The story of the Central Coast grandmother who became an international internet sensation will be released in national cinemas in August.
Bonsai Films has announced the national cinema release of Everybody's Oma from August 11 (Victoria from August 25), with a national tour of preview Q&A screenings from July 30.
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Selected for the Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and Cinefest Oz, Everybody's Oma follows the incredible story of Oma (Hendrika van Genderen), the grandmother with dementia, and the endearing home videos that became a global sensation.
What makes it even more special is that Jason shoots his films on iPhone.
Award-winning filmmaker Jason van Genderen, from Forresters Beach on the NSW Central Coast, was obsessed with making home videos about his family and, in particular, their Dutch matriarch, Oma.
As the pandemic hit, and Oma's shrinking world became even smaller, Jason and his wife Megan embraced caring for Oma's dementia in increasingly whimsical ways, accidentally turning her into an online celebrity.
Their home videos attracted more than 100 million views globally, and continue to climb.
One video featured Oma shopping at a makeshift grocery store at the family home, which inspired Coles and HammondCare to develop and bring a similar dementia-friendly experience into aged care homes across Australia.
Now a heart-warming and life-affirming feature documentary, Everybody's Oma follows Jason, Megan and their children as they navigate Oma's failing health under the spotlight of an enthusiastic audience of well-meaning strangers.
Jason is a rule breaker, creative agitator and iPhone documentarian.
In 2008 he premiered his first smartphone short film My Town is Broken at Sydney Film Festival, winning his category and seeding a life-long obsession with capturing story in unexpected ways.
"I've always been obsessed about capturing my family on video. My short films have all been biographical, I lean on my camera to reflect and make sense of life's hiccups," he said.
"It's why I film with iPhones so extensively, because I can capture more fleeting situations, and share that raw intimacy with an audience. In Everybody's Oma, the audience will experience an intimate observation of our family - all the flaws and joys - as we navigate an extraordinary journey."
Everybody's Oma was primarily captured on iPhones, and features footage spanning 12 years of Van Genderen home life.
The whole family was involved, from Evie, 2, Arty, 6, right through to Levi, 15, Brie, 19, and Jason and Megan.
Oma, 89, lost her battle with Alzheimer's and vascular dementia on February 17, with the family leaving a front row seat free in memory of Oma at each preview screening.
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Jason and Megan will place a bunch of Oma's favourite blooms - sunflowers - on this seat to acknowledge her unforgettably sunny disposition.
"This film will go down in our family as one of our most beautiful memories, and something we can reflect and be proud," Megan said.
"I'm intrinsically aware of the life lessons of respect, compassion and empathy our elders provide our younger generations and feel eternally indebted to Oma for cementing the values of empathy and love she in our children's lives.
"This film represents every family that has ever found themselves in a high care circumstance and I hope it validates every feeling and every journey."
Click here for tickets.
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Therese Murray
Wordsmith. Experienced communications professional. I am a talented writer with a drive to interpret complex information into readable copy. A highly motivated self-starting senior journalist, editor and copywriter trained in all aspects of content production. Writing and words are my passion while I can edit and proof anything. Headlines a specialty. Oh, and I'm not a bad photographer. As a journalist, I can adapt to any writing style. I am aware of the work of public relations and marketing specialists and their needs and I know what is needed to get their message across to journalists. I am a great communicator through social media and just love creating social media conversations. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career has been all about telling stories. Storytelling remains storytelling across the gamut of writing, no matter whether you work on newspapers or in marketing. As a journalist, every day is a lucky dip. You have no idea who you will meet, where you will go or what you will do.
Wordsmith. Experienced communications professional. I am a talented writer with a drive to interpret complex information into readable copy. A highly motivated self-starting senior journalist, editor and copywriter trained in all aspects of content production. Writing and words are my passion while I can edit and proof anything. Headlines a specialty. Oh, and I'm not a bad photographer. As a journalist, I can adapt to any writing style. I am aware of the work of public relations and marketing specialists and their needs and I know what is needed to get their message across to journalists. I am a great communicator through social media and just love creating social media conversations. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career has been all about telling stories. Storytelling remains storytelling across the gamut of writing, no matter whether you work on newspapers or in marketing. As a journalist, every day is a lucky dip. You have no idea who you will meet, where you will go or what you will do.
