On Saturday June 15 2024, another successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival was held at Swanpool Cinema from 1pm-9pm. The full details of the program for SEFF 2024 can be viewed here, including the menu provided by the Swanpool Catering Team.
Since its first screening in 2013, Ian Herbert has been the festival coordinator and MC. This year Ian had to step back from his role due to ill health, although he is now feeling well enough and able to assist at the festival.
David Blore, the recently elected President of BSFG, took on the MC role for this year's festival.
While the attendance at this year's festival was down on previous years, the program was well received.
Immediately before the 1 pm start of the festival our local XR Flash Mob performed Stayin’ Alive, their signature dance to their own music track and lyrics of the Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive. The flash mob also included some members of the Hot House Quartet, who later provided music over the dinner break.
Listen to Staying Alive below along with some of the lyrics, watch the video recording by Margot Nash below and scroll down to view the video of the Flash Mob's Stayin' Alive video in a Canberra mall and on the streets.
Since its first screening in 2013, Ian Herbert has been the festival coordinator and MC. This year Ian had to step back from his role due to ill health, although he is now feeling well enough and able to assist at the festival.
David Blore, the recently elected President of BSFG, took on the MC role for this year's festival.
While the attendance at this year's festival was down on previous years, the program was well received.
Immediately before the 1 pm start of the festival our local XR Flash Mob performed Stayin’ Alive, their signature dance to their own music track and lyrics of the Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive. The flash mob also included some members of the Hot House Quartet, who later provided music over the dinner break.
Listen to Staying Alive below along with some of the lyrics, watch the video recording by Margot Nash below and scroll down to view the video of the Flash Mob's Stayin' Alive video in a Canberra mall and on the streets.
David Blore opened the festival conducting an Acknowledgement of Country before introducing Mark Diesendorf.
Mark Diesendorf’s presentation highlighted many things to consider as we embark on “The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation”, the title of both Mark's presentation and his new book, co-authored with Rod Taylor, https://sustainablecivilisation.com/.
Unfortunately we did not record Mark’s presentation. However, you can watch Mark’s presentation at the Modern Money Labs Summer Series in 2024 below to see some strategic ideas on achieving a Sustainable Civilisation. It is very similar to Mark's presentation at our festival.
Unfortunately we did not record Mark’s presentation. However, you can watch Mark’s presentation at the Modern Money Labs Summer Series in 2024 below to see some strategic ideas on achieving a Sustainable Civilisation. It is very similar to Mark's presentation at our festival.
Robert McLean recorded Mark's presentation on audio. Robert is from Shepparton and produces the podcast Climate Conversations www.anchor.fm/robert-mclean. Thank you Robert for sharing your audio recordings. Robert McLean's audio recording of Mark's presentation can be listened to here.
There were many questions from the audience about Mark's presentation.
The film following Mark was The New Corporation, the Unfortunately Necessary Sequel, https://thenewcorporation.movie/about-the-film/. The film can now be watched on SBS On Demand, https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/the-new-corporation-the-unfortunately-necessary-se/2264088643615.
There were many questions from the audience about Mark's presentation.
The film following Mark was The New Corporation, the Unfortunately Necessary Sequel, https://thenewcorporation.movie/about-the-film/. The film can now be watched on SBS On Demand, https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/the-new-corporation-the-unfortunately-necessary-se/2264088643615.
Intermission! Time for afternoon tea after The New Corporation!
During Afternoon Tea we screened a short video, 'Love Changes Everything Part 1', from local artist Anna White, who has contributed at a number of our festivals. Anna's Artist Statement and video follow:
Following afternoon tea Steven Hail, Associate Professor at Torrens University and Economist at Modern Money Lab, https://modernmoneylab.org.au/ introduced the film Finding the Money which follows economist Stephanie Kelton on her journey to flip our views on money and the myths we have about federal budget deficits, https://findingmoneyfilm.com/, Stephanie Kelton is the Author of The Deficit Myth, https://stephaniekelton.com/book/.
Neither a deficit hawk nor deficit dove Stephanie Kelton calls herself a ‘deficit owl’ because owls have the ability to rotate their heads nearly 360 degrees for better perspectives and are associated with wisdom (P76 The Deficit Myth).
Neither a deficit hawk nor deficit dove Stephanie Kelton calls herself a ‘deficit owl’ because owls have the ability to rotate their heads nearly 360 degrees for better perspectives and are associated with wisdom (P76 The Deficit Myth).
Finding the Money has now been released on some streaming platforms, hopefully available soon in Australia. Thanks to film maker Maren Poitras for listing SEFF 2024 on where to watch, https://findingmoneyfilm.com/where-to-watch/. The Film Press kit is also available with many details about the story of the Finding The Money film.
Steven answered many questions from the audience about Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) following the film. Below is a Zoom meeting video from Steven at Modern Money Lab on January 2024 on The Importance of "Finding the Money".
Steven answered many questions from the audience about Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) following the film. Below is a Zoom meeting video from Steven at Modern Money Lab on January 2024 on The Importance of "Finding the Money".
Thanks again to Robert McLean for his audio recording of Steven Hail's introduction to Finding the Money and the Q&A after the film.
During Dinner, the Hot House Quartet from Canberra provided lively entertainment with some well known favourite tunes, albeit with lyrics exploring environmental themes.
Robert McLean's podcast also includes a recording of the Hot House band during the dinner break, concluding with The Carnival Is Over! Listen here,
We also saw the video of a large XR Flash Mob performing Staying Alive in Canberra. Video below featuring local Hot House lead singer Warwick.
After Dinner, Margot Nash introduced her short film 'Undercurrents: Meditations on Power, A cautionary poem or 'song' for the dark times' (trailer below). Made from reimagined/recycled images and sounds from the filmmaker’s archive and other found materials, https://www.margotnash.com/undercurrents.
We are again fortunate to have Robert McLean's audio recording of Margot's talk and short film, Listen here from about 21 minutes.
Margot is Mark Diesendorf's partner and pointed out how she was working on her film while Mark was writing his book, which resulted in some cross fertilisation of themes and ideas.
The final presentation for the night was by wildlife ecologist Bertram Lobert from the Save Our Strathbogie Forest Group, https://strathbogiesustainableforests.wordpress.com/. Bertram explained the regime followed by State authorities in specifying control burns across Victoria, These burns often have no consideration of the need to burn, nor for the loss of wildlife, and the often resulting regrowth of a vigorous understory, increasing the risk of fire.
To finish the presentations Bertram invited Simeon Ayres from Strathbogie to enlighten us with a tale from the bush, https://www.bewildernest.com/my-story.
Gifts with some local produce were provided to guests during the evening.
MC David Blore concluded the festival by thanking the Swanpool Catering Team for their dedication and expertise in preparing and offering a tasty menu for the enjoyment of festival guests.
David also thanked fellow members of the Festival Committee, Rhona, Peter H, Pam, Kevin, Peter M, and John for taking on the task of organising the 2024 festival. He also thanked Ian Herbert for his role as Festival Coordinator since 2103, grateful that Ian was now feeling well enough to attend the festival and assist, and also for his contribution providing media for the show, which included media and financial support from Winton Wetlands.
Additional supporters were Swanpool Landcare, Benalla Sustainable Future Group, Benalla Rural City, GBCMA, and Gecko Clan.
Finally, "Wishing Everyone a Safe Drive Home!"
MC David Blore concluded the festival by thanking the Swanpool Catering Team for their dedication and expertise in preparing and offering a tasty menu for the enjoyment of festival guests.
David also thanked fellow members of the Festival Committee, Rhona, Peter H, Pam, Kevin, Peter M, and John for taking on the task of organising the 2024 festival. He also thanked Ian Herbert for his role as Festival Coordinator since 2103, grateful that Ian was now feeling well enough to attend the festival and assist, and also for his contribution providing media for the show, which included media and financial support from Winton Wetlands.
Additional supporters were Swanpool Landcare, Benalla Sustainable Future Group, Benalla Rural City, GBCMA, and Gecko Clan.
Finally, "Wishing Everyone a Safe Drive Home!"
