MC’d by International Humanitarian, Inspirational Speaker and Best-Selling Author, Rabia Siddique and hosted by the Centre for Asylum Seekers Refugees & Detainees (CARAD), this event includes a Q&A with the filmmakers, Robyn Hughan (Writer/Director/Producer) & Steve Warne (Producer). Tickets are available online at https://www.lunapalace.com.au/special-events+4843+journey-beyond-fear-qa-event-screening or at the Cinema.
AN INSPIRATIONAL FILM FOLLOWING A TEENAGE GIRL AND HER REFUGEE FAMILY IN MALAYSIA AS THEY WAIT FOR AND EVENTUALLY ACHIEVE SUCCESSFUL RESETTLEMENT IN AUSTRALIA
Journey Beyond Fear is an excellent documentary and a genuinely moving experience.
This is a journey well worth taking. 4/5 Stars – David Stratton, The Australian
Whatever side of the immigration debate you sit on you’d have to have a heart of solid granite not to be moved by Robyn Hughan’s remarkable, humanist chronicle of a refugee family in limbo as it waits for Australia to process its paperwork – Jim Schembri
Following its launch at Cinema NOVA, Melbourne and subsequent rural Victorian screenings in Swanpool, Shepparton, Euroa and Wangaratta, JOURNEY BEYOND FEAR screened at the State Cinema, Hobart, DENDY Canberra, DENDY Newtown, Sydney, Piccadilly Cinemas, Adelaide, New Farm Cinemas, Brisbane and the Classic Cinema, Temple Beth Israel and Ashburton Community Centre, in Melbourne. It’s screened in the US on LINK TV and PBS channel KCET. Festival screenings include: the 2019 Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (HRAFF), in Melbourne, 2020 Dhaka International Film Festival and 2020 Rainbow Film Festival, London. JOURNEY BEYOND FEAR continues to touch hearts and minds. The film’s hauntingly beautiful soundtrack is by Melbourne Singer/Songwriter, Alyce Platt.
Synopsis: Told through the eyes of a teenage girl and her refugee family in pursuit of resettlement, this emotional roller coaster takes us from despair to joy through hope, humour and love – shattering prevailing stereotypes. A character driven film, featuring three magnetic daughters and shot over 7 years in Malaysia and Australia, it’s an extraordinary psychological study of the effects of refugee status. We experience how even the system for seeking asylum the “right way” is incredibly challenging, but that those who make it are hugely thankful, can be welcomed by fellow Australians and are eager to contribute to Australian society.
Journey Beyond Fear is directed by Robyn Hughan who first visited Afghan refugees living on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in 2011.
“I was drawn to one family in particular, and eventually over the years, I realised that the magnetic appeal of this family was so strong that they became my main story line. To this end, I made many self-funded trips to continue documenting the family in Kuala Lumpur,” Hughan said.
“At times this was very taxing, both financially and emotionally. I was often filming on my own, staying with the family and sleeping on the floor with them, which gave me incredible access to their world.
“I had no idea what the final outcome would be for my favoured family, but eventually, they arrived in Melbourne under the UN program in 2014. I continued to film with the family here in Australia, and to date, they are thriving in the Melbourne community.”
Though there is a happy ending for Zahra and family, the film reminds us that less than 1% of refugees registered with the UN are ever resettled.
Monday June 20th Film Event (World Refugee Day) Perth
Join us on World Refugee Day (Monday June 20th, 6pm) at the Luna Leederville for the West Australian premiere of the feature documentary, Journey Beyond Fear. Hosted by the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD), this inspirational film of love and survival follows a teenage girl and her refugee family in Malaysia as they wait for, and eventually, achieve successful resettlement in Australia. A once-only screening, MC’d by International Humanitarian, Inspirational Speaker and Best-Selling Author, Rabia Siddique, this includes a Q&A featuring film-makers Robyn Hughan & Steve Warne. For Bookings go: https://www.lunapalace.com.au/special-events+4843+journey-beyond-fear-qa-event-screening
