea of “other” by creating connection and understanding among us all. “
Joining Hayes to raise awareness during World Refugee Week is Alison Battisson, the Director Principal and founder of charitable law firm Human Rights for All, which is solely focused on obtaining liberty for asylum seekers, refugees and stateless people held in Australian immigration prisons.
Human Rights for All is the official charity partner of the “AKONI” national screening programme. The events’ aim is to drive fundraising to support freeing those who continue to be trapped inside of Australian detention centres, with a portion of its national screening tour also being donated to the cause.
Speaking on the film, Battisson adds: “AKONI is an important and timely film which beautifully illustrates the uncertainty refugees face in supposedly safe countries, such as Australia. The plot takes viewers on a turbulent journey filled with dread, representing the struggles that many refugees around the world are currently enduring. Films such as this build our understanding of the true reality of seeking asylum.”
To find out more about “AKONI” and to purchase tickets for upcoming screening events, head to the facebook.com/AKONIfilm.
UPCOMING “AKONI” SCREENING AND Q&A EVENTS:
Thursday 16th June:
SA – Q&A hosted by actor Stephen Tongun with the cast of “AKONI” at Wallis Mitcham, Adelaide, 6.00pm. Tickets available here
Friday 17th June:
VIC – Q&A hosted by human rights activist Alison Battisson with the cast of “AKONI” at The Classic, Elsternwick, 6.00pm. Tickets available here
Saturday 18th June:
VIC – Q&A with the cast of “AKONI” at Regent Cinemas, Ballarat 3.30pm. Tickets available here
Sunday 19th June:
VIC – Melbourne “AKONI” premiere. Q&A hosted by Aminata Conteh-Biger with the cast of “AKONI” at Cinema Nova, 3.30pm. Tickets available here
VIC – Q&A hosted by Aminata Conteh-Biger with the cast of “AKONI” at Lido Cinema, 7.00pm. Tickets available here
Monday 20th June:
NSW – Sydney “AKONI” premiere. A conversation with human rights activist, Alison Battison, former sex slave and refugee, Aminata Conteh-Biger and filmmaker, Genna Chanelle Hayes at Randwick Ritz Cinema, Sydney from 5.45pm
Tickets available here
Tuesday 21st June:
TAS – Hobart “AKONI” premiere. A Q&A with the cast of “AKONI” at The State Cinema, Hobart from 5.30pm
Tickets on-sale soon
Saturday 25th June:
NSW- Q&A with the cast of “AKONI” at United Cinemas, Avalon from 5pm. Tickets available here
Further dates to be announced