Join us for a day at the Castlemaine Film Festival.
We’re delighted to invite our giving community to a special ACF Fundholder experience in partnership with the Castlemaine Documentary Festival – regional Victoria’s home for documentary film, and a place where real stories spark real conversations.
Join us on Sunday 28 June for the ACF-presented screening of We Are Not Powerless, followed by an intimate lunch with Festival Director Claire Jager.
We Are Not Powerless follows Muzafar Ali and Nagina Zahra, Afghan refugees stranded in Indonesia when Australia ‘stopped the boats’, who built a small school recognised as one of the most successful refugee-led initiatives in the world. A live Q&A with Muzafar and Nagina follows the screening.
The Castlemaine Documentary Festival embodies ACF’s vision of a thriving and inclusive Australia – where communities connect; where we listen deeply; where culture and creativity flourish. Documentary, at its best, makes that happen.
Our day at the Festival includes:
- We Are Not Powerless screening and live Q&A with Muzafar Ali and Nagina Zahra
- An intimate lunch with Festival Director Claire Jager and fellow ACF Fundholders
- The Australian premiere of Bucks Harbor – passes compliments of the Festival (optional)
Spots are limited – register now to secure your place.
Event Details:
Sunday 28 June 2026
From 10:45am
📍 Theatre Royal Castlemaine
Event agenda:
We Are Not Powerless screening + Q&A (presented by ACF): 11am
Lunch with Festival Director, Claire Jager: 1pm
Bucks Harbor screening (Australian premiere) – optional: 2pm
Plus-ones welcome for members of our giving community.
About Claire Jager, Festival Director
Claire Jager brings extraordinary depth to her leadership of the Festival. A director and producer with award-winning credits, Claire has held senior roles across Australia’s screen sector – as an Executive Producer at the ABC, Commissioning Editor for Documentary at SBS, Development Executive at the Australian Film Commission, and Investment Manager for Documentary at Screen Australia. Alongside curating the Festival’s annual screening program and screen-based events, Claire works closely with the CDoc team and Board to shape its future directions.
About the Castlemaine Documentary Festival
Now in its second decade, the Castlemaine Documentary Festival is Central Victoria’s home for documentary film – dedicated to real stories, real characters, and real conversations. Held each mid-winter at the historic Theatre Royal, the Festival brings together filmmakers, communities, and audiences to explore the issues shaping our world.
Register Your Interest
This event is open to Australian Communities Foundation Fundholders.