On occasion, while driving, riding a bus, or taking a train, we may encounter locations that bear a resemblance to a film crew or movie production. If you happened to be in Parramatta last July, you may have experienced this.
Since 2018, Director and Writer, Waheed Naddafi began the production process three times due to various difficulties, including COVID-19. As the global pandemic shutdown many businesses, the film industry was not overlooked, and many productions were delayed or cancelled.
After overcoming their obstacles, Naddafi and his team began filming in 2022 in Parramatta and Redfern. After post-production, the final film, Sorrowland, held a private screening on 24 March 2023, to which Keeping News Local gained exclusive insights with Naddafi and local Bankstown Producer Farabee Kabir.Â
“Sorrowland the struggles of a homeless boy, Jack, navigating his way through life, after a traumatic upbringing and being abandoned by his drug addict and abusive father,” said Kabir. “His mother passed away when he was younger, leaving his grandfather to take care of him before he also passed away. Surrounded by hate in his life, his gesture of kindness to one stranger takes his life on a different course.”
The exclusive screening was held at Hoyts Entertainment quarter at Moore Park Sydney, a common location for many major film premieres in Australia. This short film, primarily by Western Sydney locals, initially gave uncertainly surrounding quality, accuracy and talent. After all, this was not a standard multi-million dollar blockbuster from one of the prominent movie production companies in Hollywood. Â
Kabir tells, “I have lived in Western Sydney most of my entire life, currently based at Bankstown. My partner who was the first Assistant Director for this project, also same story as me and lives at Lakemba. Our cinematographer is from Edmonson Park. Nikki Rose, our Associate Producer, is also based near Bankstown. A lot of the cast and crew are from Fairfield and Padstow… so the Western Sydney area [is predominantly the cast and crew].”
In the first moments of the film, it was instantly clear the cinematography was first class and as the film progressed, what followed was nothing short of remarkable and entertaining. It’s also an expectation that Sorrowland will be entered in film festivals, supported by Naddafi, alongside Executive Producer Laurent Boiteux, who will be funding the festival and distribution.
Keeping News Local wish the cast and crew of Sorrowland all the best as they enter their movie in film festivals around the world and anticipate they will receive several awards for their efforts, much like many Australian filmmakers who have accomplished such a feat in the past.
