MEDIA RELEASE
A Sydney-based multimedia company is hoping to raise awareness of refugees and their struggles, following the world premiere of its animation film, Marti, at TedXSydney at the Opera House.
Benchmark Films produced the first short film, Marti, as part of a series called Woven Threads, created and directed by Michi Marosszeky. The films seek to tell the stories behind refugees; humanising them and finding the small joys, which are taken for granted on an everyday basis, but have a monumental effect on their lives.
Named after its protagonist, Marti, an ex-refugee, tells of her Christmas in Vienna, when she was nine years old, whilst fleeing to the Australian Embassy with her family to escape Hungary in 1956 when the people rose up against Russia’s occupation.
In Vienna, her mother had to be hospitalised to see a heart specialist. This resulted in the family being split up and brought back together six weeks later for Christmas, thanks to the kindness of strangers.
However, to handle the child’s expectations for the festive season, Marti’s mother explained there wouldn’t be a Christmas for them because the Angel didn’t know where they lived because they were moving.
On Christmas Eve, Marti went to the host family’s home who were laden with gifts, food and had a beautiful Christmas tree – to this day she describes this as one of the most amazing trees she’s ever seen. She remembered feeling that they weren’t homeless, not exiles or lost, because the Angel did know where they were.
Marti is part of Woven Threads, a series of nine four minutes emotive films, in which the stories of refugees are told through animation and the subject’s voice. The films are supported by charities including Amnesty International Australia, Sky Foundation and generous philanthropists Colin and Angie Carter.
Michi Marosszeky, Director, said: “The animations are designed to elicit empathy and understanding so that for a few minutes it is the human and not the refugee experience that is central. By finding this common ground, maybe, for a few minutes, the debates, disputes and fears surrounding migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers might stop being so polarised and politicised.”
Paul Sullivan, Producer of Benchmark Films and the Woven Threads films, added: “We are so excited to have our world premiere on the stage at TedXSydney, an internationally renowned platform, and be acknowledged by leaders in our industry.
“This was a really passionate project for us, one of our hopes for the project is to raise awareness of refugees and show to the audience they are real people, who need to be supported by people around them.
“We hope that in this film, and the Woven Thread Series as a whole, we have found the light, hope and joy, in some of the darkest moments of people’s lives.”
For more information visit www.woventhreads.co or www.benchmarkfilms.com.au