Much anticipated documentary Zach’s Ceremony is screening at Mount Isa Cinema tonight, with a Q&A from Zach and Alex Doomadgee to answer any questions.
The film tells the story of Zach Doomadgee’s initiation ceremony as a young Indigenous male living between two worlds; the culture of his ancestors and his future as a millenial in Sydney.
Alex Doomadgee has spent the past 10 years working on the film about his son, but has wanted to make it since he himself was a teenager.
“It was something I aspired to do, and I picked up a camera and started filming in 2004. At the start I was writer, director, producer, doing everything myself,” Mr Doomadgee said.
The father and filmmaker eventually hired a production team in 2012 to help him capture the essence of his hometown Doomadgee, and the stunning landscape.
“The purpose of the film was to show the beauty of my culture and show the importance of Aboriginal connection to country, and a rite of passage.”
“Not only that, but the importance of family and love and making a difference for future generations,” Doomadgee said.
A part of that was to communicate the importance of Aboriginal culture to non-Indigenous Australians, he said.
“At the start my initial aim was to communicate to Indigenous people why our law and ceremony is so important to us, to hold our culture sacred.”
“But at the same time I had to try and translate that to others, and that’s why I told the stopry through the eyes of my son,” Mr Doomadgee said.
Doomadgee pointed out that the universal story of a father-son relationship breaks down any cultural barriers and gives people something to connect to.
“It’s been connecting around the world and a lot of people are taking to it because of that universal story of father and son, and it’s beautifully told.
“I think everyone in Mount Isa will definitely connect to the experience on Saturday night” he said.
Mr Doomadgee left Doomadgee to start a career in radio, and began working at MOB FM during a trip to Mount Isa in 1997.
“It was a beautiful time in my life, I had a wonderful time in Mount Isa,” he said.
Zach’s Ceremony screens tonight at Mount Isa Cinema, and tickets are selling fast at www.fan-force.com/screenings/zachs-ceremony-cinema-mount-isa-qld/
