World premiere screening of ‘The Hot Potato – The Road to Transformation’ – Republic of Everyone’s doco attempts to cool heat on asylum seekers

On Monday night celebrities, journalists and a host of Sydney’s movers and shakers attended a red carpet film premiere with a twist.

The Hot Potato – The Road to Transformation – created by Republic of Everyone, directed by Tim Gibbs and produced by Heckler – is a deeply moving and ambitious documentary. Following the journey of a hot potato food van as it travels around Australia on the eve of the 2013 federal election, on an education and awareness campaign about asylum seekers and refugees.

WATCH THE TRAILER

WATCH THE FILM

Not only has this become the biggest ‘hot potato’ in Australian politics, it is a polarising issue on which everyone seems to have an opinion.

The public awareness project aims to fuel our national opinion with facts not fears and start millions of conversations to address the myths perpetuated via the media and political rhetoric. The journey uncovers an overwhelming sensitivity to the humanitarian needs of asylum seekers, ‘the world’s most vulnerable people’, and a strong desire to redefine our national character in the way we look after them.

The film was followed by a vigorous Q&A session and there is no easy solution to this situation. However judging from the level of enthusiastic conversation following the exclusive screening, the film shows an honest snapshot of an Australia eager to move forward – a road to transformation towards an opinion we can all be proud of.

The film is now online to watch and share. This is not the end of a campaign – it is only the very beginning.

Notable guests included Imogen Bailey (left) – actor, activist and ASRC ambassador; Mark Seymour – musician and ASRC ambassador; Miss Chu – restauranteur and entrepreneur; Chris Taylor – The Chaser; Tom Ballard – JJJ presenter & ambassador of Welcome to Australia; Indira Naidoo – journalist; Brian Nankervis – television presenter and MC and Omar Musa – performance poet.

Quotes from the premiere screening:

“This is an important film about a complex and emotional issue. Moving, challenging, powerful and ultimately uplifting”

– Brian Nankervis (SBS Rockwiz)

“A novel and engaging contribution to a debate that in recent years has, on both sides, become bogged down in slogans and ideological barking. The Hot Potato deserves big points for asking that bluntest of questions – why don’t we like refugees? – and deserves to be seen for its attempts to point a new, more personal way forward.”

– Chris Taylor (The Chaser)

“The Hot Potato goes to the very heart of one of the most defining issue in our nation’s history: Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers. And the news is good… it is warm, funny and deeply incisive. The conversion of Reg the driver, from sceptic to advocate is truly magnificent. There may even be a song in it! I recommend this doco to anybody who feels confused, threatened or fearful about what “stopping the boats” really means. If you’re looking for answers – there all here.”

– Mark Seymour (Musician, Writer)

“This documentary explodes myths and challenges prejudices. It puts some much-needed heart back into the asylum seeker debate.”

– Indira Naidoo (ABC Journalist and presenter)

Produced by Heckler

Joshua McBeath