Airdate: Lockdown Stories

ABC will screen Lockdown Stories, a one-hour special that tells seven intimate and moving stories made by emerging filmmakers from around the country, during Australia’s first lockdown.

When Australia started talking about isolation, ABC Religion & Ethics put out a call to emerging film makers. Seven participants were chosen to document their lives for Lockdown Stories.

The result is a range of very different stories; intimate, moving, funny and heart-warming as they share their personal experience in lockdown.

Bernie, from North Fitzroy, tells the story of his favourite Melbourne restaurant cooking meals for frontline medical workers. International student Anna lives in a one room apartment in Brisbane. Her family are in the COVID-19 epicentre in Northern Italy, and her beloved Nonna and mother have tested positive. Yolngu woman Siena from North Eastern Arnhem Land tells how her community of Yirrkala protected their precious elders during the first lockdown.

Neve returns to Launceston, where her mother has called the family home to isolate together. Every family member is a frontline health worker except for Neve, and she wants to find a way to thank them. Tyla experiences a very different Passover this year, as her colourful Jewish family try to embrace domestic isolation in Melbourne.

Lou lives alone in tropical Cairns as the world goes into lockdown. Her work as a carbon farmer continues throughout the pandemic but every day, she must confront the mental and emotional fear of isolating alone in paradise. Eric’s family flew to Perth from Brazil for his wedding, then got stuck there. The only thing his family can do to keep themselves sane is to sing and dance.

Production details: Producer: Tracey Spring; Associate Producer/Mentor: Olivia Rousset; Editor: Danielle Akayan; Researcher: Wendy Boynton; Executive Producer: Jessica Douglas- Henry.

Tuesday 29 September 9.30pm on ABC.