Tony Barry has acted in over 50 feature films and 45 television series, from Australia and New Zealand to the UK & Korea. He has performed in stage plays in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and been an active supporter of the Australian film and television industry during his entire 38-year performance history.
He has adapted his acting skills not only in teaching and encouraging people in self expression but also to spearhead his focus on political and social issues, be it compering, speaking, radio interviewing, or performing in political documentaries. Tony has decades of experience working with disadvantaged people such as those in correctional centres and youth at risk. His thrust in teaching film-makers over the years has been to inspire and prompt them to say something worthwhile, to make a nourishing contribution to society rather than simply another commercial product. He is currently engaged in designing and delivering programmes for under-employed arts workers and also directing training videos for teachers of students with Asbergers.
A local man at heart, Tony Barry has a long history of, and continues his involvement in humanitarian issues concerning social and political justice, from aboriginal deaths in custody to the current wave of asylum seekers. He is patron of the Heart of Gold International Film Festival.
We are honored to have Tony as our patron of the Heart of Gold International Film Festival.
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A Word from Tony
Welcome one and all to this our second Heart of Gold International Film Festival. This promises to be as nourishing a feast of heart-felt human endeavours and achievements as was presented in our inaugural festival last year. Toni Powell, an army of volunteers and the Management Board have worked tirelessly and creatively together throughout this last year to insure that this festival will once again bring to Gympie an astounding array of Australian and international film-makers. These global storytellers will again help us to celebrate the similarities and respect the differences of our fellow world citizens as we witness the stories told through their lenses.
As we are daily encouraged to be more fearful of peoples from other cultures, other ways of life, it is heartening to witness the immerging importance of the role of the international artist in dispelling some of those fears through allowing us to enjoy our common humanity. Nowhere is this more evident than in the medium of film, where just about all the arts are represented in an endeavour to allow us to connect emotionally with each other and acknowledge the value of our feelings and our need to share our experiences to seek deeper understanding of our place in the world.
This was the philosophy developed by Toni Powell and shared by the Management Board, which began this journey, in the belief that those of us who are gifted with passion, vision and community insights, have a responsibility to try to create guiding lights to help others find their way from their heads back to their hearts. There will be many lights and sign-posts available over the days ahead to help guide us and I look forward to your company as through this festival we share an appreciation of our need for each other, regardless of our differences.
Again I congratulate the town of Gympie and its community as it generously and whole-heartedly supports this festival and all it will offer to international visitors and locals alike.
The longer I am alive, the more I believe that we are only here to plant seeds, not necessarily to be around to witness the harvest.
On behalf of the second Heart of Gold International Film Festival in Gympie, we hope you enjoy this years harvest.
Yours Sincerely
Tony Barry
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