October 2016 - Zach's Ceremony

Film about Aboriginal identity, shown at New York’s Margaret Mead Film Festival

A film about a young man's initiation ceremony at a remote Aboriginal community in Queensland has received a standing ovation at the Margaret Mead Film Festival in New York. Zach's Ceremony, directed by Aaron Petersen and produced by Alec Doomadgee and Sarah Linton, was filmed over a 10-year period. The film centres around Doomadgee, and his son Zach, as Zach struggles with his identity and the challenges he faced living between Sydney and his remote community. At the same time as the New York screening, the documentary was on at the Byron Bay Film Festival, where it picked up the best documentary award.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-26/film-about-aboriginal-identity-strikes-a-cord-in-new-york/7967328?pfmredir=sm

Standing Ovation for Zach’s Ceremony at BBFF’s Opening Gala

A CAPACITY crowd filled every corner of the Byron Theatre on Friday for the Opening Night film Zach’s Ceremony, and the gala party which followed. Filmmakers, sound designers, post-production gurus and film lovers rubbed shoulders with screen and stage identities Lincoln Lewis and Bernard Fanning, and film veterans such as Jack Thompson, a long-time supporter of the festival.

http://www.byronbayblog.com.au/standing-ovation-for-zachs-ceremony-at-bbffs-opening-gala-5392

Interview with ABC 105.7

Alec Doomadgee grew up on the Territory side of the border until his mum felt it was safe for him, as a light skinned boy, to go to school in Doomadgee. On his first school trip he decided to make a film to showcase the wonderful things about his culture, the way he saw other 'exotic' cultures celebrated. He told Rebecca McLaren, this film is the result.

https://soundcloud.com/1057darwin/zachs-ceremony-a-film-by-alec-doomadgee