Our Cinematic Voices
a showcase of multicultural cinema
📅 Date: Saturday 22 February 2025
⏰ Time: 4:00 - 5:15 PM
📍 Location: Building F, Lecture Theatre
77 St. Georges Road Preston VIC 3072
Our Cinematic Voices features bold, authentic narratives from local filmmakers, giving voice to the stories that need to be heard – stories that cut through the noise and demand attention.
BLVCK GOLD (2021)
supported by Shelter 2021
Tormented about his past by ongoing nightmares, amateur athlete Tino uses running as a way to escape old wounds. His attempts are foiled when a childhood friend, Frederick, reconnects with him presenting Tino with a plan and a mysterious object wrapped in a paper bag.
Cast: Ras-Samuel Welda'abzgi, Rashidi Edward, Danayt Berhe, Alexander Lloyd Tariro Mavondo, Zackaria Deng, Haleqa-Dagnaew Gebre'wahid, Andy Johnston, Alessandra Merlo, Galaa Geleta.
The Fish That Ties Its Body In Knots (2022)
written and directed by Ranima Montes
produced by Mimo Mukii and Ivy Mutuku
supported by Diasporas 2021
On a secluded weekend getaway, two sisters weave between reality and dreams, sifting through memories of their estranged sibling. Guided by myth, they unravel the knots of longing for things the way they were.
Cast: Miles Paras, Mayen Estanero, Rachel Javier.
An Island Praying Is Its Own Deliverance (2022)
poetry by Kiki Amberber
directed by Senuri Chandrani
produced by Lauren Mavromati
supported by Ahead of the Curve
Offering a sanctuary for queer communities of color, the film reimagines generational textile practices and mythologies of refuge, transforming garments from carriers of trauma into expressions of movement, freedom, and self-determined sanctuary.
Performers: Mikaelewa Amberber, Elisabet Amberber, Kayla Paterson, Nayndng Mayen & Lauren Mavromati Bourke And a special thanks to Mikaelewa Amberber, Kayla Paterson & Eneasi T. Knitwear and styling by: Mavromati
Civil Hearts (2024)
a Marhaba Charbouli Film
screened at Art Souk
Civil Hearts is a nostalgic short documentary by Marhaba Charbouli, where a village card game in Akkar, Lebanon, transforms into an unexpected poetic exchange. As four players trade acapella love poems, their passions blur the line between human and animal, revealing the heart of Lebanese storytelling in a serendipitous moment of film.
Dancing with your Childhood (2022)
animated by Shirin Shakhesi
composition by Aryo Hall
supported by Duniya Behter
Rooted in Javanese poetry and set against a Persian contemporary animation, this heartfelt musical piece reflects on childhood memories, cultural identity, and the strength found in art during the stillness of lockdown. Created through the Duniya Behter program, the project provided a space for deep reflection and meaningful collaboration in a time of uncertainty.
Scotty So as Scarlett So Hung Son as Grace Chang Teaching You All About Hygiene (2020)
supported by Shelter 2020
Drawing from the déjà vu of experiencing SARS in 2003 Hong Kong, this work explores the racialized stigma of mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic and the World Health Organization’s delayed response. Through drag performance and a satirical lip-sync to a 1950s Taiwanese song about sneezing, it critiques the politicization of global health and the exclusion of Taiwan from WHO decision-making.
Retrospection Documentary, preview (2025)
created by MAV
supported by Retrospection
This preview offers a glimpse into the early days of Multicultural Arts Victoria through the reflections of its founder, Mike Zafiropoulos, who arrived in Australia in 1966 and witnessed the country’s evolving multicultural landscape. From establishing the Festival of All Nations to shaping MAV into a vital resource for artists, his journey highlights the challenges, breakthroughs, and enduring impact of multiculturalism in the arts.
We’re celebrating legacies of stories, creative expression, cultures and art for MAV’s BLOCK PARTEE! Bringing together world-class artists, collectives, and creators for an unforgettable day of music, art and connection. See the full program here.
Through our program RETROSPECTION, we’ve been reflecting on the last 50 years of MAV and the rich archive of stories told by multicultural communities across the continent through the decades. To mark this milestone and MAV’s new headquarters at Melbourne Polytechnic Preston, we've taken over a drab carpark to decorate it with a BLOCK PARTEE— our joyful celebration of connection and expression.
MAV’s BLOCK PARTEE is supported by City of Darebin, Creative Victoria, Creative Australia, Melbourne Polytechnic, Victoria Government and VicHealth’s Future Reset Program.
