There are a few things that separate the arrival of Maria and Zahoor at Villawood: ten years, a few policy reforms and two very large fences.

“For Australia to become like this – to have Villawood transformed into that is painful.” – Maria

A well-known end point and starting point for those who leave their country seeking asylum in Australia is Villawood Detention Centre – formerly known as Villawood Hostel. Two women who were faced with the choice to flee share their story with their sons.

Villawood Mums
Release: October 2010
Location: Villawood Detention Centre, Western Sydney

Producers: Guido Gonzalez and Saif Jari
Directors: Guido Gonzalez and Saif Jari
1st Assistant Director: Alan Lao
Directors Photography: Guido Gonzalez and Saif Jari
Editor: Anna Lam
Sound (Shoot): Shane MacDonald
Sound (Post) and Music: Saif Jari
Production Assistant: Lazare Nyembo

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

The Stories Project is presented by CuriousWorks.

“If we haven’t said anything, no one knows we even have a story. But now we’re gonna say it, so it makes a difference.” – Lazare

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Next? Watch Villawood Mums here.

The Urban Stories crew reflect on their first year together with CuriousWorks: learning skills, making films and forming their own media enterprise, Matta Media.

Filmed by: The Urban Stories Crew
Edited by: Mark Taylor

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

The Stories Project is presented by CuriousWorks .

“Its in our blood. I live it, all I do is music.” – Marco

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A simple backyard party with family and friends quickly becomes a heart-warming site of cultural resilience.

Join Marco for a song and a story about upheaval, struggle and an unwavering passion for music that has kept his family and culture strong.

Take the full journey and meet Marco director Guido Gonzalez on the CuriousWorks website.

Marco
Release: March 2012
Location: Fairfield, Western Sydney

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Director, Producer, Editor & Director of Photography: Guido Gonzalez
Sound: Saif Jari

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

The Stories Project is presented by CuriousWorks .

“We are Martu. We got everything we need out here.”

Catch a slice of Martu life in these 2 minute videos.

Punmu Life – Where We Come From

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Punmu Life – The Country I Paint

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Punmu Life – Everything We Need Out Here

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Punmu Life
Release: December 2011
Location: Punmu, Pilbara, Western Australia

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Directors: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John, Carol Macdonald
Producer: Dave Wells
Directors Photography: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John, Carol Macdonald
Editors: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

The Stories Project is presented by CuriousWorks .

Content by the Desert Stories crew is produced in partnership between CuriousWorks and Martu Media, a division of Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa.

Music
‘Marathon Man’ by Jason Shaw
Under Creative Commons License
freemusicarchive.org

“We tell the stories of how our country is important, so our young people can look after it.”

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Jukurrpa Ninti — Knowledge of Culture was filmed during a return-to-country trip across Lake Dora in Martu country in the Pilbara region of WA.

Jukurrpa Ninti
Release: December 2011
Location: Lake Dora, Rudall River National Park, Western Australia

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Directors: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John, Carol Macdonald
Producer: Dave Wells
Directors Photography: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John, Carol Macdonald
Editors: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

The Stories Project is presented by CuriousWorks .

Content by the Desert Stories crew is produced in partnership between CuriousWorks and Martu Media, a division of Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa.

Music Credits
Song — The Sacred And Her Journey Home
Artist — Mirko Uhlig
Album — The Rabbits Logbook