Yiayia Mou (My Grandmother) a short film by Cypriot Australian poet, filmmaker and writer Koraly Dimitriadis has been selected as a finalist in this year’s Multicultural Film Festival.
In it, she tells the story of her grandmother’s intergenerational trauma.
Set in the ancient Paphos Theatre, which hasn’t been performed in for over a thousand years, the film explores three generations of women and the heartache of the migrant experience that flows between them.
Dimitriadis grew up in Melbourne’s inner north in a working-class migrant family.
She recalls her father talking about politics in Cyprus.
“It just felt like something wasn’t right but I didn’t realise what it was or how to articulate it until much later in life,” she said about her time before delving into the arts space.
“I came to art later in life. I did the good Greek girl thing first. Got married young, had kids, and became a computer programmer.”
The film festival is the only multicultural one of its kind in Australia, and is used to help connect storytellers to their cultural background.
Dimitriadis says the festival has given her the courage to explore and experiment and it important for the multicultural community.
“This festival helps recognise and support migrants, especially women; we desperately need that support. We need women’s voices talking about taboo subjects, things that can sometimes be kept behind closed doors in migrant communities.”
The family involvement doesn’t only extend to the film being about her grandmother, as it also features her teenage daughter, Rosie G, as a cinematographer.
“It’s her first official credit, and I am so proud of how it helped her creatively blossom,” Dimitriadis said.
Another cinematographer is Ellpetha Tsivicos, who is a Cypriot-American.
One of the Cypriot Aussie’s previous films, Mediterranian Madness was shortlisted for the festival last year.
The film is also set to screen in Cyprus in November as part of the Australian Embassy’s 50-year celebrations.
Multicultural Film Festival’s premiere of Yiayia Mou will be held at ACMI in Melbourne’s Federation Square on August 29.
For tickets and more information visit www.multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au/multicultural-film-festival
Koraly Dimitriadis will be performing some of her poetry in Sydney on August 14.
For more information visit this link.
