FILM LIBRARY
BURMESE DREAMING
54 mins Feature Documentary Language: English
Filmed when Burma was staunchly totalitarian, Burmese Dreaming was described by an American reviewer as a 'documentary poem.’ Apt: the currency of poetry is human emotion and in Burmese Dreaming I sought to engage emotion through music, image and story rather than adopt a more journalistic, narrative driven approach. Burmese Dreaming enjoyed a World Premiere at the United Nations 'We the People's Documentary Festival' and an American Premiere at the Buffalo-Niagra Film Festival.
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US
19 mins Refugee Advocacy Languages: English, Burmese
Controversial: with breakdowns in both trust and communication between refugees and international organisations, Burma Partnership (now Progressive Voice) commissioned this film to give refugees a voice. The film was translated into six languages and screened in a number of countries around the world.
LEARNING THE HARD WAY
32 mins Documentary Languages: English, Karen
One of the most rewarding films upon which I have worked: working with wonderful people, significant creative and content control and the opportunity to spend months in the mountains learning about the Karen people.
JUSTICE FOR ALL
13 mins Information & Promotion
Languages: English, Karen, Karenni, Burmese
Two refugees argue over a dead chicken, revenge by eating the dog, and finally threats to eat each other. Think Ennio Morricone and spaghetti western with a bunch of never-acted-before refugees as an information and promotion film for an independent legal service.
HEALTHY BABIES, SMILING FAMILIES
4 films, 20-30 mins Education: maternal health
Languages: English, Karen, Burmese
Funded by the 'Malaria Doktors', Marcus and Machteld, arguably my most significant films. Viewed by tens of thousands of parents on the Thai-Myanmar border, screened daily at both SMRU and Dr Cynthia's Clinic and used as an example of maternal health education at conferences in Uganda and the Philippines.
PEOPLE NOT PAWNS
41 mins Documentary Language: English
A documentary about Myanmar’s political prisoners and the work undertaken by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners to support them.
KICKSTART-ART
5 mins Promotion Language: English
Super cool project - KickStart-ART – and appropriately cool film to support a crowd funding campaign on behalf of the project.
RECOGNISE OUR EDUCATION, REALISE OUR DREAMS
20 mins Promotion Languages: English, Burmese
An advocacy film focusing on the need, in the event of their return to Myanmar, to recognise the education that refugees have received in the refugee camps on the Thai-Myanmar border.
FIGHTING INVISIBLE ENEMIES
12 mins Advocacy Languages: English, Burmese
An advocacy film regarding necessary actions to be taken to reduce civilian casualties from landmines. The film sought to tread a fine and blameless line between opposing armies that had been using landmines to further both their military and political ends.
ELEPHANT TRAFFICKING
Advocacy Film no longer available
A particularly grim subject. Seeing Ecostorm’s approach to this film and the campaign it was made to support was an invaluable lesson to me regarding co-ordinating, targeting and implementing international advocacy strategies. The film was the Guardian’s featured film for a week.
FILM NO LONGER AVAILABLE
RESTORING HOPE
15 mins Promotion Language: English
Without a budget to continue their internationally accredited tertiary diploma course for refugees and migrants on the Thai-Myanmar border, the ACU commissioned a film highlighting the importance of, and seek funding for, the program. It was a huge success and the program continues today.
IRON TIN AND BAKERY
8 mins Promotion Language: English
A short, simple film for donors and potential donors evidencing the impact and importance of vocational training to refugees on the Thai-Myanmar border. A pleasure working for ADRA.
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE
6 mins Promotion Language: English
Another short and simple promotional film highlighting the support given by the British organisation, The Thai Children’s Trust, to support orphanages and safe houses for children on the Thai-Myanmar border. Again, an organisation doing fantastic work with limited resources.
