Australian film maker thanks Kiwi mentor

Australian film maker thanks Kiwi mentor

Australian film maker thanks ex-New Zealand Writers Foundation official for acting as film mentor A UNIVERSAL FILM ABOUT LOVE AND WAR - "BRAVE LOVE"

An independent Australian film maker has thanked former New Zealand Writers Foundation official Ms Angela Zivkovic for her mentoring role in his latest short film.

Independent film maker and former Australian soldier Sasha Uzunov will have his short film BRAVE LOVE about an Anglo-Celtic Australian war veteran, who is confined to a wheelchair, make its home premier screening at the 2011 Macedonian Film Festival (Melbourne, Australia) in Melbourne next weekend in an attempt to break down cultural barriers. The film will make its World premiere screening at a hot new festival in Switzerland a few days earlier.

Sasha Uzunov, son of Macedonian migrants, said he wanted to avoid the pitfall of becoming a "professional ethnic" because of his background and wanted to tell stories that were inclusive and that all people could relate to. "Love and war are universal themes," he said.

The Lucerne International Film Festival in Switzerland has selected BRAVE LOVE for a screening in its Showcase section, normally reserved for emerging film makers, who have just missed being included in the main festival.

BRAVE LOVE is a short film about a young Australian war veteran confined to wheelchair and his wife, and how they tackle the delicate subject of physical intimacy in a quirky way.

Melbourne actress Jeannie Birt plays the wife, whilst Llewellyn Pritchard, who is able bodied in real life, plays the war veteran. Llewellyn's 12 year old son Rhys Pritchard plays his on screen son as well. Rhys is a student at the prestigious arts orientated Rudolf Steiner School in Warranwood, Melbourne.

"I was blown away by Jeannie's performance. She's a natural. I'm surprised she hasn't been snapped up for regular television and film appearances," Sasha said. "Llewellyn put in a great performance considering he's never been in a wheelchair before. Young Rhys is definitely a star for the future."

Sasha Uzunov is a former Australian soldier who served 2 tours of duty in East Timor, and a civilian war cameraman in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"My film doesn't have an overt political message about the horrors of war, which has been covered in detail by others. Rather I wanted to explore relationships and how things aren't black and white."

"Love is a precious commodity, more valuable than money, and sometimes it takes great courage to keep it alive, especially in marriages or relationships that have been affected by a traumatic experience."

Sasha is a self taught film maker who was encouraged to pick up a camera whilst serving as an Australian soldier in 2000 by his then Company Commander Major John Blake.

"I'm still a beginner as a film maker and learning new things everyday about the craft," he said. "But I have come across enormous opposition from certain sections of Australia's media who have this quaint 1960s view that those who have served in uniform don't have a democratic right to voice an opinion or tell a story relating to soldiers or conflict, even though soldiers risk their lives to defend freedom of speech."

He said: "the delicious irony is that those who try to stop you from voicing an opinion are the ones who scream the loudest about defending freedom of speech."

Sasha said he was an admirer of New Zealand film maker Peter Jackson. "The Kiwis are a proud and tough people who punch way above their weight on the international stage."

Ms Angela Zivkovic, former Program Director with the New Zealand Writers Foundation, acted as a technical consultant for BRAVE LOVE.

“I thank Angela for her great assistance as a mentor in film making,” Sasha said.

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Film details:

BRAVE LOVE: It takes courage to keep love alive

BRAVE LOVE is a short film about a young Australian war veteran confined to wheelchair and his wife, and how they tackle the delicate subject of physical intimacy in a quirky way.

The short film explores infidelity; and how relationships are not black and white.

Love is a precious commodity and sometimes it takes great courage to keep it alive, especially in marriages or relationships that have been affected by a traumatic experience.

ENDS

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