Freedom is Beautiful.

Freedom is Beautiful, the debut documentary feature from award-winning visual artist Angus McDonald, will have its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival on June 11 with a consecutive screening on June 18, before screening at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and embarking on an international festival run. 

The powerful feature follows the journey of two extraordinary Kurdish refugees, Farhad Bandesh and Mostafa (Moz) Azimitabar, who were finally freed from detention after being imprisoned for almost eight years under Australia’s brutal offshore processing regime.

Each fled persecution in Iran, searching for safety, freedom and a brighter future, only to be treated callously by the Australia government.

Forming a close friendship while detained, they used music and art as a form of peaceful resistance to promote humanity and tirelessly advocate on behalf of all those who remained held. 

Beautifully told in their own words, Freedom is Beautiful is an uplifting story of the power of love and our shared humanity. 

The film is co-produced by McDonald and French film producer Mélita Toscan Du Plantier, best known for Masaan (2015) and In The Fade (2017), both award winners out of Cannes. The film is supported by Amnesty International and executive produced by Craig Foster, who also features. 

Freedom is Beautiful will screen at Sydney Film Festival on June 11 and 18. Details here. 

You can find full details about the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival screening here.