Join us for a fundraising event showcasing five short films telling uplifting stories from our community. Each film will be followed by a short Q&A session with its creative team, hosted by Joshua Maxwell de Hoog.

All proceeds will support Bluebird Foundation Community Programs.

STIM! [8:47]

This short animated documentary celebrates neurodiversity through the eyes of four amazing teens who share their unique perspectives.

Through their paintings, sketches and musings, we get a glimpse into their vibrant inner worlds.

With the guidance of renowned artist and animator Laura Alice, this beautiful short film serves to remind us that diversity is a vital and important part of the human experience.

STIM! was created as part of a Bluebird Foundation project and was supported by the Victorian State Government through an Engage! grant.

Ran [14:19]

Recently arrived in Australia, Ran wants to get ahead but frustrated by a lack of opportunity, he finds himself drawn into a world of crime and violence. ‘Ran’ provides an insight into the issues facing many young people in the Australian African community.

Writer, director and actor, Kiko Wayne Jr, 23, came to Australia from Ethiopia in 2018. When he arrived in the regional city of Geelong he couldn’t speak English but he went to school and began to learn the language. Joining a community theatre program to improve his English inspired a dream of becoming a writer and actor. In 2019 he wrote his first short play which became part of North Youth Theatre’s production, ‘Waiting for Something Better’. Kiko developed a passion for writing his own stories inspired by tales from back home and was integral to the writing and performing of North Youth Theatre’s successful show, ‘Maps of the Heart’ in 2022. Drawing on his personal experiences and observations of life in a regional city, ‘Ran’ is his writing and directorial film debut.

'Ran' was created as part of the North Youth Theatre program and supported by the City of Greater Geelong through an Arts Project grant.

What is Mental Health? [4:35]

A group of young people from culturally diverse backgrounds came together to tackle a challenging issue - what is mental health and how can we promote the availability of mental health services and supports to the diverse cultural groups in our region?

Under the guidance of artist Laura Alice they created a short animated film featuring their artworks, words and voices. Translated into Arabic, Dari, Karen, Swahili and Tamil, the film received an Honourable Mention in the One-Reeler Short Film competition and has become a valuable resource for our region.

The project was a collaboration with Wellways, Western Victoria PHN, Diversitat and City of Greater Geelong.

Pipi Thay Too (The Grandmother Tree) [10:20]

An animated short film by Karen and Karenni refugees and Laura Alice.

The film is a celebration of resilience, the power of identity, mystical encounters with ancestors, and the Karen and Karenni refugee experience. Created by the ‘Drawn Together Studio’ - a group of young refugee artists under the guidance of Laura Alice - the film is made entirely of artworks drawn by the young women aged 12-22. Critically acclaimed in film festivals around the world, including best animated short in the One-Reeler Short Film Competition, winner in One Earth Awards, nominated best animated short in the International Film Festival The Hague and finalist in Changing Face International Film Festival.

Pipi Thay Too was created as part of a Bluebird Foundation project in collaboration with The fOrT and the City of Greater Geelong.

Open Wide Arms [6:58]

Bluebird Foundation has been collaborating with professional artists on projects that make a difference in the Geelong community for over a decade. Plans to celebrate this milestone achievement were dashed by COVID lockdowns and restrictions in 2020 and 2021. So a different kind of celebration was conceived - a film that highlights the many projects and achievements that have transformed Bluebird from the dream of a few passionate individuals into one of the leading community arts organisations in the Barwon region.

‘Open Wide Arms’ was created by local filmmaker, Benj Binks and is a celebration of Bluebird Foundation's faith in the power of artistic expression and the difference the work makes within our community.

Open Wide Arms was supported by the City of Greater Geelong through its community grant program.