An inspiring new film giving voice to children affected by family separation has officially launched with the support of legal professionals, child advocates, and the creative community.
Hosted by Vasilios Kordos, Millie is the poignant follow-up to the internationally successful short film Tommy. Both projects were conceived by family lawyer and children’s advocate Darren Mort and brought to life by TOMMY & MILLIE Productions. The film was created to offer support and hope to families and children navigating the difficult terrain of separation and divorce.
“Millie is a heartwarming piece of cinema that is based on the authentic experiences of a family law barrister,” Darren Mort said.
“It is a film that carries a message of hope to those navigating the difficulties of family separation. Through Millie we witness the extraordinary transformative power of imagination and find solace in the fact there is light at the end of the tunnel no matter how challenging the situation gets.”
With national release plans underway, Millie is sponsored by AF Legal Group—incorporating Australian Family Lawyers and Watts McCray—who share a commitment to highlighting the lived experiences of children affected by family breakdown.
“It’s estimated that 1 in 5 children will experience parental separation before the age of 18, with half of divorces in 2021 involving children under 18,”added Chris McFadden, CEO of AF Legal Group. “There’s a distinct lack of support for the significant population of Australian children who have experienced or are experiencing separation and divorce.”
“In some of these situations the separation can be quite high conflict, but outside of family law, it doesn’t get much attention. By sponsoring the film, AF Legal Group aims to give a voice to children and hopefully bring comfort to those who are going through difficult times.”
Following the success of Tommy, Darren Mort assembled an award-winning team to create Millie. Directed by acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Pedro Greig, and produced by Head Creative Producer Jane Liscombe—renowned for her work on Cracker Bag, The Mule, and Last Ride—Millie offers a visually rich and emotionally resonant portrayal of a young girl’s journey through the trauma of separation.
An exclusive professional screening of Millie will be held tonight at the NSW State Library, followed by a panel discussion featuring a psychologist, family law judge, and the film’s director and producers.
“From a legal perspective divorce and separation will continue to affect Australian children which is why we need to have it feature more prominently in our cultural conversations,” said McFadden.
“There’s also a need to create more awareness of nurturing children during relationship breakdowns and provide them with the tools and language to work through their feelings and build resilience in the face of change. We invite everyone to view the film and consider how we can collectively support children in families going through separation and divorce, whether it’s high conflict or otherwise.”
When: Tuesday 14 May at 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Where: The State Library of NSW – Library Auditorium, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney
