One of the last wild places on Earth, Tasmania’s Takayna, is back in the spotlight thanks to a powerful new film aimed at securing the region’s long-fought-for World Heritage status. The film, Takayna — the Heart of Lutruwita, will be screening at the Meander Valley Performing Arts Centre in Deloraine on this Saturday, 22 February.
The documentary takes audiences deep into the heart of Tasmania’s rugged North-West, home to Australia’s largest temperate rainforests and a landscape rich in Aboriginal cultural significance. It is here in Takayna, also known as the Tarkine, that a battle for conservation is unfolding, and the film is set to reinvigorate efforts to secure its protection.
“Showcasing stunning wildness through breathtaking cinematography, powerful interviews with scientists, Aboriginal leaders and the Takayna defenders themselves, the new film Takayna — the Heart of Lutruwita brings the wildlands of Tasmania’s rugged North-West into homes and cinemas across Australia,” said Jenny Weber, Campaigns Manager for the Bob Brown Foundation. “Our Foundation is using the film to call for a change to the future for Takayna, one where secure protection is finally granted.”
Directed by Matthew Newton and Anna Brozek, the film is expected to have a summer season of hundreds of screenings, drawing support from around the globe. “We are putting Takayna and its urgently needed World Heritage nomination on the agenda in the lead-up to the federal election in 2025,” Weber said.
Takayna is a wonderland of west-flowing rivers, giant freshwater crayfish, brilliant azure kingfishers, and rare rainforests barn owls. It is also the ancient land of the Tarkiner people, who thrived on one of the world’s most pristine and untamed coastlines. The area remains a vital symbol of Australia’s natural and cultural heritage, one that environmentalists like Bob Brown are determined to protect.
“The Takayna/Tarkine is a wonderland of west-flowing rivers, giant freshwater crayfish, brilliant azure kingfishers and rare rainforests barn owls. It is the timeless land of the Tarkiner people who lived in abundance on one of Earth’s wildest coastlines,” said Brown, former Greens leader and a staunch advocate for the region. “Every political leader who values Australia’s natural and cultural heritage will back its nomination for World Heritage status.”
Brown continued, reflecting on the strength of the Takayna defenders. “On the cinema screen is the grandeur and intimate beauty of Takayna, the jewel of Australia’s temperate rainforests. Rooted to Earth with the great trees are Takayna’s defenders, hundreds of whom have faced jail to protect the forests and wildlife. Here is one of the wildest and most arresting places on our planet.”
The screening in Deloraine marks an important moment in the ongoing campaign to secure protection for the Tarkine region. As climate change and industrial development threaten the area, the film offers a poignant reminder of the need for urgent action. With the support of both local and global communities, advocates hope the film can influence policy and garner widespread backing for the nomination of Takayna as a World Heritage site.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, 22 February
- Time: Doors open at 6.30 pm, screening starts at 7.00 pm
- Location: Meander Valley Performing Arts Centre, Deloraine
Secure your tickets by visiting this link: https://takayna.org/screening/deloraine-screening/
