- Five short documentaries based on State Library stories to be released August 2nd
- Films produced by Screenwest through a $75,000 State Government grant
- WA Reflections initiative now in its second year
A new collection of fascinating WA documentaries produced through the State Library of Western Australia and Screenwest’s WA Reflections partnership has launched today.
The films are made possible through a $75,000 investment by the State Government, allowing Western Australian filmmakers to produce documentaries of up to five minutes in duration.
The five short documentaries creatively use the State Library’s Western Australian collection of diaries, journals, photographs and personal audio and video recordings to bring to life and share unique stories from Western Australia’s history.
This season’s documentaries delve into:
- Kimberley legend Sam Lovell and his adventurous, trailblazing life
- Fears of Russian invasion and espionage through the sleepy lens of 1900s Albany
- A meditation on WA’s Chinese migrant communitythrough Mahjong
- A devoted sound recordist’s incredible collection of WA birdsongs
- The longest running LGBTQIA+ nightclub in the Southern Hemisphere
Each film will also be presented at the State Library Theatre as part of a series of free community screenings and panel discussions in the State Library Theatre, enabling each film to be discussed by filmmakers and experts. The screenings will kick off with The Rules of Mahjongon 10 August 2023 and continue monthly until December 2023.
From August 4, all five WA Reflections films will be available to view on the State Library’s 2023 WA Reflections website : https://slwa.wa.gov.au/stories/wa-history/wa-reflections-2023, or the State Library’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/statelibrarywa/videos
Dates for the five community screenings are below. Registration is via the State Library website.
Thursday, 10 August The Rules of Mahjong
In search of cultural identity through the game of Mahjong.
Thursday, 7 September 6:30pm 8:00pm The Tale of Mr Kimberley
He is known by the people as Mr Kimberley, but his mates just call him Sam. Sam Lovell has a tale to tell. He was part of the stolen generation, became a master stockman running cattle in wild landscapes and came to be known as the father of tourism in the Kimberley.
Thursday, 5 October 6:30pm 8:00pm Russian Spy
A Russian-Australian Cinematographer travels to Albany to discover when the town at the end of the world was put on high alert by the threat of Russian Invasion.
Thursday, 2 November 6:30pm 8:00pm Connies
The history of the iconic Connections Nightclub, through the eyes of a first-time clubgoer and the mouths of a few regulars.
Thursday, 7 December 6:30pm 8:00pm Sound Twitcher
Tuning in to the birdsong recordings of auditory adventurer John Hutchinson.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“The joint WA Reflections initiative is now in its second year. These short documentary films are a fantastic way to bring the State Library’s collections to life, further preserving these Western Australian stories for generations to come.
“The WA Reflections documentary series continues to uncover and celebrate fascinating, quirky and powerful elements of Western Australian history.
“This partnership empowers filmmakers to continue telling Western Australian stories while providing an avenue for the State Library’s rich Western Australian collection to reach new audiences
