RETURN TO BALIBO – Interview with director Robert Connolly

This Friday, 16 October, marks the 40th anniversary of the murders of five Australian-based journalists in East Timor by Indonesian forces.

Greg Shackleton (29), Malcolm Rennie (29), Tony Stewart (21), Brian Peters (24) and Gary Cunningham (27) were killed during the invasion.

In their honour there will be a special screening of Robert Connolly’s outstanding 2009 film Balibo at the Astor cinema at 6.45pm, with members of the cast, crew and the families of the journalists in attendance.

Damon Gameau as reporter Greg Shackleton in Robert Connolly’s searing drama Balibo

Funds raised will help the Balibo House Trust and the building of a dental clinic in Balibo (where the film will be screened for free).

Connolly took time out to join us to talk about the film, its impact and the continuing quest for official recognition of what occurred on that black day.

He also reflects on the huge success of his kids film Paper Planes and the boom year Australian films are presently enjoying.  

Tickets in Melbourne: www.palacecinemas.com.au/sessiontimes/session/180/131

There are also Balibo screenings in Sydney at the Golden Age Cinema, Surry Hills at 6.30pm (www.ourgoldenage.com.au/film/balibo) and Darwin at the Deckchair Cinema at 7.30pm. (www.deckchaircinema.com/program).

To see the interview with Robert Connolly, watch here:

To watch the trailer for Balibo, watch here: