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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2025 Saturday 14th June 1.00pm to 9.30pm, a sold-out success!

16/6/2025

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This year's Swanpool Environmental Film Festival was a sold-out success, featuring two dynamic guest speakers, and four thought provoking films.  
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The Master of Ceremonies this year was the multi-talented Ramey Hengen, who many will have met doing his day job at the Benalla Library.  Ramey is studying Environmental Science, so was excited to accept our invitation to be the MC and filled the role with warmth and humour.
Festival host Rhona Introduced and Welcomed Ramey as our MC who proceeded with an acknowledgement of  Taungurung country.
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The first film, 'Climate Extremes' explored factors that contribute towards tipping points for climate catastrophe or climate recovery.  The website has information about Planetary Boundaries and Tipping Points, you can watch the film again, and share, and take the Quiz!
More on Planetary Boundaires, https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html
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Themes from Climate Extremes were explored by our first speaker, Dr Philip Lawn, an ecological  economist from Torrens University Australia, who discussed a move away from the emphasis on economic growth to sustainable improvement.  Modern Money Lab at Torrens is training Ecological Economists.
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After previewing the film Climate Extremes prior to the festival, Phil changed the title of his talk to "Climate change, degrowth, and saving the world to save us!"  He used a Power Point presentation to guide his talk which was very much to the letter.  You can view his presentation as a PDF below, or download here.

Thanks to Robert McLean for attending the festival and providing his audio recording of Phil's presentation.  You can listen to this recording on Roberts Climate Conversations Podcast on Spotify, or Apple Podcast.  No need to sign in.

Phil is the author of the book Resolving the Climate Change Crisis, The Ecological Economics of Climate Change, from Springer Nature Link.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
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MC Ramey Hengen and Host Rhona thank Phil for his presentation including some local produce offerings.
Followed by afternoon tea from Pavlos Catering and Swanpool Catering Teams.

It's Afternoon Tea Time!

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A Slideshow of Supporter and Sponsor Slides
were Screened during Afternoon Tea and Dinner

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The second film, 'Roots So Deep', looked at attitudes to sustainable and regenerative farming in the US, interviewing farmers on neighbouring properties about their very different approaches to farming, and what helps or hinders change in practice.  

Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there) is a 4-part documentary series all about inventive farmers and maverick scientists building a path to solving climate change with hooves, heart and soil.  Episode 1 was screened at the festival.  However Roots So Deep offered festival attendees an opportunity to stream the four episodes with a 50% discount for $5 US.

Roots So Deep was followed by a lively talk and Q&A with local farmer Mark Foletta and MC Ramey, talking about his ventures in diversification, and involving his local community.  
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Mark and his family operate a mixed farming enterprise at Yin Barun (Good Water) a short drive from Benalla on the midland highway.  Mark has opened his farm to Woofers for many years, https://wwoof.com.au/members/vn200/. MC Ramey has also worked at the farm for some time. 

In 2023 Mark won the Award for Excellence in Diversification and Sustainability sponsored by Corteva Agriscience.

Marks talk  was presented with a slide show backdrop of Yin Barum Farm photos.  We don't have a recording of his talk however Mark has been interviewed by Anthony Hucksted in his Deep In The Weeds Food Podcast, listen here.
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Ramey and Host Rhona thank Mark for his talk about his work on the family farm at Yin Barun.
Thanks also to Ramey for his questioning of Mark about sustainable farming practices on the farm.  
Audience Questions were also answered.
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Our third film before our dinner break was 'Takayna - The Heart of Lutruwita'.   
Join and support the Bob Brown Foundation
in defending this ancient, threatened sanctuary before it’s too late! This film is an inspiring and hopeful film about the battle to defend Takayna from mining and logging and saving one of the last wild places on earth.

It's Dinner Time!

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After dinner the final film of the festival, from Silverback Films was Ocean with David Attenborough, https://silverbackfilms.tv/shows/oceanwithdavidattenborough/.

The film’s global release was timed ahead of World Ocean Day on the 8th of June, https://worldoceanday.org/
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In concluding the film David Attenborough says
"If we save the sea we save the world. The ocean, our final frontier". 
A sentiment very much reflected by the title of our opening speaker, Phil Lawns presentation, "Climate change, degrowth, and saving the world to save us!"

It's closing time! 

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Ramey our MC thanked Pavlos Catering, from Benalla, assisted by the Swanpool Catering Team for the delicious food served at the festival. 
Patrons thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to discuss the topics included in the program during the afternoon tea and dinner breaks.
Swanpool Environmental Film Festival is jointly organised by Swanpool Landcare and the Benalla Sustainable Future Group.  They very much appreciate support provided by the Goulburn Broken CMA, the Gecko CLaN, Benalla  Rural City Council, and Winton Wetlands.  Many thanks too to the organising committee for bringing us another jam-packed event and to all our volunteers and patrons who contributed to the success on the day.
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Our final Thank You of the festival was to Ramey Hengen for accepting the organising committees invitation to be the MC and for filling the role with warmth and humour.
Host Rhona thanking Ramey and presenting gifts in appreciation.
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2025  Saturday 14 June 1pm to 9.30pm at Swanpool Cinema

30/4/2025

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After the successful 11th anniversary screening of the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival in 2024 BSFG is pleased to support another Festival in 2025, working in partnership with Swanpool Landcare with support from Benalla Rural City and Winton Wetlands. 
Three sessions commence 1.00 pm sharp at Swanpool Cinema and include afternoon tea and an evening meal. 


Tickets $35. Booking essential www.trybooking.com/DARDU
Session 1
Film "CLIMATE EXTREMES".  Providing a deeper understanding of planetary boundaries, tipping points and the forces shaping our climate.
Guest Speaker Dr Phillip Lawn ‘How did Humankind get into this Mess and How does Humankind get out of it?’

Afternoon tea 3.00pm.

Session 2 3.30 pm
Film ’ROOTS SO DEEP - Episode 1’.
Inventive farmers and scientists building a path to solve climate change with hooves, heart and soil.  At the festival a discount code will be provided to stream the four episodes.
Guest Speaker Mark Foletta ‘Diversity, Regenerative Agriculture and Community’

Film ’TAKAYNA - THE HEART OF LUTRUWITA’
Be taken on a journey to the vast and threatened landscapes of Australia’s largest temperate rainforest.

Dinner at 6.45 pm

Session 3  7.45pm
Evening Feature Film ’DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: OCEAN’
There is nowhere more vital for survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than our oceans.

Download the SEFF 2025 Flyer
Download the SEFF 2025 Programme

Tickets $35 and booking essential online www.trybooking.com/DARDU

Afternoon tea and dinner provided by Pavlos & the Swanpool Catering Team

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Another Successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival in 2024

18/6/2024

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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.

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David Blore opened the festival conducting an Acknowledgement of Country before introducing Mark Diesendorf.
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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.

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.
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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.
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​Intermission!  Time for afternoon tea after The New Corporation!
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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:
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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/.
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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).
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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".
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.

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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.

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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.  
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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. 
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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. 
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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. 
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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!"
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2024  Saturday 15 June 1pm to 9 pm at Swanpool Cinema

25/4/2024

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After the successful 10th anniversary screening of the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival in 2023 BSFG is pleased to support another Festival in 2024, working in partnership with Swanpool Landcare with support from Benalla Rural City and Winton Wetlands. 

Three sessions commence 1.00 pm sharp at Swanpool Cinema and include afternoon tea and an evening meal. 

Session one.
Guest Speaker Dr Mark Diesendorf Hon. Assoc. Prof. UNSW Sydney, Environmentalist, ‘The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation’.
Mark is Co Author of the book  The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation.
Film ‘The New Corporation, The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel’. 

Afternoon Tea 3.50pm.


Session two.
Feature film ’Finding The Money’, there's another side to the national debt.
Film discussion, questions and answers with Dr Steven Hail Assoc. Prof. Torrens University Australia, Economist at Modern Money Lab, economics for a new era. 

Dinner 6.50pm.


Session three.
Guest Speaker Margot Nash
Filmmaker and Visiting Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, will show her short film ‘Undercurrents: Meditations on Power’,

https://www.margotnash.com/.

Guest Speaker Bertram Lobert with an update on the Save Our Strathbogie Forest Federal Court case about planned burns in high quality Southern Greater Glider habitat.  Title of Bert's talk is 'Wrong Fire - Wrong Place: planned burning in a Victorian foothill forest'.

$35 includes three sessions, afternoon tea and dinner. Catering by the Swanpool Catering Team.

Download the SEFF 2024 Menu.

 
Bookings essential on Try Booking - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1206465.
Saturday 15 June 2024 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM (UTC+10).

If attending please be Covid Aware.  Some masks will be available.

Swanpool Cinema 
2386 Midland Highway, Swanpool Victoria 3673
Details on Swanpool Cinema website www.swanpoolcinema.com.au
Phone 0498 007 988 for enquiries.  

Download the Festival Flyer.

Download the Festival Programme.

More details in our May Newsletter.


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The SEFF 2024 Menu now available.  Download Menu.
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Another Successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival in 2023

20/6/2023

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A successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2023 was presented to a full house on Saturday June 17th, 2023, at Swanpool Cinema.

The festival ran from 1pm until 9.40pm and included afternoon tea and dinner prepared and served by the Swanpool Catering Team and volunteers. 

The first two of our guest speakers have provided their presentations in pdf format to be made available on the BSFG website.  Full details about the Festival Programme.

Sue Lebish, Chief Executive Officer, Winton Wetlands titled her presentation ‘Winton Wetlands: A Story of Hope and Renewal’.  Download Sue's presentation.  The film screened in the first session was The Rights of Nature, A Global Movement.  Watch the film.

Professor David Karoly, Hon. Prof. University of Melbourne, Climate Council Australia titled his presentation ‘Update on Climate Change Science, Impacts and Solutions for Victoria.  Download David's presentation.  The film screened in the second session was Greenhouse by Joost.

Our final session was introduced by Landcare Facilitator Claire Birch, https://www.landcarevictoria.org.au/donate.  After describing the work of Landcare, Claire introduced Bertram Lobert from the Save our Strathbogie Forest Group, https://strathbogiesustainableforests.wordpress.com/. With support from group members Bert presented recent actions which have resulted in the cessation of logging in the Strathbogie Forest.  Video supported the groups presentation.

The final film screened was the Bob Brown film The Giants, https://www.thegiantsfilm.com/.

The 2023 Festival was the 10th anniversary of the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival.  Professor David Karoly spoke at our first festival in 2013.

Thank you to the ongoing contributions from our supporters in enabling another successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival in 2023.  The $30 entry to the festival covers the cost of afternoon tea and dinner.
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival - Saturday 17 June 2023

16/4/2023

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The Swanpool Environmental Film Festival is timed around World Environment Day which is June 5th.  Working in partnership with Swanpool Landcare, BSFG has again supported another thought provoking film festival to be held at the Swanpool Cinema on Saturday 17 June.  Three sessions commence at 1.00 pm sharp and include afternoon tea and evening meal.

Session One: Sue Lebish, CEO Winton Wetlands and short films. Film 'Rights of Nature: A Global Movement'

Session Two: Prof David Karoly, Hon. Prof. University of Melbourne, Climate Council Australia and film 'Greenhouse by Joost'

Session Three: Strathbogie Forest Group presentation by Bertram Lobert and film 'The Giants'

Download Festival Programme.

Download Festival Flyer.

$30 includes three sessions, afternoon tea and dinner. Catering by Swanpool Catering Team.

Bookings essential on Try Booking - 
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1045861

Saturday 17 June 2023 1:00 PM - 9:40 PM (UTC+10)
Swanpool Cinema
2386 Midland Highway, Swanpool Victoria 3673

Details on Swanpool Cinema website www.swanpoolcinema.com.au
Phone 0498 007 988 for enquiries. 

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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival -

18/6/2022

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Adding the FB post  'for the record' in August - however the date for this wonderful event, 18 June 2022!
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival - Saturday 18 June!

17/4/2022

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Session One: Assoc. Prof. Michael-Shawn Fletcher, feature film ‘River’
Session Two: Dr Kerryn Higgs, feature film ‘GrowthBusters’
Session Three: Short Enviro Film Fest, feature film ‘Once You Know’
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See Swanpool Cinema website for programme details.
Download Festival Programme.
Download Festival Flyer.

Tickets $30.
Booking essential on www.trybooking.com/BYVCL. 
Bookings will open May 21st.
Phone 0498 007 988 for enquiries.

Afternoon tea and dinner included. Catering by Swanpool Catering Team.

​Ian Herbert

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Did you know that this year is UNESCO’S ‘Year of the Creative Economy and Sustainable Development’?

22/12/2021

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Did you know that this year is UNESCO’S ‘Year of the Creative Economy and Sustainable Development’? 

A creative economy is based on people's use of their creative imagination to increase an idea's value and broadly includes audiovisual products, design, new media, performing arts, publishing and visual arts.

During the past two years of pandemic, the impact on some areas of the creative economy has been enormous while at the same time climate change is causing an increasing underlay of anxiety in many communities.

The recently shown series ‘Fires’ on the ABC is an example of the involvement of creativity and the creative economy in raising the issue of climate change.  A project which provided the employment and cultural engagement of writers, actors, filmmakers and many more, it will hopefully be recognised and nominated for many awards.

If I were asked to submit nominations for an imagined ‘Inaugural Benalla Sustainable Futures Group Benalla and District Creative Economy for Sustainable Development Award’ which recognises the use of creativity to raise the issue of and the value of sustainability, six nominations come to mind:

Artist Tim Bowtell – for his ‘Cornography’ mural on the side of the Seniors’ Centre facing towards the library (Wall to Wall 2018); and for his portraits of Greta Thunberg (2019) and David Attenborough on the Council Office’s window in (2020) as part of the Window to Window.  Tim’s tenacity and courage in using his practice to provoke a deeper consideration of sustainability is inspirational.

Sculptor – Tony Levy, for a creative outlet during retirement using recycled objects to create accessible, sustainably created sculptures

SCRAP Art Festival – for developing a concept which not only validates and disseminates the work of artists working with recycled materials, but advocates for recycled art and a circular economy.

Swanpool Environmental Film Festival – for so effectively linking finely crafted films on environmental issues in a program which deepens understanding in a package which includes film, inspirational and well-informed speakers, and good food and company.

Benalla Art Gallery – Bush Fire Posters exhibition

Luke Davies and the Recycled String Band – for their song ‘Recycle and Reuse’. 
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Who would you nominate and why?    
 
Bev Lee

Further reading: 
https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/international-years/creativeeconomy2021
https://research.qut.edu.au/creativehotspots/defining-the-creative-economy/
https://unctad.org/news/creative-economy-have-its-year-sun-2021
Revisiting Tim Bowtell's 'Cornography', Wall to Wall Festival (2018)
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Cancellation of the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2021

24/9/2021

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​"BREAKING NEWS: The Swanpool Environmental Film Festival has been CANCELLED.  The uncertainty with COVID 19 restrictions has forced the organisers to this disappointing decision. Hopefully next year sometime"  Swanpool Cinema Website, accessed 24 September, 2021.

The Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2021, already rescheduled from June to October 23, is, for the second year, a casualty of the Pandemic.  Postponed to next year 2022, possibly at the usual time in June, the Festival Program was to feature Professor Michael-Shaun Fletcher 'Indigenous Knowledge and the Shackles of Wilderness' and film 'Beyond Burning', Dr Kerryn Higgs 'Collision Course:  The Growth Delusion' (2021 update) and films 'Fairytales of Growth' and 'Once You Know; and will culminate in  a  panel discussion 'State of the Nation' and film 'Wild Things'. 

Hopefully this program will be able to go ahead next year, with the
 Swanpool Catering Team volunteers once again sustaining Festival audiences during breaks providing opportunities for audience members to network and catch up with friends.
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival - new date - October 23 2021

17/6/2021

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Due to COVID 19 restrictions this year's Swanpool Environmental Film Festival on June 19 (flier below) had to be postponed.  It will now be held on Saturday 23 October, 2021.  The decision to postpone was made reluctantly, but past experience suggests restrictions are not lifted quickly and there is a chance people from interstate and Melbourne may not be able to attend or get home because of planned or sudden restrictions.  Further, the catering team needs fair warning. Tickets on sale from Friday 1 October 2021.   Keep an eye on the Swanpool Cinema website for details.
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Download the Full SEFF 2021 Programme
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2021 - 19 June 1 pm

18/5/2021

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Coming out of COVID, will we return to ‘business as usual’
or will Australia embark upon a linear path towards zero emissions? 

SWANPOOL ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021

Feature films, documentaries, guest speakers!
Three sessions with breaks for afternoon tea and an evening meal:

Session One: Ass Prof Michael-Shawn Fletcher and film ‘Beyond the Burning’

Session Two: Film 'Fairytales of Growth', Dr Kerryn Higgs, and film ‘Once You Know’
 
Session Three: Panel Discussion and Short Films, and film “Wild Things’

Booking essential on TryBooking.
Phone 0498 007 988 for enquiries.

Afternoon tea and dinner included.
Catering by Swanpool Catering Team.

SEFF 2021 - BOOKING ESSENTIAL - LINK TO TRYBOOKING HERE!
Download the SEFF 2021 Flyer
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival... reprise online!

19/7/2020

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This year's Swanpool Environmental Film Festival could not go ahead because of the Corona Virus Pandemic, leaving quite a gap for many of us.   We've retrieved a section of our website which provides a summary of what has happened over the past four years, including links to trailers of past films, some of which are now available on line.  Perhaps you'd like to search for and 'cast' them on to your television and have your own 'Film Festival' while socially distancing!
"BSFG partners with Swanpool Landcare and the Gecko CLaN ​in running the annual Swanpool Environmental Film Festival at the Swanpool Cinema.

The 2016 Festival featured three thought provoking films - 'Polyfaces', 'Anthropocene' and 'Tarkine In Motion' - alternating with presentations by inspirational guest speakers, Prof Kate Auty;  'Polyfaces' co-Director Isabella Doherty and Cinematographer Andreas Overdahl; Dr Kerryn Higgs' on  ‘Collision Course: The Growth Delusion’ and Prof Michael Clarke's on ‘Ecological Literacy, ambivalence and inspiration’.

The 2017 Festival featured   'The Age of Stupid' 
featuring Peter Postlethwaite; ‘The Age of Consequences‘ and ‘The Bentley Effect‘. The films were interspersed between guest speakers Julian Cribb on ‘Surviving the 21st Century’; Dr Richard David Hames on ‘Burying the 20th Century’ and Prof Sharon Beder, on ‘Business-Managed Democracy’ 

The 2018 Festival on 16th June was a sell out, with 195 bookings!  The festival featured Dr Samuel Alexander and film ‘Living in the Futures Past’: Dr Charles Massy, author of 'The Cry of the Reed Warbler' and film ‘Living the Change’; a Guest Panel chaired by Kate Auty featuring Dr Ian Herbert; Bertram Lobert, Shirley Saywell and speakers from the Strathbogie Forests group who took action at the Barjarg coupe and the film ‘Paper Trail’.

​The 2019 Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2019 (PG) was held on Saturday 15 June from 1pm to 9:40pm.:
Session One: Dr Tilman Ruff and film ‘System Error’
Session Two: Professor Samantha Hepburn and Short Enviro Film Fest
Session Three: Professor Tim Reeves and film ‘2040’.
Read more about the 2019 festival...
We missed this year's Festival, thoroughly appreciating the thinking by Ian Herbert and his team which goes in to creating a festival to expose us to the vanguard of current thinking in relation to sustainable futures.  We also missed the catering by Swanpool Catering Team volunteers which sustained us during breaks between Sessions which provided opportunities for audience members to network and catch up with friends. 

Hopefully we'll be able to meet up again in June 2021!

Bev Lee
Media Team
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival - 15 June 2019

1/7/2019

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The Swanpool Environmental Film Festival which took place on Saturday 15th June was a great success. We were fortunate to have three guest speakers of international repute who excelled at delivering their knowledge to the audience. Over 200 attended and we had to put up the ‘full house’ sign.

​The three subjects covered were the three major problems confronting the world today - nuclear weapons, climate change and how to feed a growing populace. Thanks to Dr Tilman Ruff, Prof Samantha Hepburn and Prof Tim Reeves respectively for coming to Swanpool.
Congratulations were extended to Tilman for being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours the week before the SEFF. Tilman already had an AM (Member of Australia) and now has the higher honour of an AO (Member of the Order of Australia) for service to the promotion of peace and to public health. Since 2012, he has been Co-President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) – an organisation that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985. He was founding Australian and International Chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) – awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. He brought the medal with him for those who wanted to view it. Tilman and his wife Charlotte are landholders in the Lima East valley near Swanpool.
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Prof Tim Reeves' talk was titled ‘Food and Nutritional Security - a Grand Challenge for Humankind’. Tim is Professor in Residence at Dookie agricultural campus and was a pioneer of no-till and sustainable agriculture at the Rutherglen Research Institute. He too has worked with many international institutions.
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​Prof Samantha Hepburn’s talk addressed many of the Australian legal issues around climate change and the Adani mine going ahead.
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This year we changed the format a little and had a short film session mid-afternoon. As well as selected
short films it included news reels and a series of slides telling the story of preserving Strathbogie Forest this past year. That’s a good news story because the designated logging coupes in the most precious part of the forest, around Mt Strathbogie and Golden Mount, have now been withdrawn from the Timber Release Plan. The TRP lists the designated coupes which VicForests can log. The next step is to have permanent protection for the forest, preferably by declaring it a Conservation Park giving it the  samestatus as Mt Samaria Park.

The film ‘2040’ which concluded the evening was very well received. It looks into the future asking the question how could the planet be if we do the right thing. When taking about sustainable agriculture it gave good coverage of the works of Colin Seiss who was referred to by Tim Reeves in his talk and who has worked closely with the Gecko CLaN and landholders in this region for many years.

​Many thanks to all who volunteered to make this day a success, particularly Peter Maddock for all his work getting all the video together. The SEFF is run by the Swanpool Landcare group in partnership with Benalla Sustainable Future group and with support from the Gecko CLaN, GBCMA, Granite Creeks and Benalla Permaculture. We are particularly thankful for the catering provided by the Swanpool Catering Team who excelled themselves once again.
Doctor Tilman Ruff, Ian Herbert, Professor Ian Reeves, Professor Samantha Hepburn
Ian Herbert
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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2019 (PG) - 15 June 1 pm

18/5/2019

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SWANPOOL ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019 (PG)
​
Feature films, documentaries, guest speakers!
Three sessions with breaks for afternoon tea and an evening meal:

Session One: Dr Tilman Ruff and film ‘System Error’
Session Two: Prof Samantha Hepburn and Short Enviro Film Fest
Session Three: Prof Tim Reeves and film ‘2040’

Booking essential on TryBooking.
Phone 0498 007 988 for enquiries.
​
Afternoon tea and dinner included.
Catering by Swanpool Catering Team.
SEFF - Bookings Essential - link To TRYBOOKING here!
Download the SEFF 2019 Flyer
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