An Eynesbury resident’s documentary, sharing filmed interviews of post-war migrants who arrived at Bonegilla, was selected from thousands of entries to be screened as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.
Created by Eynesbury podcaster, filmmaker, and musician Simon Reich, ‘Bonegilla: The Migrant’s Journey’ features filmed interviews led by Reich, sharing the stories of post-war European migrants who have experiences with the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre camp in north-east Victoria.
Some of those featured in the documentary now live in the Melton municipality.
Reich said hearing of the nomination – with his documentary one of 30 selected from thousands of entries – was “incredible.”
“For me, it’s not just about me, but I’m really excited for all of the people that I have interviewed because they have held onto these stories all their lives and have not felt they were heard or were too traumatised by war to talk about it,” Reich said.
“A lot of them are coming to the screening, and they haven’t seen themselves up on the screen.
“I have a feeling that a lot of people like to see interviews with celebrities and so on – but my feeling is that you can pick anyone in the street, and they’ve got a story to tell.”
Reich said that the documentary is a culmination of seven years of interviewing.
He said there is a chance his film could be selected to win an award at the festival.
His inspiration for creating the documentary followed a podcast he made about his father – who immigrated to Australia from war-torn Berlin – titled ‘Up from the Rubble’, during which he discovered his father’s link to Bonegilla.
As part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival – running from July 1 to 31 – a screening of the documentary will be presented at 7.30pm on Friday, July 25 at Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton.
Reich will soundtrack the touching stories of the documentary with his own piano playing alongside a violin accompaniment.
Details: bonegillamigrants.com.au
