Tuesday, April 13, 2010

TIMOR TOUR OF DUTY NOW ON DVD


LUKE LEON MEDIA (ABN: 91310556447) in association with Sasha Uzunov...


TIMOR TOUR OF DUTY...now available on DVD....RATED M...

Timor Tour Of Duty, which looks at the Indonesian military's secret war against Australian and New Zealand troops and international peacekeepers in East Timor, received a special commendation Platinum Reel Award from the 2009 Nevada Film Festival.

The film made its US and international screen debut at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in October 2009.

THE DVD includes 4 extra minutes of two scenes cut from the original film festival screening.

Official film website:
http://timortourofduty.blogspot.com/

news story clipping:

www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/29/2727819.htm

Price is $35.50 (postage & handling and GST included) within Australia.... Order your copy....

Payment by Australia Post Money Order.

contact Sasha Uzunov on luke-leon@hotmail.com for further details.

Overseas orders contact Sasha Uzunov on luke-leon@hotmail.com for further details.

Europe/Asia/Pacific/New Zealand/North America
DVD PAL $45.50 (Australian) -including postage & handling & GST.

Monday, November 2, 2009

CONTROVERSY IN INDONESIA

MEDIA RELEASE:

Australian film maker, Sasha Uzunov, said he was not surprised at the Indonesian reaction to his film...TIMOR TOUR OF DUTY... A number of Indonesian websites were buzzing on the blogosphere but have unintentionally helped to promote the film despite the criticism.

"I must have hit a raw nerve in Jakarta, especially with the Australian media over the weekend re-running stories about the Balibo Five killings of Australian and New Zealand newsmen in 1975," he said.

Timor Tour Of Duty looks at the Indonesian military's secret war against Australian and New Zealand troops and international peacekeepers in East Timor (1999-2001).

The film also touches upon the pro-Indonesian Timorese militia's brutal murder and later mutilation of New Zealand soldier Private Leonard Manning in July 2000.

Timor Tour of Duty has been accused of "opening up old wounds" between Australia and Indonesia over East Timor 1999 and of western arrogance towards Indonesia.

"The Indonesian invasion and occupation of East Timor and the subsequent fight for independence remains a sensitive issue in Indonesia. But I'm not anti-Indonesian. I'm just trying to give the voice of those Australian soldiers who were trying to restore peace in East Timor," he said.

"Australian governments have in the past and present bent over backwards to accomodate Indonesia's sensibilities," he said. "There is nothing wrong with that but from time to time, allies need to be able to tell each other both good and bad news," Uzunov said.

The Indonesian and the East Timorese governments have in recent times made an attempt to bury the hatchet.

According to a 2008 BBC report http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7506702.stm:

"Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed "remorse" for wrongs committed during East Timor's vote for independence in 1999.

"He made the statement as he received the final report of their two countries' Truth and Friendship Commission in the resort of Bali."

Indonesian web media respond... Timor Tour of Duty creates controversy in Indonesia...film comes under attack...for telling the truth about secret war.

www.indonesiamatters.com/6435/timor-tour-of-duty/

"A newly released film on East Timor in 1999 opens old wounds between Indonesia and Australia."

COMMENT on website (pardon the spelling errors): "Even without watching the film, I know this is about the great white man as deputy sheriff of Wild West against brave man of Indianesia.
"Brave man of Indianesia is a real man and the deputy sheriff will always acting cocky and arrogant."

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

MEDIA COVERAGE

Aussie doco on Timor wins US award
01:04 AEST Thu Oct 29 2009

An Australian-made documentary film about soldiers in East Timor has won an award from a major US film festival.

Timor Tour Of Duty, which looks at the Indonesian military's secret war against Australian and New Zealand troops and international peacekeepers in East Timor, received a special commendation Platinum Reel Award from the 2009 Nevada Film Festival.

The film made its US and international screen debut at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival on Sunday, the www.scoop.co.nz website reported.

read more: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/921839/aussie-doco-on-timor-wins-us-award

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00351.htm

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/6400659/aussie-doco-on-timor-wins-us-award/

Friday, October 23, 2009

US FILM COMMENDATION AWARD

Australian documentary film TEAM TOUR OF DUTY has received a special commendation award (out of competition category) from the 2009 Nevada Film Festival (USA).

A Platinum Reel Award.

TIMOR TOUR OF DUTY WILL MAKE ITS INTERNATIONAL DEBUT AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL (NYIIFVF) on Sunday 25 October 2009.

Citation:

"Congratulations are in order because your film or screenplay has been chosen as a Platinum Reel Award Winner at the 2009 Nevada Film Festival.

"Only a maximum of 10 films in each competitive category were chosen to be honored with this prestigious recognition.

"This first year of our festival, we will be screening 20+ films at the event. Unfortunately, it is just not possible to showcase all of the excellent films we received that are worthy of recognition.

"Although your film is not an Official Selection and will not be screened publicly at the festival, our judges felt that your film demonstrated standout filmmaking and is deserving of special recognition."

Thursday, October 15, 2009

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING

www.edenmagnet.com.au/news/local/news/general/silent-hero-to-feature-in-ny-film-premiere/1651274.aspx

Edden Magnet, NSW, Australia, Fairfax press.

Silent hero to feature in NY film premiere
BY DENISE DION

16/10/2009 9:50:00 AM

Eden ex-soldier, Kevin Campbell features in a documentary that will premiere at the New York International Film Festival from October 22 to 29.

The film, 'Timor Tour of Duty' made by Australian film-maker and former Australian soldier, Sasha Uzunov, is an independent documentary about the East Timor conflict.

Although Mr Campbell isn't in the film, the role he played in a shoot-out that occurred between Australian soldiers from unit Alpha Company, 4RAR, and militia on June 14, 2001 is discussed.

read more....

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

NEW YORK FILM PREMIERE

Australian war documentary film, Timor Tour of Duty, to have international premiere screening at New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NIIFVF) on Sunday 25 October 2009...


see link for ticketing details:

http://nyfilmvideo.info/2009-new-york-october-film-schedule-tickets/sunday-october-25th-film-schedule-tickets-scree-2.htm

Australian war documentary film, Timor Tour of Duty, to have international premiere screening at New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NIIFVF) on Sunday 25 October 2009... New York City, America.

EXPERT HAILS TIMOR TOUR OF DUTY

- 'Timor Tour of Duty' is as close to what it was like, without actually being there, for Australian soldiers in the troubled border region of East Timor between 1999 and 2003. - Dr Damien Kingsbury, East Timor Expert

Review:

There is a prevailing view that Australia's military intervention in East Timor ten years ago was an untroubled affair - it was a successful operation without casualties. The reality, however, was that while casualties were limited, there were many tense moments, and exchanges of fire with Indonesian Special Forces, along the challenging and at times confronting border areas patrolled by Australian soldiers.

Sasha Uzunov's documentary 'Timor Tour of Duty” graphically captures some of these exchanges and the very real impact that it had on the lives of the soldiers involved.

Uzunov's experience as an Australian soldier in this area in his own two tours and through his wider experience as a war correspondent, makes 'Timor Tour of Duty' as close to what it was like, without actually being there, for Australian soldiers in the troubled border region of East Timor between 1999 and 2003.

Associate Professor Damien Kingsbury
A/Director, Centre for Citizenship, Development and Human Rights
School of International and Political Studies
Deakin University, Australia

Author: 'East Timor: The Price of Liberty', Palgrave, New York, 2009
Co-editor: 'East Timor: Beyond Independence', Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, 2007.
Editor: 'Guns and Ballot Boxes: East Timor's Vote for Independence', Monash Asia Institute, Melbourne, 2000.