These Sacred Hills, plus Original Power shorts
Sat 18 Oct, 13:10 - 14:55
Palace Kino
Take a deep dive into energy, Indigenous sovereignty and the politics of power, with the Australian premiere of powerful Yakama Nation documentary ‘These Sacred Hills’ (2024), two Aboriginal shorts on solar energy and self-determination from Original Power, and a brief insight from behind-the-scenes.
These Sacred Hills
2024, United States, Documentary | Australian Premiere
Facing an existential threat from a proposed green energy project, the Rock Creek Band of the Yakama Nation fight to protect their sacred sites and cultural resources. In a last-ditch effort to be heard, they open their community and reveal parts of their sacred culture for the first time.
Weaving together tradition, activism, community and beautiful moments, filmmakers Jacob Bailey and Christopher Ward present a powerful, tender portrait of a community’s fight to protect their sacred lands from continued colonial extraction.
Original Power Solar Shorts
Australia, Documentary | Big Screen Premiere
Two shorts looking at the impact of the Ngardara and Marlinja solar projects, showing how the Aboriginal community-action group Original Power is working with local communities to improve energy security for homelands and keep people connected to Country.
Presented by Monash University. This screening is part of 'Aesthetics of Energy Transitions', a School of Media, Film and Journalism research project led by Professor Belinda Smaill investigating how Australia’s energy transition is represented visually. This session will include a short discussion exploring the essential role that filmmaking and visual media play in communicating and campaigning on energy issues, framing connections to Country and landscapes, and articulating the complex politics of renewable energy.
Monash University 'Aesthetics of Energy Transitions' Research Team: Professor Belinda Smaill, Professor Libby Lester, Professor Megan Farrelly, Professor Brtt Hutchins, Dr Lucy Richardson, Dr Simon Troon