E3. Best Documentary (Nominee)
Corals on Your Doorstep
From Brenanah Mitchell
Dive into the coral wonderland of Hervey Bay’s 6,500-year-old reefs stretching along the foreshore. The film follows the inspirational story of Jasper, a passionate young citizen whose deep connection to the coral reefs strengthens his bond with his late father.
My name is Breannah Mitchell, and I am the filmmaker behind the documentary ""Corals on Your Doorstep."" The film tells the story of local ocean advocate Jasper Stern and highlights the remarkable coral reefs and marine ecosystems found in the waters off Hervey Bay, Queensland.
"Corals on Your Doorstep" has been shortlisted for Best Documentary. Jasper and I are both from Hervey Bay, and it has been an honour to tell a story that showcases the incredible natural wonders found right on our doorstep.
What inspired you and your work?
I was inspired to create this documentary because I am really passionate about raising awareness about our inshore coral reefs in Hervey Bay, as they are the closest coral reefs in Australia to an urban city centre and face many threats. I am also passionate about youth voices being heard and that their voices do matter when it comes to these issues, as they will be the guardians of our Earth for the future to come.
When I met Jasper, I loved the passion in his eyes and also his story of how his dad's legacy lived on after his father had died, just to show that memories of our loved ones are all around us.
I have also experienced health issues over the past four years, including fibromyalgia and autoimmune vasculitis, and whenever I was out on the water, I felt at peace. It really healed me through times in which I was struggling with my conditions and helped a lot with my mental health. It reinforced in me just how much I wanted to protect the coral reefs in Hervey Bay and make people aware of them.
Since our advocacy, the Council is now a Reef Guardian Council. The advocacy does not stop there. The more people know about the reefs, learn about them, and understand how they can help, the more people will want to protect them too.
Corals are animals, and their voices matter too.