AUSTRALIA’S OCEAN COMMUNITY SHOWS ITS SUPPORT AT A SERIES OF avant-PRIVATE screenings FOR THE MAP TO PARADISE
“Thrilled about this film and the hope you bring. A brilliant masterpiece.”
SUSIE CRICK, CHAIR - SURFRIDER FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA
A lot of positive energy and excitement filled the air. There was a lot of buzz around the idea of seeing an ocean documentary with a happy ending.
The date was the 5 November 2018. It was the first event in a series of private previews for ocean stakeholders of The Map to Paradise. We were in Byron Bay (Pig House Flicks) - an Australian beachside destination, famous not just for its surf and boho culture, but for its local movement to protect the sea. The film would then go on to play at private avant-previews at Sydney’s indie picture house, Dendy Opera Quays, as well as at the University of Technology Sydney.
Ocean stakeholders from all walks of life mingled and talked about the future of the movement to protect the sea at these screenings. There were ocean athletes, like surf iron women, sailors and former olympians; divers; marine scientists; surfers; and ocean campaigners.
The series of private previews for Australia follows on from the first private screening of The Map to Paradise, which took place on World Oceans Day June 2017 at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, hosted by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The new series of private screenings is helping to design The Map to Paradise social impact campaign to #RestoreParadise and #KeepPlacesWild.
Professor of Ecology David Booth opened the preview at the University of Technology Sydney and Australian champion Surf Iron Woman Lizzie Wellborn joined the filmmakers for a Q&A at an exclusive screening for ocean athletes.
“The Map to Paradise moved me on such a profound level. Important messages delivered through beautifully shot imagery and artful storytelling. Real. Raw. Relatable. Gripping. It’s impossible to walk away from a screening and not want to spring into action to help save our beautiful oceans.”
Without a grant from The Wilderness Society - Sydney, this series of private screenings for Australia, would not have been possible.
We (the directors Danielle Ryan & James Sherwood) first began our journey screening short ocean documentaries with community audiences back in 2014, with The Wilderness Society - Sydney, when we made My Saltwater Sanctuary and The Sea & Me.
We have come a long way since our first ocean films, taking what we’ve learned and building on old and new relationships, to help shape a bigger and bolder documentary project with the goal of making a social impact - helping to strengthen the movement to protect the sea by inspiring people with ocean stories of heroes worldwide.
“I’m feeling more inspired and hopeful than ever.”
Ocean Conservationist & Impact Campaigner Alice Forrest
Ocean Conservationist & Impact Campaigner Alice Forrest, who began the journey with the filmmakers, organising the community impact screenings back in 2014, once again joined the team.
Alice said I love being a part of this film, because I think it’s a much needed positive reminder of how much we still have left worth fighting for.
“After lots of great conversations at The Map to Paradise private screenings, I’m feeling more inspired and hopeful than ever,” said Alice.
“There are amazing people, all over the world, doing epic things to protect our oceans.
“They’re not all on Instagram, they don’t all have hashtags, and many of them I will never hear about or meet, but based purely on the amount of legend in my life, I think we’ve got this.”
“The Map to Paradise has left me feeling very positive that as a nation, we can protect our oceans against the danger it is currently in. This film has enlightened me on everything that has been done throughout history to protect our oceans. It goes to show that if all this can be done, then what we can achieve to continue to protect them is limitless.”
We feel honoured that many attendees have left positive testimonials for us to share to help promote the film and will soon add a page of testimonials to the website.
The private previews have been supported along the way by various food and drinks sponsors, including Brookies Gin, Tamburlaine Organic Wines, Ruby Lane Cafe, Air Stayz, Marc Hotels and Yullis Beer. We are looking for more sponsors and grants, so if you are interested in helping The Map to Paradise get out into the world, write to hello@themaptoparadise.com.
“Amongst the chaos and bad news running wild worldwide, a little crack that allowed hope to move in once again. That’s how I felt after watching the [Byron Bay private avant] premiere of The Map to Paradise yesterday, and watch fellow ocean conservationists leaving the place with a shy smile and inspired to keep working hard to protect what we love most.”