IN THE YURT
Through this selection of 4 short films we bring you a unique insight into the life of children between the ages of 10 and 14, from countries along the old silk route like China, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Ukraine.
Each story shows how the individual child deals with life’s challenges, big and small, which they face in their specific cultural and social contexts. They revolve around something the child is passionate about with big universally recognizable themes such as developing your talents, realizing your dreams, finding yourself, and even disagreeing with parents – part of every child’s life.
Common to the children is their bravery and the fact that they have a level of rather mature reflection of their own existence. Other children will in many ways emotionally recognize the stories about Nastia, Yang, Leeza and others because they are children with inner strength who despite obstacles find their own way forward.
The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that were central to cultural interaction connecting the East and West. It created curiosity among cultures, for example tea and silk from China were suddenly sold in Venice. The trading may be a thing of the past, but the cultures are still there. The historical Silk Road countries provide an exotic and dramatic frame for the children’s stories.
The Silk Road selection of 4 films, shows kids how colorful the world is and creates understanding and curiosity of different cultures.
Note: Each film has English subtitles
THE GIRL AWAY FROM HOME
Nastia (13) is the captain of an elite gymnastics team in Kiev. The girls on the team are her best friends. Together they train hard for the upcoming championship. They win the championship and have never been better. Just one month later, war breaks out in Ukraine and Nastia has to move with her grandmother to Germany.
Now Nastia has to create a new life without her parents and without her friends from gymnastics. She has no idea when she will be able to return to Kiev and see her parents and friends again. And the wait in Germany is difficult for Nastia. But when she joins a German gymnastics team, things slowly start to brighten.
CREDITS
Directors
Alisa Kovalenko & Simon Lereng Wilmont
THE MONKEY KING
Yang (11) has the lead role as the Monkey King playing at the famous Chinese Opera. It is a dream that is being fulfilled, since the Monkey King is the great hero of Yang. Yang’s role is physically very demanding and the training is brutal. Teachers shake up in Yang’s little body.
Yang does not have one real friend in school, Yang tries to become part of the football community’s other boys, but makes such a lousy figure that it merely emphasizes his outsider status. Nevertheless, he takes courage and invites 3 classmates to the premiere. When they see him in a leading role in one of China’s most important theaters, they may get to understand his fascination – and accept him as a friend?
CREDITS
Director
Kaspar Astrup Schröder
11:30 SATURDAY 15 JUNE (DOUBLE SCREENING)
BIRD BOY
When 12-year-old Reshat looks around him, he sees the oil fields of Azerbaijan. When he looks up dreamily, he sees pigeons flying to heaven. He misses his father, who died a year ago, and who also loved these birds. Reshat cautiously approaches the best pigeon keeper in the village. Will he teach him to train pigeons?
Reshat plays with his friends, visits his father’s grave, looks at old photos with his grandmother, and does his homework because his mother tells him to. But he prefers to be with the pigeon keeper. You can see how much he loves it when the birds eat from his hand. Meanwhile Reshat tells us his thoughts, mostly in voice-over. His father taught him that he should be kind to birds, because souls fly to heaven on their wings. While Reshat is learning all about pigeons, he discovers what he really wants.
CREDITS
Director
Simon Lereng Wilmont
GIRL WITH GOALS
Girl With Goals is an uplifting story that follows 12-year-old Leeza, who dreams of becoming a football player to see the world and win a scholarship. But there’s just one problem: she’s not very good at it.
Undeterred, Leeza turns to her younger sister Leena for help. Together, they train hard in the steep rocky hills of northern Pakistan, hoping to improve Leeza’s skills and make her dream a reality. This episode celebrates sisterhood, determination, and the power of hard work.
CREDITS
Directors
Camilla Magid & Anam Abbas
11:30 SUNDAY 16 JUNE (DOUBLE SCREENING)
FESTIVAL YURT
The YURT is back for the 2024 Castlemaine Documentary Festival.
So what’s a Yurt ? It’s a portable home that’s been used by nomads for thousands of years which will become our alternative micro-cinema over festival weekend of 14 – 16 June.
It’s a circular structure resembling a tent and is built using traditional methods and natural materials, seating up to 60 people.
The Yurt will be set up on Western Reserve Castlemaine for the duration of festival weekend – and it’s heated and comfy.
Our return special event in The Yurt is WEREWOLVES – not a documentary, but an interactive parlour game – just like those popular 100 years ago and great fun to play. Just 20 people max and perfect for groups of friends and families.
WEREWOLVES comes highly recommended and has played at the Adelaide Fringe since 2018 where it has become a much-loved, sell-out program fixture, along with its games-master Nick Philips who knows just how to draw up the right levels of thrill, excitement and laughter. No game is ever the same. And Nick has also built the Yurt!
★★★★★ The Curtain Up Show, “This is brilliant”
★★★★★ Voice Mag UK, “Phillips’ story telling is superb”
The Festival at a glance
Friday 14 June
Theatre Royal
5:00pm
Music from Brazazul
a beautiful moment
Ag Fab: From Paddock to Catwalk
7:30pm
Acknowledgement of Country
8:00pm
WINHANGANHA and Q&A
9:30pm
Drinks at Love Shack
Saturday 15 June
Theatre Royal
11:00am
Obsessed with Light
2:00pm
Starring Jerry as Himself
5:00pm
LOCALS
8:00pm
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande
9:30pm
Party with The Afrobiotics at Theatre Royal
Sunday 16 June
Theatre Royal
11:00am
The Gullspång Miracle
2:00pm
The Koalas and Q&A
5:00pm
Apolonia, Apolonia
8:00pm
The Road to Patagonia
9:30pm
Drinks at Love Shack
FILMS & GAMES IN THE YURT
On the Western Reserve
SATURDAY 15 June
11:30am
Kids on the Silk Road: Girl away from home {film} and The Monkey King {film}
1:00pm
Werewolves {game}
4:00pm
a beautiful moment {film}
7:00pm
Werewolves {game}
SUNDAY 16 June
11:30am
Kids on the Silk Road: Bird Boy {film} and Girl with goals {film}
1:00pm
Werewolves {game}
4:00pm
Ag Fab: From Paddock to Catwalk {film}
5:00pm
Werewolves {game}