TIMOTHY SYROTA
Author, Film Director, Photographer
Pomonal, Australia
FILM LIBRARY
BURMESE DREAMING
54 min feature documentary
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.. VIEW FILM
LEARNING THE HARD WAY
32 min documentary; English & Karen
One of the most rewarding films upon which I have worked: working with wonderful people (ZOA), significant creative and content control and the opportunity to spend months in the mountains learning about the Karen people. VIEW FILM
HEALTHY BABIES SMILING FAMILIES
20-30 mins health education; English, Burmese, Karen
Four films funded by the 'Malaria Doktors', Marcus and Machteld, and arguably the most significant / important films I have had the opportunity to work on. Viewed by (literally) 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, these films are a tribute to how much can be achieved when both film production and distribution strategies align and work. VIEW FILM
MIGRANT KIDDIE KAHLOS & PICASSOS
5 min crowd funding film
Super cool project - KickStart-ART – and appropriately cool film to support a crowd funding campaign on behalf of the project. VIEW FILM
FIGHTING INVISIBLE ENEMIES
12 min advocacy film; 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. VIEW FILM
RESTORING HOPE
15 min; INGO promotional film
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. VIEW FILM
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE
6 min; INGO promotional film
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. VIEW FILM
NOTHing about us without us
19 min refugee advocacy; English & Burmese
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. VIEW FILM
JUSTICE FOR ALL
13 min informative; English, Karen, Burmese, Karen
Two refugees argue over a dead chicken, revenge by eating the dog, followed by threats to eat each other. A rampant refugee with a machete and a hammer. Crazy Eye and his gang. An Ennio Morricone-esque opening to a film made with a bunch of never-acted-before refugees: certainly a novel approach to promoting an independent legal service for refugees. VIEW FILM
PEOPLE NOT PAWNS
41 min documentary
A documentary about Myanmar’s political prisoners and the work undertaken by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners to support them. VIEW FILM
RECOGNISE OUR EDUCATION REALISE OUR DREAMS
20 min advocacy film
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. VIEW FILM

ELEPHANT TRAFFICKING
no longer available; advocacy film
A dangerous subject: the objective of the film was to see the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) recognise and advocate on behalf of the Asian elephant. Produced by Ecostorm, involvement in this production has been an invaluable lesson concerning the co-ordinating, targeting and implementing international advocacy strategies. The film was the Guardian’s featured film for a week.
IRON TIN & BAKERY
8 min; INGO promotional film
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. VIEW FILM