Private Project

Giving Back: Students Who Returned As Teachers

This heart-warming film tells the story of students who became teachers and returned to their former primary school to 'give back' and make a difference to following generations.

Plot Summary:
This inspiring documentary film takes us on a journey into the world of education and the crucial role it plays in social development. This heart-warming film tells the story of students who became teachers and returned to their former primary school to 'give back' and make a difference to following generations. Dandenong North Primary School, a multi-cultural school situated in a Melbourne suburb, welcomes all children and their families with open arms. The school's goal is to give children the best start on a path of lifelong learning. The importance of learning and 'giving back' is the heart of this unique and uplifting educational film, made by multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker, Amel Tresnjic.​

Awards & Achievements: (Winner of 22 International Film Festival Awards)

Winner: Best Educational Film, 2023 Liber Films International Film Festival
Winner: Honorable Mention - Best Inspirational Film, 2023 Liber Films International Film Festival
Winner: Honorable Mention - Best Director of Photography, 2023 Liber Films International Film Festival
Winner - Honorable Mention - Globe Award, 2023 Around International Film Festival
Winner - Best Inspirational Film, 2023 Vegas Movie Awards
Winner - Best Screenplay From a Movie, 2023 Vegas Movie Awards
Winner - Best Director, 2023 Budapest Film Festival
Winner - Best Sound Design, 2023 Budapest Film Festival
Winner - Best Educational Film, 2023 Arrow International Film Festival
Winner - Best Producer, 2023 Arrow International Film Festival
Winner - Honorable Mention: Best Cinematography,
2023 Arrow International Film Festival
Winner - Honrable Mention Best Educational Film, 2023 Golden Giraffe International Film Festival
Winner - Honrable Mention Best Inspirational Film, 2023 Golden Giraffe International Film Festival
Winner - Best Director, 2023 Festigious International Film Festival
Winner - Best Editor, 2023 Festigious International Film Festival
Winner - Best Educational Film, 2023 Fox International Film Festival
Winner - Best Editing, 2023 Fox International Film Festival
Winner - Honorable Mention: Best Director, 2023 Fox International
Film Festival
Winner - Best Humanitarian Feature Film,
2023 Cannes World Film Festival
Winner - Best Picture, 2023 FilmCon Awards
Winner - Best Documentary, 2023 FilmCon Awards
Winner - Best Director, 2023 FilmCon Awards

For more info on Dandenong North Primary School visit: https://www.dandenongnorthps.vic.edu.au/

For more info on the film visit: https://www.bravearcherfilms.com/our-projects.html

Official Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/GivingBackTheDocumentary

IMDB Title Page:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21159634/

  • Kevin Mackay OAM
    Executive Producer
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Director
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Writer
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Producer
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Director of Photography
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Sound Design
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Educational, inspirational, uplifting
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 19 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 26, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Amel Tresnjic

All-round filmmaker, animator, and educator Amel Tresnjic creates inspirational films with a strong ethical focus. His passion for filmmaking began when he was a very young boy. From the age of nine, he developed a tradition of watching films every night until he fell asleep and always imagined how he would grow up to become an inspirational storyteller. In 2012 Amel began to realise his dream with the international success of his first entirely self-made documentary film '2012 Crossing Over: A New Beginning.' A feature documentary that embarks on an enigmatic journey, forming a greater perspective of our worlds 'current state' and the awakening of a new wave of consciousness. On the day of its free YouTube release, the film went viral and has now been seen by over 4million+ on YouTube alone. It received an Honour Award ‘New Age of Activism 2012 and Beyond,’ top 5star reviews, 8/10 IMDB rating as well as high ratings across many documentary hosting sites. The positive message of the film inspired its’ supportive fan base to host numerous screenings worldwide as well as translate the film into 9 languages. The film was also offered 3 distribution deals, but most important of all to Amel, the film inspired positive change in the world.

Amel is also the sole creator of multi-award-winning documentary film ‘Singfest: The Literacy of Music.’ This uplifting and inspirational feature documentary takes us into the world of music and how music, as a literacy in schools, unlocks students’ full potential. Remarkably the film has won 18 international film festival awards including multiple awards for Best Documentary Feature. The film has been broadcast on Australian National TV Network SBS and is currently streaming on SBS On-Demand

His second educational documentary film ‘The Reading Factory: A Life Changing Literacy Support Program' documents the genesis, implementation and fine-tuning of a highly successful literacy intervention program that changes the course of children's lives. The film has won 9 international awards.

Amel's third educational film 'Talk For Life: English as an Additional Language,' a heart-warming documentary film that takes us on a journey into the world of language and communication and the crucial role it plays for newly arrived refugees in Australia, has won the collected 22 international film festival awards, including 5x ‘Best Feature Documentary’ awards. Talk For Life has also premiered on Australian National TV Network SBS and is currently streaming on SBS On-Demand.

His latest film ‘Giving Back: Students who returned as Teachers,' takes us on a journey into the world of education and the crucial role it plays in social development. This heart-warming film tells the story of students who became teachers and returned to their former primary school to 'give back' and make a difference to following generations. The 79min feature documentary has wrapped up post-production and has recently entered the film festival circuit.

Through his passionate and busy work ethic Amel creates projects for his wide-ranging clientele while still working on personal projects that are close to his heart. Though busy making films, Amel still finds time to teach young filmmakers the art and influence of cinema. He wishes to inspire more storytellers in the world and dedicates much of his time teaching and coordinating the Cert IV in Screen and Media at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.

Amel is currently in post-production of his brand new entirely self-made feature documentary, 'Spiritual Awakening: Journey to the Inner Self.’

Although now a successful and very busy filmmaker and educator, Amel still watches films every night until he falls asleep.

Full Biography: https://www.bravearcherfilms.com/about-us.html

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Director Statement

“Through the art of film, my aim is to make a positive contribution to society. My method is to produce films of a conscious and moral nature. Films featuring stories of people who are making a difference in the world. Films that educate, empower, and inspire audiences" - Amel Tresnjic