Australian Embassy film screenings celebrate Australia’s Indigenous peoples

The Australian Embassy in Hanoi will screen the award winning Australian musical film Bran Nue Dae in five north-western Vietnamese provinces from July 12 to 18 to mark NAIDOC Week 2012, which celebrates the rich and distinct history, culture and achievements of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Bran Nue Dae showcases Australia’s Indigenous heritage and beautiful scenery. It will be screened in Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai and Ha Giang provinces. The screenings will provide an opportunity for Vietnamese in remote parts of the country to develop an understanding of Australia’s Indigenous culture and to have an insight into Australia’s highly creative film industry.

Australians celebrate NAIDOC Week every July. NAIDOC originally stood for \'National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee\'. This year, NAIDOC week officially falls from 1 to 7 July.

Hugh Borrowman, Australia’s Ambassador-Designate to Vietnam, said “NAIDOC Week is an important celebration of Australia’s Indigenous heritage. I’m very pleased the Australian Embassy is marking NAIDOC Week this year by sharing Bran Nue Dae with Vietnamese audiences in remote areas. Attending these screenings will be a good way for Vietnamese to learn more about Australian Indigenous culture and humour and to enjoy spectacular Australian scenery.”

Bran Nue Dae tells a charming, funny story about the romantic adventures of a young Aboriginal couple. Released in 2010, the film won many awards including the Melbourne International Film Festival Award. The film features several of Australia’s most popular actors, including Missy Higgins, one of Australia\'s best known musicians, Geoffrey Rush, a former winner of the Oscar for Best Actor, and Magda Szubanski, one of Australia\'s most loved and celebrated comic actors.

Entry to the movie screenings will be of free of charge. The following screenings will be held:
- Moc Chau District, Son La Province on Thursday 12 July
- Tuan Giao District, Dien Bien Province on Friday 13 July
- Dien Bien City, Dien Bien Province on Saturday 14 July
- Dien Bien District, Dien Bien Province on Saturday 14 July
- Lai Chau Town, Lai Chau Province on Sunday 15 July
- Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province on Monday 16 July
- Bac Quang District, Ha Giang Province on Tuesday 17 July
- Vi Xuyen District, Ha Giang Province on Wednesday 18 July

For further information, please contact Ms. Vu Thi Binh Chau, Media Officer, Australian Embassy in Hanoi (phone: 04 3774 0216, mobile: 0166 561 0149, email: [email protected]).