Dear, friends of Scattered People.
Welcome to Autumn, a time of change and renewal and review. As we move into the cooler months there is much to reflect upon and much to look forward to, especially cosy film screenings, discussion and community support for asylum seekers and refugees.
It has also been a time of celebration to see so many refugees released after many years-long detentions. Yes, timing might feel disingenuous in these charged political election times. There is still much more work to do to humanise and dignify our refugee process, but every positive move is a win, and we feel grateful to play a modest part in sharing that message.
Scattered People has continued to move audiences and organisations alike, broaden advocacy and knowledge, and raise much needed funds for the enormous Australian network of charities and community groups working so hard to support our asylum seekers and refugees.
It was incredible to finally reschedule our original premiere in Sydney with Asylum Seeker Centre (ASC), and to feel the warmth and enthusiasm from regional communities – persisting and finally able to reset after restrictions and many challenges.
In the next few months, we have a swag of new events. Please see our calendar for details in the coming months for events in Marion VIC, Sydney NSW, Newtown VIC, Bairnsdale VIC, and Griffith NSW. We have more dates to announce very soon.
If you are reviewing a rescheduled date, or a new event, or considering an encore screening event, here are some date ideas to consider that might tie in with your advocacy and fundraising efforts:
- International Day of Living Together in Peace - 16 May
- World Day, Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development – 21 May
- World Refugee Day - 20 June
- World Mental Health Day (WHO) - 10 October
- World Humanitarian Day – 19 August
While the world reels with new asylum seeker and refugee challenges from Afghanistan, Ukraine and many other ongoing wars, the plight of so many seeking asylum endures. We see on our screens every day the millions seeking refuge from invasion and persecution. It has always been so, but this time we are watching in real time. It is also a real time reminder to honour and continue to tell the enduring human stories behind the experiences of those fleeing war, persecution and poverty.
We always hope through the universal connector of music, and our story of the Scattered People, that more people will join us in the ongoing critical campaign for our most vulnerable, displaced people and that they be treated with compassion, dignity and humanity.
With love and gratitude,
John and Lizzi
Producers