Links

Ordinarily we wouldn’t put up a link to one film, but this one stands out. Regardless of what you think of Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa, The Imam and the Pastor offer a fascinatingly simple model of people of opposing faiths working together. A landmark documentary which should challenge all to reinvestigate their view on ‘interfaith’.

On November 22 & 23rd 2008, faith traditions will come together in the spirit of peace to celebrate at the Rye Interfaith Festival. It carries on where the Maleny (Qld) festival left off in 2007 and even has the official thumbs-up from Prime Minster Kevin Rudd. Campfire’s director Richard Leigh and offline events man Gavin Baulch will also be there to video the event, so come along and say "hi"... or just wander over for a look after a surf at the back-beach.

Australia's ABC has created a new space for artists to share creative works and ideas online. This is interesting on a number of levels. Firstly, it’s great they’ve come together with other institutions (RMIT, UTS, and Wollongong Uni) on a Creative Commons project, using an open-source web platform. Secondly, it’s ABC’s radio arm developing something well beyond traditional radio. Spirit Shift will be a good area to watch for all things spiritual in this fascinating space.

This film festival only comes around every 2 years, and it's on again. While the event is supported by the Jewish Museum of Australia, contributor's films need not be restricted to Jewish themes. Celluloid Soup helps to "shine a spotlight onto the creative aspect of the Jewish Community" and highlights the contribution made by Jewish luminaries such as The Marx Brothers, Woody Allen, Elia Kazan, Steven Spielberg, Natalie Portman, Bette Midler, Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, Ben Lee, John Safran, and Tony Kravitz.

Here's a site which connects visual imagery with heart-felt prayers in a kind of public confessional. It's disclaimer states, "This website is totally independent and non-denominational. We are not a religious or spiritual/new-age organization. We have no affiliation or relationship to any church or religious or spiritual group or organization." A fascinating read.

What I like so much about Pangea is that it started as a good idea by a filmmaker, Jehane Noujaim. Pangea Day has become peace-activism-by-short-film on a grand scale, complete with mega-sponsors and the who’s who of Hollywood. Have you booked in on May 10 to watch the first spectacular? For us Melbournians (Aust. east coast), it starts at 4am on May 11, Fed Square. Hmm. I guess there’s always online viewing channel of it all.

“Equality, human rights, and social justice are heavy concepts. Media That Matters corrals short documentary films that touch upon big topics and make you think.” MTM addresses the tough political issues of the world head-on, with a particular focus on documentaries as the driving force. Now into it’s seventh festival, MTM is backed by a non-profit media rights organisation.

A real “on-the-ground” (or rather, in the slums) organisation of European Filmmakers. These guys are passionate about filmmaking that connects with the people of the Mathare slum in Kenya. It’s empowering filmmaking, where short films of various genres (primarily documentary) are made by the people, facilitated by the Slum-TV team.

What impressed me straight off about this site was the fact that it pre-dated YouTube as an online video hosting site (according to Wikipedia, it was launched in 2001), and as an offline concept in 1991. Based in the UK, OneWorldTV comes supported by a larger organisation – OneWorld.net, “a network of over 1200 partner organisations harnessing the internet to promote human rights and sustainable development”

"3 afternoons of film + talk". This site is also a kind of what Megan’s up to – Megan Spencer, that is. You know – SBS’s Movieshow host, JJJ film guru, gritty documentary filmmaker etc etc. Fresh from her time with the Revelation International Film Festival in WA, Megan is a proud and passionate advocate of Australian film, and has a particular love of docos as do we. Megan has her finger on the pulse, so this will be a space to watch.