Private Project

Talk For Life: English as an Additional Language

Winner of 22 International Film Festival Awards

Dandenong North Primary School and Brave Archer Films® present 'Talk For Life: English as an Additional Language.’ A film made in its entirety by one filmmaker, Amel Tresnjic.

This inspiring documentary film takes us on a journey into the world of language and the crucial role it plays in the lives of newly arrived refugees in Australia. This heart-warming film tells of their experiences, from trauma endured as they fled their war-torn countries, to their search for safety and a better life in Australia. Dandenong North Primary School, a multi-cultural school situated in a Melbourne suburb, welcomes children of refugee backgrounds and their families with open arms. The school’s goal is to give children the best start on a path of lifelong learning. The film features the school’s highly successful English as an Additional Language Support Program and highlights the life changing role it plays for children of non-English speaking backgrounds. Dandenong North Primary School demonstrates the vital responsibility an educational institution plays in supporting refugee students as they overcome language barriers and develop the ability to express themselves. The importance of learning to ‘talk for life’ is the heart of this unique and uplifting educational film, made by multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker, Amel Tresnjic.

For more info about the school and EAL program visit: www.dandenongnorthps.vic.gov.au

For updates on the film visit: www.bravearcherfilms.com

Awards and Achievements:

Awards & Achievements: Winner of 22 International Film Festivals

Winner - Best Feature Documentary, 2021 Madrid International Film Festival
Winner - Best Feature Documentary, 2021 North Europe International Film Festival
Winner - Best Director of a Documentary Feature, 2021 London International Filmmaker Festival
Winner - Jury Award, 2021 Milan International Filmmaker Festival
Winner - Best Documentary, 2020 Melbourne Indie Film Awards
Winner - Science and Education Award, 2021 Nice International Filmmaker Festival
Winner - Globe Award, 2020 ARFF Around Films International Film Festival - Amsterdam
Winner - Best Feel Good Film, 2020 Melbourne Indie Film Awards
Winner - Best Picture, 2020 FilmCon Awards
Winner - Best Director, Amel Tresnjic 2020 FilmCon Awards
Winner - Award of Excellence for Documentary Feature, 2020 Impact Docs Awards
Winner - Honorable Mention: Inspirational Film, 2020 Festigious International Film Festival - Los Angeles
Winner - Best Feature Documentary Film, 2020 Gold Movie Awards, Monthly Winner
Semi-Finalist - Documentary Feature, Academy Award, BAFTA and Canadian Screen Award Qualifying Festival,
2020 Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival
Winner - Best Educational Feature Film, 2020 Istanbul Film Awards
Winner - Best Inspirational Film, 2020 New York International Film Awards
Winner - Best Director, 2020 New York International Film Awards
Winner - Best Documentary Feature, 2020 Oniros Film Awards
Winner - Best Editing in a Documentary Film, 2020 Five Continents International Film Festival
Finalist - Best Director Amel Tresnjic, 2020 Oniros Film Awards
Winner - Honorable Mention: Documentary Feature, 2020 Los Angeles Film Awards
Winner - Best Editing of a Documentary, 2020 South Europe International Film Festival
Finalist - Best Director of a Feature Documentary, 2020 South Europe International Film Festival
Finalist - Best Scientific and Education Award, 2020 South Europe International Film Festival
Finalist - Best Documentary Feature, 2020 Miami International Film Festival
Winner - Honorable Mention: Sound Design, PIMFF Prague International Monthly Festival
Winner - Honorable Mention: Documentary Feature, PIMFF Prague International Monthly Festival
Finalist - Best Director, Best Cinematography & Best Editing, 2020 Hollywood Gold Awards
Semi-Finalist - Feature Documentary, 2020 Montreal Independent Film Festival
Finalist - Best Feature Documentary, Best Editing 2020 Venice Film Awards
Quarter-Finalist - Feature Documentary, 2020 Lonely Wolf London International Film Festival
Official Selection - 2020 Helsinki Education Film Festival International
Official Selection - 2020 Muslim Film Festival

  • Amel Tresnjic
    Director
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Cinameatography
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Producer
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Editing
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Sound Recording
  • Amel Tresnjic
    Sound Design
  • Kevin Mackay OAM
    Executive Producer
  • Phillip Anthony
    Associalte Producers
  • Karen Mifsud
    Associalte Producers
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 2 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 15, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 1080p
  • 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 latest 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. The film 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.

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 two brand new entirely self-made feature documentaries, 'Spiritual Awakening: Journey to the Inner Self’ and ‘Giving Back: Students who returned as Teachers.'

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

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“Through the art of film, my aim is to inspire a better world. My method is to produce films of a mindful and moral nature. Films that inform, empower and inspire audiences with untold perspectives on various topics that afflict the world at large”
- Amel Tresnjic