The London Australian Film Society & Festival

The Final Quarter

THE FINAL QUARTER

SELL OUT!

Feature: (2019) Ian Darling (dir) 75mins

Documentary

Unclassified we recommend 15+

Panel discussion to followed the feature

Australian Snacks & Raffles will be on sale - cash only

Screened Saturday 19 October

6.30pm

Regent Street Cinema

THE FEATURE

The Final Quarter

The London Australian Film Society continued its fascinating examination of race relations with the unflinching documentary, THE FINAL QUARTER.

This immersive feature film appeals to anyone interested in issues of racism in today’s world, not just Australia.

Using only archival material to tell the story of the period from 2013 to 2015, it focuses on the unparalleled furore surrounding sportsman and 2014 Australian of the Year, Adam Goodes – who was not only a champion Australian Football League (AFL) player, but also a respected Indigenous leader.

In similarly powerful style to Asif Kapadia’s documentaries, Senna (2010), Amy (2015) & Diego Maradona (2019), the film reveals "what was seen and what was heard" during a period of heated public debate and division centred around Goodes. THE FINAL QUARTER shows how “casual racism” can quickly spin into something profoundly damaging to not only an individual, but a nation.

In the final three years of his playing career, Goodes was named Australian of the Year, publicly called out racism, and performed an on-field Indigenous war dance in celebration for kicking a goal, similar to the New Zealand haka. He was a champion for Indigenous Australians, intent on helping to heal the divide that has dogged Australia since European colonisation.

But, very quickly the cheers became jeers as football crowds turned on him, and he eventually walked away from the game without any of the fanfare he deserved.

THE FINAL QUARTER holds a mirror to a disturbing period in Australia’s recent history and is an opportunity to reconsider what happened on and off the football field.

Since its premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, in June 2019 to rave reviews, standing ovations and six sold out screenings – there has been an overwhelming outpouring of regret and support for Goodes from most Australians, as well as the media, the AFL clubs and leadership, and politicians.

This is a truly remarkable film, already changing Australia’s understanding of racism, Indigenous culture and the nation’s true history.

Critics and audiences alike have said it is not to be missed.

A panel discussion followed this feature.

The panellists were:

• Bridget Brennan a Europe Correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, based in London. She’s been a reporter for a decade and has also worked as a journalist in Hong Kong and the United States. She was previously the ABC’s first National Indigenous Affairs Correspondent, a role which took her across Australia reporting and investigating stories relating to First Nations communities.

In 2017, Bridget covered the National Constitutional Convention which led to the Uluru Statement. She won a Logie for her research work on a two-part documentary for Four Corners on Sydney’s Lindt Siege.

Bridget is a Dja Dja Wurrung (PRON: JAH JAH WOO-RUNG) and Yorta Yorta woman from Victoria and was the first Aboriginal person in the ABC’s history to be appointed as a foreign correspondent. She is also a long-suffering Collingwood fan.

• Dr Siobhan Martin Monash Fellow and European HR Director, Aegon Asset Management

Siobhan has been at the forefront of driving positive change in the workplace for more than 25 years, enabling everyone to truly bring their full talents to life. Siobhan is currently leading the European HR function for a major Asset Management firm, and previously was a Partner and Board member of Mercer, also holding global change management roles for Ernst & Young and KPMG. She has been based in London and Edinburgh since 2005. Siobhan took her PhD in Forensic Psychology from Monash University where she is also a Fellow, and Chair of the UK branch of the Global Leaders’ Network.

Siobhan is a member of the Market Development Board of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, the Stonewall Market Development Board, and the Parochial Church Council of All Hallows by the Tower (the oldest Church in the City of London) and has been recognised as one of the top 10 global LGBT executives by the Financial Times. Siobhan has previously held Board positions with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation, as a School Governor, and as an Advisory Board Member for the global Professional Women’s Network. Siobhan is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Chartered Member of the Australian Psychological Society. She’s also the mother of two wonderful young people and Nüdel & Scully, their miniature dachshunds. Of her flaws, depending on where you stand, being a Collingwood supporter ranks highest!

• Sally Fryer (ASE) Senior Editor of THE FINAL QUARTER, Shark Island Institute.

We were so thrilled that the film's editor, Sally Fryer, was in town and was able to attend the screening.

Sally has a long and illustrious career. She was a founding Director of the Documentary Australia Foundation, and a Co-Producer of three Good Pitch Australia events. She has 30 years’ experience as a film editor both in London and Sydney, where she has worked on over 100 documentaries.

In 2011 she gained accreditation from the Australian Screen Editor’s Guild, and in 2012 was awarded an ‘Ellie’ by the Guild for ‘Best Editing in a Documentary Feature’ for the film PAUL KELLY — STORIES OF ME. In 2008 Sally won the AFI Award for ‘Best Editing in a Documentary’ for THE OASIS.

Sally and Ian Darling have been making films together since 2001. Their first film was WOODSTOCK FOR CAPITALISTS, which won several awards including a Cine Golden Eagle Award. Their second film was ALONE ACROSS AUSTRALIA — Winner of 32 international film festivals and voted ‘one of the top 20 adventure films of all time’ by Men’s Journal Magazine, USA.

Her work has twice been nominated for an Emmy award and many years ago, WATERGATE, made for the BBC, won the International Emmy for ‘Best Documentary Series’.

Sally is the very proud mother of two delicious young men, Louie and Thommo, and two dogs, Hiccup and Smudge. Swimming and long walks help to keep her sane.

These three women created a brilliant platform and sounding board for what was a most complex and passionate discussion following the screening. Sally knows the film inside out and has worked with it’s director, Ian Darling, since 2001. Bridget was the ABC’s National Indigenous Affairs Correspondent before moving to London. And Siobhan is an expert in cultural change in some of the world’s largest workplace environments and a avid AFL supporter.