ABOUT US,
FOR YOU:
FESTIVAL OF STORIES
A Cinespace collaboration with Naarm-based initiative SXSEA, About Us, For You: A Festival of Stories is a series of workshops for culturally-diverse young people (18-25 years) around storytelling in film, music, and theatre, followed by a final presentation of their creative outputs at an event. You will attend three workshops working with experienced mentors to develop either a short performance piece, music track, or film, to be showcased at an event on 12th April.
Supported by
our program partner
‘South by South East Asian’ (SXSEA) is the sexy way to shine a spotlight on South Asian and South East Asian artists in Naarm.
SXSEA envisions a world where artists can tell their stories, and create the way they want to, without the weight of cultural expectations.
We follow the SXSEA mission- to create spaces for artists from South Asian and South East Asian communities, to experiment with their artistry, and exercise freedom in the stories they tell.
This is a multicultural revolution, the SXSEA way.
are you 18 to 25 ,
interested in storytelling?
we have an opportunity for you!
ABOUT US,FOR YOU:
FESTIVAL OF STORIES
As a participant, you will attend three workshops, and work with experienced mentors to develop a short performance piece, music track, or film, to be showcased at a final event. Your final performances will be recorded and published on our website (and you can use these in your creative portfolios!
Program Timeline:
Workshop 1 - 22nd March (11 am to 3 pm)
Workshop 2 - 29th March (11 am to 3 pm)
Workshop 3 - 5th April (11 am to 3 pm)
Final Event - 12th April (3 pm to 7 pm)
Program Venue:
Phoenix Youth Centre, Footscray
Stipend:
Participants will receive a travel and expense subsidy of $200 each.
What you will get from the program:
- Skills development in the creative arts, networking, and building practices of community and collaboration.
- An opportunity to promote yourself and your work to the arts community.
- A professional level profile that you can use in the development of your career (through headshots and a display of your work on our website).
Accessibility:
AUSLAN Interpreters will be available during the final festival event, but you will need to provide your own support during the workshops.
[Note: To successfully complete the program, participants need to be available all days of the program.]
the workshops
MUSIC
Get a hands-on and collaborative experience in songwriting, production, and storytelling through music. You will leave the program with a produced track that will be showcased at the final event, and hosted on our webpage.
THEATRE
Learn to storytell by devising and performing a theatre piece, through collaboration with other participants and mentors. You will leave the program having performed your developed piece in front of an audience at the final event, which will be recorded and hosted on our webpage.
film
Storytell from behind the lens, through producing a documentary-style mini-film on your mobile phone. You will leave the program with a finished film reel, that will be showcased at the final event, and hosted on our webpage.
To Apply
Participants will be selected based on application. Five participants will be selected for each workshop category (i.e. music, theatre, or film), by the program team and workshop facilitators.
Applications open on 1st February, and close on 22nd February 2025.
We will inform you of the outcome of your application via email by 15th March 2025.
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Prepare a 150 word written or 1 min digital (video) submission telling us who you are, what category you want to apply for, why you want to participate in the program, and what you hope to gain from it.
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Prepare an up to 150 word bio (who you are, your background, your interests).
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Click the link to fill out the application form. https://forms.gle/j2MJMbrrjLWV22SYA
If you have trouble accessing or filling out the form, please write to us at admin@cinespace.org.au, we will do our best to support you through the application process.
Selection Criteria:
Interest in Storytelling: You must have an interest in working in storytelling, through music, performance, or film (even social media!), and want to develop skills in creating such works. You do not need prior experience in creating works, but interest is required.
Interest in Your Workshop Category: Your interests must align with the workshop you are applying for (even if it's in trying out a new creative practice!).
All Backgrounds Welcome! The program is open to people from all backgrounds, who are interested in cross-community collaboration. People from First Nations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, BIPOC, and CALD backgrounds, people with disabilities, neurodiverse peoples, and people of diverse sexualities and genders are warmly invited to apply.
(If you require assistance during the application process, please reach out to admin@cinespace.org.au).
Meet the mentors
Having worked with Jaguar Jonze, Stella Donnelly, Sparrows, and Magdalia, Seetali Mack is a Melbourne-based producer, songwriter, musician, and composer whose dedication and technical expertise have established her as a rising force in the music industry. Her passion for guitar, production, advanced recording techniques and songcraft drive her mission to break barriers and challenge stereotypes in the industry. Seetali strives to inspire diverse creators, encouraging them to see their potential reflected in her journey.
Seetali Mack [MUSIC]
NABILA MALIK (THEATRE)
Steve Pereira [THEATRE]
Steve is a writer, theatre director and cultural producer, with passion and experience for community engagement and development particularly with Queer, CALD and POC communities. A Tanzanian, Canadian, and Australian of Indian background, he has extensive experience and training working in the areas of race, culture and identity.
Nabila is a theatremaker, creative producer, director, dramaturg, DEI specialist and advocate. With her writing and directing debut at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024 with To The Moon and Back, her career credits include Producer of UMMTA’s Spamalot, founding member and Artistic Director of CIPTA Theatre Company, and various roles in equity. Nabila has a deep passion for improving diversity and inclusion in the industry through facilitating cross-cultural productions and stories, with a strong emphasis on community building.
Simon is a Naarm-based freelance videographer, photographer, mentor and artist. His work and personal practice engages with community storytelling. For the past 5 years, Simon has filmed with various communities throughout Naarm. Recently he has captured many stories from locals and the wider trader community for the public photo and video series, “I Love Coburg”, which was produced in collaboration with Central Coburg Business Associations & Merri-Bek City Council. Simon’s continual focus is to collaboratively find the best ways to project people's voices where interviewees feel proud.
