“A personal, emotive and well-shot film about the potential despoliation of important environmental parts of NSW by a coal seam gas company. The film highlights the damaging aspects to the water table from fracking, as well as the individual stories of people and the land. A major addition to documentaries on key issues impacting Australia’s future”. –Peter Krausz, Former Chair AUSTRALIAN FILM CRITICS ASSOC.
Balangara Films has won a prestigious Award of Excellence from The Impact DOCS Awards Competition.
CALIFORNIA, United States. The award was given for Balangara’s coal seam gas film, Pilliga Rising, commissioned by The Wilderness Society to bring major attention to the industrialisation of the Pilliga forest in northwest New South Wales, Australia. Pilliga Rising features courageous community leaders rising up against the coal seam gas industry, who plan to build 850 gas wells near the southern recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin, which lies beneath the largest inland forest in eastern Australia.
Director, Mark Pearce worked with a diverse cast, including Gamilaraay First Nations community, outback farmers, citizen scientists and a German potter family, over a 12 month period to complete the film.
“It’s a remarkable effort by everyone involved in the film. To win an award like this is a real honour, and to be recognised alongside some of the most powerful social issue documentaries of 2020 is a terrific feeling. Importantly, this story is having a positive impact on the world. Credit must go to former Pilliga campaign manager, Naomi Hodgson and The Wilderness Society team who fully trusted the many choices made through production as well as the organic and sometimes spontaneous process of documentary filmmaking.
The true heroes however are the people of the Pilliga. Their courage and persistence to rise up against the giant gas companies has been sustained for more than a decade and they’re the real reason this magnificent land is still protected. This award is dedicated to those people who voted against coal seam gas in their communities, which was 96% of the population living in the Pilliga region.”
The beauty of Australia’s forests, farmlands and wildlife has been captured for the screen by cinematographers Miles Bennett and and Lee Herbet.
A family of Emu’s Dromaius novaehollandiae (Australia’s largest living bird by height, reaching up to 1.9 metres tall) together on farmlands surrounding the Pilliga forest in northwest, New South Wales. Image: Miles Bennett
The award marks the 33rd international film recognition for Balangara in its 10 year history of producing social impact media.
Impact DOCS recognizes film, television, and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Documentaries were received from 30 countries, including veteran award winning filmmakers and fresh new talent. Entries were judged by highly qualified and award winning professionals in the film and television industry.
In winning an Impact DOCS award, Balangara Films joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including the Oscar winning director Louie Psihoyos for his 2016 Best of Show – Racing Extinction, Oscar winner Yael Melamede for (Dis)Honesty – The Truth About Lies, and Emmy Award winner Gerald Rafshoon for Endless Corridors narrated by Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, and many more.
Rick Prickett, who chairs Impact DOCS, had this to say about the latest winners,“The judges and I were simply blown away by the variety and immensely important documentaries we screened. Impact DOCS is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. Impact DOCS helps set the standard for craft and creativity as well as power catalysts for global change. The goal of Impact DOCS is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve for their dedication and work.”
Impact DOCS Awards is the newest member of the Global Film Awards (GFA) family of competitions who have been hosting competitions for 14 years. As one of the original trend-setting digital online competitions, GFA set the standard for this exciting new breed of film competitions. GFA’s Accolade Competition was named by MovieMagazine “…as one of the top 25 festivals worth the entry fee”. It is truly international in scope offering filmmakers from large powerhouses like Disney, The Weinstein Company, Discovery and Ridley Scott all the way to first time filmmakers and students, the opportunity to receive valuable feedback from an impartial judging panel comprised by highly qualified and award winning professionals in the industry. Often the first stop on the festival circuit, GFA award winners have gone on to win Oscars like the short doc “The Lady in Number Six” and “Mr Hublot” as well as countless Emmys, Tellys and more.
Information about the Impact DOCS Awards and a list of past and recent winners can be found at www.ImpactDocsAwards.com