E8. Best Documentary (Nominee)
With Love Nouria
From Lucy Gallen
After four decades of food, culture and support, Dr Nouria Salehi reflects on the closing of the Afghan Gallery Restaurant and the community it will leave behind. This documentary reveals the legacy of Australia’s first Afghan restaurant and the powerful significance it has had on the Afghan community in Australia.
Hey I'm Lucy, a current third year student studying Film and Television at Swinburne University. I am the producer of our documentary With Love Nouria, which tells the story of Afghan immigrant Dr Nouria Salehi and her journey owning her beloved restaurant The Afghan Gallery. Our story shares the life long work she has achieved through her restaurant, as well as through her work as a scientist and Executive Director of the Afghan Australian Development Organisation. We feel extremely honoured to have stumbled upon the Afghan Gallery restaurant and to have been able to tell her story as her wonderful work must be shared.
What inspired you and your work?
Our film was inspired by our cinematographer who read the story of the Afghan Gallery Restaurant whilst at the restaurant reading their menu. Their story of helping Afghan migrants establish a life in Melbourne was incredibly inspiring, and motivated us to reach out and share it via the medium of documentary film.