Social media does more harm than good
The Big Picture Debate is a highlight of the Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air Film Festival and this year introduces a new format that will take Tasmania to the world.
This year’s topic, social media does more harm than good, will be explored as a “hypothetical” rather than a conventional debate, on Sunday at 2.30pm at the Festival Hub, QVMAG Museum, Inveresk, and will be uploaded live to the internet.
Simon Longstaff, Executive Director of the St James Ethics Centre, will create a scenario, asking panellists and the live audience to comment on the hypothetical situation as it evolves. The scenario will be supported by visual material to flesh out the evolving social media storyline.
Festival Director Owen Tilbury said that the new format should make for a stimulating session for panellists and audience.
“It will be very much like a Geoffrey Robertson Hypothetical, with Simon Longstaff gradually unfolding the plot, but with a vastly increased audience as it will be accessible anywhere in the world via the BOFA website with viewers able to vote on the emerging issues via SMS,” he said.
“This is a good illustration of BOFA’s key theme- the innovative use of new screen technology- instead of the world coming to BOFA, we can take BOFA to the world”
The one hour session will be conducted at the Festival Hub, QVMAG Museum Inveresk, with the following panelists:
• Catherine Deveny, high profile comedian, author and broadcaster, who recently appeared on the SBS programme Go Back to Where You Came From and who is a well known user of social media
• Lynden Barber, film journalist and leading thinker on the role of social media,
• Karen Pickering, creator/editor of feminist salon and magazine Cherchez la Femme and;
• Paul Oosting, campaigns manager of social activism group GetUp!.
Southern Cross and Telstra will film the debate and the audience Q&A uploading it live to the internet via the BOFA web site, identifying the panel discussion as from BOFA in Launceston, Tasmania.
The debate can be watched nationally and internationally via www.bigpicturedebate.bofa.com.au
Viewers will have the opportunity to vote by SMS on each issue as it is teased out.
The ABC will also broadcast The Big Picture debate across Australia and Asia-Pacific via ABC1, Australia network and podcast.
The Big Picture Debate can be viewed online at http://bofa.com.au/2012/home/big-ideas-inspiring-speakers/
Full details of the 2012 BOFA Film Festival program are available on the web site www.bofa.com.au
THE TASMANIAN BREATH OF FRESH AIR FILM FESTIVAL 2012 PROGRAM:
• TWO DAYS IN NEW YORK (USA) Australian Premiere
• THE FIRST FAGIN (Australia)
• THE ANGELS’ SHARE (UK)
• SEMI COLIN (Australia) World Premiere
• THE HUNT (Denmark)
• UNDER AFRICAN SKIES (USA/South Africa)
• A COMMON PURPOSE (Australia)
• GIRL WALK//ALL DAY (USA)
• SIDE BY SIDE (USA)
• JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI (USA/Japan)
• THE GIANTS (Belgium)
• AND IF WE ALL LIVE TOGETHER (France/Germany)
• LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED (Denmark)
• SAVE YOUR LEGS (Australia)
• INSIDE OUT: ANTON CORBIJN (Netherlands/Germany/UK/Italy/Sweden)
• BONSAI PEOPLE- THE VISION OF MUHAMMAD YUNUS (USA/Bangladesh) Australian Premiere
• AFTER THE FACTORY (USA)
• YOU WILL BE MY SON (France)
• ROAD TO ROUBAIX (USA)
• SALLY: A VENTURING FORTH: A JAUNT (Australia)
• TO ROME WITH LOVE (USA)
• BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (USA)
• CHASING ICE (USA)
• CORAL REKINDLING VENUS (Australia)
• WAR WITCH (Canada)
• THEY FOUND A CAVE (Australia)
• ELECTRICK CHILDREN (USA)
BOFA FILM FESTIVAL: THURSDAY 8TH – SUNDAY 11TH NOVEMBER, 2012
In 2012, BOFA plans to showcase over the Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 November, international and Australian feature films/documentaries, short films, cinema related exhibitions (in partnership with Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery), master-classes and parties, but, as well, is adding a new Make a Difference Day (Sunday 11th November) incorporating a free community open day, screenings of a Make a Difference Day short film competition, features/documentaries, several master-classes run by industry experts, and writers’ festival speakers all on Make a Difference themes. The Make a Difference Day will be the culmination of the festival and will highlight the purpose of inspiring “positive change”.
