THE PROGRAM
The Ghan International Film Festival Australia [GIFFA] is a 6-day annual film festival to be held in Adelaide (South Australia), Melbourne and Sydney. It will present a mix of short films and feature-length, which have been filmed in Afghanistan and around the world. Eligible films can be made by Afghan and non-Afghan filmmakers but the focus will be Afghan people life and especially as it is being experienced by the women and young children.
OUR AIM
The primary aim of GIFFA is to support the underprivileged or homeless young children who are caught up in war-torn countries by provide education, food, and shelter for the street children and to alleviate the suffering of their destitute parents. These children are especially prone to physical and sexual abuse. We believe that our communities, people here and the general public will participate in the festival and can contribute to make a real difference in the lives of these children. These children are especially prone physical and sexual abuse. We estimate that it would take only $8 or $10 a week to send these children to school and change their lives. We believe that our communities, people here and the general public would be willing to participate in the festival and contribute to making a real difference in the lives of these children.
GIFFA also aims to bring together people from mainstream and culturally and linguistically diverse [CALD] backgrounds to explore The Festival which runs over two evenings. These extraordinary films challenge stereotypically negative views of Afghans on mainstream media, who continue to live, love and make high-quality films even as they struggle to survive.
GIFFA also reflects the long-standing relationship between Australians and the Afghans who first arrived here in the 1860s (The Afghan Cameleers) and enriched the local culture with their music, dance and cuisine.
THE FILMS
GIFFA will feature high-quality short films (up to 40-minutes duration) plus one feature or documentary film produced in Afghanistan. The films will be auteur and ambitious cinema, with a high artistic value, tackling independent and original themes.
The highlight will be the special screening of the films to be announced on GIFFA social media and website
THE EXPERIENCE
GIFFA will bring together people and families of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to celebrate Afghan culture, music, and cuisine. The Opening Ceremony will feature live Afghan music, cultural diversity, inviting VIP guest, publicising the program through community channels, social media and through local and international mass media.
The Festival will run over two days, with two screening sessions per day, each of one and a half hours duration. The films will be screened at the Mercury Cinema located in the Lion Arts Centre in the west end of Adelaide CBD, having a capacity of 186 seats, we expect both days of GIFFA to sell out quickly.
