DIANA PAEZ___ FILMMAKER
Colombian filmmaker Diana Paez brings a rich tapestry of cultural influences to her projects. With a passionate devotion to storytelling, Paez’s work explores the lives of marginalised communities, particularly focusing on migrant and refugee stories. Her latest project, ‘Nuestras Voces’, a documentary centred on Spanish-speaking senior migrants in Victoria, Australia, captures the essence of their experiences and contributions to the nation. As the film returns to the big screen, Fluoro’s Editor Nancy Bugeja interviewed Paez where she shares insights into her creative process which reflects her commitment to uncovering the untold narratives within society.
Diana Paez (DP): My creative process is deeply rooted in observation and reflection. I have a passion for writing down ideas, thoughts, and descriptions, a practice I’ve maintained since childhood. It’s like an ongoing conversation with both myself and the world around me, and I find it incredibly rewarding. My writing often involves vivid descriptions of what’s happening inside me as well as what’s unfolding in the world outside. This is why I enjoy exploring different places and observing people.
When I’m immersed in projects like ‘Nuestras Voces’ they tend to consume my life. I become profoundly engaged because I genuinely care about the work and if I believe something needs to be told and it has potential, I work towards doing it in the best way possible (everything from my perspective of course). It’s more than just a job or a time-filler — it gives me a sense of purpose and makes me feel alive, even when it means coping with stress and pressure.
With this specific project, there wasn’t a day I wasn’t thinking about it. I’d often have the stories and specific interview quotes playing in my mind, and I’d brainstorm images that could complement them. I carried a camera with me almost every day for many months just in case I stumbled upon something that could visually represent an idea in the film. It was a constant process of figuring out how to interconnect stories and people. This went from scribbles on paper to digital boards, categories, and colour schemes. I suppose my Capricorn nature drives me to be a perfectionist and hands-on, sometimes causing me to lose that delicate work-life balance. However, I’ve come to realise that these intense processes leave a piece of my heart into the final project and vice versa.
My creative process also involves dialogue. I genuinely value feedback, whether it’s in the literal sense or not. I enjoy exchanging ideas with others and developing them through conversation — sometimes they know why I’m bringing a topic to the conversation but sometimes I just ask certain things to nurture those ideas in my mind.
I feel a deeper connection to my Colombian and broader ‘Latina’ identity. Since living in Australia, I deeply appreciate the aspects of Australian culture and life that I’ve adopted over the years. I’ve always gravitated towards narratives within the social sector, particularly human stories. It’s something I seem to put out there (in conversation again) and it comes back to me.
My experience as a migrant has significantly influenced my interest in working with migrant and refugee stories. While most of these experiences differ from my own, I feel a strong empathy and fascination with the resilience of people who embark on transformative journeys, reshape their worlds, and create something beautiful from their unique life experiences. I’ve also worked with women, documenting their migrant stories and this is a subject that truly captivates me.
In essence, there’s something within me that yearns to work with stories that often go unnoticed in mainstream media – stories of minorities. However, I aim to approach this not from a divisive, negative, or confrontational perspective but from the standpoint of discovering and highlighting the unique values and contributions that individuals from different backgrounds bring to their communities.
Fluoro (F): What inspired you to tell this story so specifically about Spanish-speaking migrants in Victoria, Australia?
DP: This project came to life through a wonderful collaboration with Latin Stories Australia, who had the vision of creating a project to give voice to Spanish-speaking senior migrants from those generations. We had previously established a strong personal and professional connection as I had been doing videos of previous projects they had, and when they shared their idea, which included creating a documentary, it became a pivotal part of the project. They had never done anything related to film and they fully trusted me to lead and create this documentary. Being my first feature film, it was a very exciting challenge. An all-female team where trust and passion was shared and I guess that’s why everything ended up being a beautiful journey despite the film being filmed and edited during Covid lockdowns.
Our main inspiration was to uncover why they came and their significant contributions to this country. Exploring their stories allowed us to delve into the histories of not only our home countries but also the history of Australia, and more specifically, Victoria. This project marks the first in-depth research given to the Victorian government on Spanish-speaking migrant communities from those generations, presented in an audio-visual way to the broader community. We realised that these individuals were aging, and their stories had never been asked for or documented.
F: How do you believe their experiences contribute to the broader narrative of Australian identity?
DP: I feel the concept of Australian identity is complex concept to understand. What is being an Australian? The beauty lies in the diverse range of responses we received.
Australian history is a complex tapestry, encompassing the world’s oldest continuous Indigenous communities and, at the same time, a relatively young nation that adopted its ‘Western’ structure just a few hundred years ago. The latter is what most countries tend to associate with Australia – a predominantly Anglo and white nation. However, if we go deeper into the layers of generations, families, and individuals, we discover a fascinating, multicultural, and multilingual society (particularly in Victoria).
People perceive their Australian identity in their unique way. For many, it’s a concrete and ‘absolute’ concept; for others, it’s a flexible, ever-evolving notion. Many are still navigating the idea of possessing an ‘Australian identity’ — including myself.
The experiences shared in the documentary serve as a reflection of this diversity, regardless of age and generation. They help us encourage an understanding that it’s perfectly acceptable to shape your own identity, and that your value is equal to the person next to you. Migrants bring much to their new country, as they offer unique perspectives and ways of navigating life. The stories in the film contribute to the ongoing conversation about identity, open minds, and, hopefully, spark curiosity about the past of the country and their own lives. They remind us of that which exists in our society thanks to the resilience and actions of those who came before us.
F: Could you elaborate on how the film addresses the notion of a hyphenated identity for Spanish-speaking Australians, and what significance this concept holds for you personally as a filmmaker.
DP: The film showcases many individuals who possess this “hyphenated identity” in both a literal and metaphorical sense. Some people feel caught in the middle, some take immense pride in their cultural roots, while others might wish to distance themselves from them. All of these perspectives are valid. Think about a hyphenated word; it’s visually intriguing as it combines two distinct elements while maintaining a connection between them. This, to me, symbolises the experience of Spanish-speaking Australians with a hyphenated identity. They navigate two different cultures, identifying with each to varying degrees but never fully being or belonging to just one. Out of this, something new and more flexible emerges, with multiple layers. The linguistic aspect (and this is true for other cultures as well) – the ability to understand and interact with the world in two different languages – is incredibly fascinating. It allows for verbal and emotional interactions with various communities. The significance of this concept for me lies in the excitement of knowing that the world is increasingly populated by people with “hyphenated identities”. While this may have lots of individual challenges and uncertainties, it also generates individuals who can contribute to society in a more empathetic, kind, and genuine manner. This concept has undoubtedly shaped my work, influencing the way I interact with people, how I approach filmmaking, and the elements I choose to include in my final projects. For instance, with this film, my personal perspectives, curiosity, and fascination with the concept of identity guided the way I interconnected the stories. I wanted the film to convey specific messages while leaving room for open conversation and reflection. I still struggle at times with my own hyphenated identity, especially considering that I arrived in Australia at the age of 19, viewing everything as an adventure. Over time, I’ve witnessed changes in my family back home, as well as my own personal evolution, and while I don’t feel fully from this country I may not be fully from there either. It’s a unique experience to recognise how migration has significantly shaped who I am and will likely continue to be a vital part of my self-identity.
F: What projects or ideas are you currently exploring or planning to work on next?
DP: After the intense process of creating ‘Nuestras Voces’ I’m dedicating most of my time to working with an organisation where I film and photograph the stories of individuals with disabilities. This role provides a sense of stability, which I find refreshing after an intense period of filmmaking.
However, I’ve been engaged in side projects with regional multicultural organisations in one of Victoria’s regional cities, Ballarat which has allowed me to continue nurturing my passion for these particular stories. Over the past few months, I’ve been increasingly eager to embark on a new, larger-scale project. My focus will revolve around the lives and impact of migrant women, with a particular emphasis on women of colour. I’m intrigued by their role in the community and their perspective of life in Australia, especially within regional settings, and I aim to explore their unique perspectives and draw from their ancestral wisdom. I met a group of African women in Ballarat that has come together to create a business, a women’s hub, and show their culture and I would like to explore that further.
Living in Ballarat now, I see immense potential for migrant women to make significant contributions to regional communities that are gradually embracing diversity and are eager to continue learning and growing together (and for communities to notice it). This project is just an idea at the moment but one that I want to become true as it aligns with my deep interest in both the power of storytelling and the positive influence that diverse voices can have on the broader narrative of our society.
Nuestras Voces is screening on Saturday 28 October 2023 at The Sun Theatre, Yarraville and on Sunday 19 November 2023 in Ballarat. Click through for tickets.
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Diana Paez
Melbourne Filmoteca
Latin Stories Australia
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Conversation with Nancy Bugeja.
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