Join us to mark Ballarat Harmony Fest with a screening of the documentary film, ‘Nuestras Voces’ (Our Voices), directed by Ballarat-based filmmaker and storyteller, Diana Paez. The film shares stories about Spanish-speaking migrant and refugee settlement in Australia in the later part of the 20th century. Hear about the challenges faced by the people who arrived in Australia from Spain and South America, but also their significant contribution to the social, political and cultural fabric of Victoria.
Between 1960s and 1980s, thousands of Spanish-speaking migrants, mainly from Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, and Uruguay arrived in Australia, mostly to escape unstable and dangerous political situations, namely dictatorships and civil war. At that time, Australia’s migration policies were changing, and this allowed people from Spain and Latin America to find refuge and start a new and safe life in Australia. The Spanish-speaking communities arrived during a transformational time in Australia with a gradual shift towards to a complete abolition of the White Australia Policy in 1973 and a change in government sentiment from assimilation to multiculturalism.
Following the screening, film maker Diana Paez will join broadcaster and SBS Spanish language audio program producer Claudio Vásquez to discuss the film and its themes.
A Ballarat Harmony Fest event presented by the Eureka Centre. Free. No bookings required.
Nuestras Voces’ (Our Voices) is a Spanish language documentary with English subtitles, produced by Latin Stories Australia.
Image: Diana Paez, documentary filmmaker and storyteller
