Ian Hamilton is the director of the documentary, Angels Gather Here, which will be screening at this year’s Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. We had the chance to chat to Ian about the film, and his experiences working as an independent filmmaker. For the chance to check out Angels Gather Here, and other fantastic documentary films, head over to the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival website to grab your tickets!
What first got you interested in filmmaking?
Found a Super Eight Camera at a garage sale and was hooked.
What are some of your main influences?
Doco Makers – Dennis O’Rourke and David Bradbury.
What element of filmmaking do you enjoy the most?
Telling stories with amazing people in amazing places.
What are some of the bigger hurdles that you’ve had to face in filmmaking, either on a specific film or in a broader sense?
Shooting feature doco, Honeymoon in Kabul, in Afghanistan was probably the most challenging. Two weeks in a war zone, with no budget, guns at your head and kids dying of preventable diseases. Amazing privilege to tell that story.
What do you think makes a great film?
Hearts and Minds.
Do you think success in short film translates to success in feature filmmaking?
Not necessarily.
Do you engage in social media as part of the filmmaking process? Do you think social media platforms are becoming a bigger part of filmmaking?
I’ve used social media successfully to promote my last feature both in Australia and the USA . It’s definitely becoming coming a bigger part of film producing.
What can you tell us about your film
Angels Gather Here is a 50min feature documentary It follows Jacki Trapman’s journey back to Brewarrina to celebrate her parents’ 60th Wedding Anniversary. As we learn that Jacki’s mother was among the stolen generation, the film examines the resulting ripple effect on the Trapman family across four generations.
What’s on the horizon?
We are really keen on touring the film over the next year to raise awareness around the ongoing effects of government policies on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people .
Do you have any advice for anyone who wants a career in filmmaking?
Follow your passion and never give up.