Tony Maniaty discussed Shooting Balibo at the National Library of Australia in Canberra on 29 July 2009. Listen here.

Balibo was chosen to close this year's St. George Bank Brisbane International Film Festival on 9 August 2009.

The film picked up two major awards, the prestigious Fipresci Jury Award for Best Asian-Pacific Film and the Interfaith Jury Award for the Promotion of Humanitarian Values, and scooped the Showtime Best Ten award in audience voting, coming in at Number One.

Below left: Joining BIFF Executive Director Anne Demy-Geroe at the podium before an audience of 1000 were (from left) actor Damon Gameau, director Robert Connolly, Shooting Balibo author Tony Maniaty and producer/actor Anthony LaPaglia. Below right: Gameau, Connolly and LaPaglia in the splendid rococco foyer of Brisbane's Regent cinema.

Acclaimed Australian cinematographer Tristan Milani is the Director of Photography on Balibo. His other credits include The Boys, IMAX film Solamax, The Book of Revelation, The Bank, and 3 Dollars. For intriguing insights into the shooting of Balibo on movie website coolshite from the entertaining and irrepressible Mr Milani, listen here.

Tony Maniaty was guest-of-honour at a special screening of Balibo on 13 August 2009 at Roseville Cinema, Sydney, to raise funds for a new Teacher Training and Resource Centre in Same, East Timor. When built, the centre will service 84 schools in the Manufahi district, 90km south of Dili, with approximately 500 teachers and 15,000 students.

Maniaty read a message of support from Balibo director Robert Connolly, and told the audience the film was a rare marriage of great cinematic craft and deep social consciousness. The fundraiser was an initiative of the Northbridge Rotary Club, Sydney.