Festival of Open Minds program released - got your tickets yet?

The Festival of Open Minds looks to reawaken the art of civil debate and conversation on complex issues, experiences, and ideas.

Hate, fear, and aggression have become part of disagreement, on September 1 at the Bega Civic Centre we aspire to increase understanding, share credible information, and perhaps agree to disagree.

A dynamic program of speakers has been assembled for this TEDx style event that will have people talking, thinking, laughing, and maybe crying.

Loosely based on the theme of “change” you will hear from people experiencing change, people advocating for change, and people who have led change. Change across a range of interests and experiences.

Check out the program…

Thanks to Amanda Dalziel for her design work on the program, printed copies will be available on the day.

The day starts at 9:30 am sharp with a Welcome to Country and will conclude at 4:45 pm after a 30-minute panel discussion with speakers and the audience. Morning and afternoon tea breaks along the way and an hour for lunch roaming Bega will keep your belly and brain happy.

Candelo Books will also be there selling copies of Hugh Mackay’s new book ‘Australia Reimagined’ and Gabbie Stroud’s memoir ‘Teacher’, both authors will be available for book signings.

Ticket sales have been strong, a growing crowd that will no doubt add to the atmosphere, promise and power of the day. Tickets are $30 for adults, high schoolers (12 to 19 years) are free, bookings can be made via South Coast Tickets.

This unique event takes place in the stunning natural landscape of the Bega Valley, country that naturally relaxes and open minds. For those traveling from outside the region, the invitation is there to create a long weekend around the Festival by staying in Bega, Tathra, Bermagui, Merimbula, or Eden.

Inspired by the building momentum around the event, Iain Dawson, Director of the Bega Valley Regional Gallery has injected added spunk and depth with a special filming screening the night before – Friday, August 31.

BVRG presents the first regional screening of the controversial 2018 film ‘Terror Nullius‘.

Iain Dawson says, “Join us as we host the launch event of the Festival of Open Minds. Terror Nullius is a blistering, badly behaved sample-based film that confronts the horror of our contemporary moment.”

“We are so excited to present this film in Bega, the first time it has screened outside of major film festivals and metropolitan venues,” he says.

Running at 55-minutes, Terror Nullius is the work of Australian-born, New York-based video artists Dominique and Dan Angeloro, AKA Soda_Jerk.

ABC movie man Jason Di Rosso says, “Right from the get go, Terror Nullius does not announce itself as subtle political rhetoric,” Di Rosso says.

“As beautifully made as it is, there’s a caustic, irreverent tone running through it that wouldn’t be out of place in a student newspaper.”

Di Rosso explains, “Terror Nullius is an audio-visual collage that uses highly sophisticated techniques to splice together images and sounds from Australian film and television history, often with a palpable anger and even a streak of malicious humour.”

“A scene from Mad Max II is repurposed to see Tony Abbott and Pauline Hanson get whacked with lethal force by boomerangs, for example.”

Iain Dawson hopes the Bega screening will present the news and issues of now in a way only art can, “This is a chance for regional audiences to become part of the conversation and the film fits perfectly with The Festival of Open Minds,” he says.

Terror Nullius is not suitable for children. Parental guidance is recommended. It contains adult themes, sexual content and strong violence. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are advised that the film may contain images and voices of people who have died.

Tickets for the film screening are FREE and include a Friday drink and nibbles. Terror Nullius screens from 6 pm, Friday, August 31 at the Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre.

The Festival of Open Minds is supported by Bega Valley Shire Council, University of Wollongong – Bega Campus, Tathra Beach House Apartments, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, Candelo Books, and RiotACT.