Three former footballers share their stories of playing footy in the 60s to the 80s in an all-Chinese Australian team.
A community’s efforts to belong sees a group of young Chinese Australian men come together and play their national game of Aussie Rules with true blue passion and gusto.
CARN THE CHINESE! is a tribute to the resilience, camaraderie, and cultural significance of Chinese Australians in football, and a reminder of the enduring power of community and sports in the shaping of individual and collective histories.
With the sound of the siren, let the games begin!
The film will feature interviews with footballers speaking directly to camera and the audience, about their lived experiences, growing up and living in Melbourne during the reign of the White Australian Policy. Through rich personal archival footage, photographs, historical visuals, and sounds of Aussie Rules football and Melbourne of bygone years, the film captures the vibrancy of that time, and showcases the Chinese Australian community’s sense of cultural pride and spirit. Combined with the emotional depth of the interviews, the film will serve as a record of a significant piece of history, that highlights the ability of sports to bridge cultures, and underscores the enduring impact of cultural heritage in Australian society.
DURATION: 15 MINUTES
Issue area
With this film, we are recording a hidden footy story, and challenging the stereotyped perception of Chinese Australians by many in the greater Australian society. It records the experience of the Chinese Australian community during the times of the White Australian Policy, and the important role Chinese Australians play in Australian football, and in modern Australia. It also highlights how Australia is multicultural, and broadens the understanding of ‘the Australian’.
This film will highlight a hidden chapter of Australian sports history, by celebrating the resilience, pride, and cultural identity of Chinese Australians. It will challenge stereotypes, honours a forgotten legacy, and inspire a deeper understanding of community, perseverance, and the elderly. The shared stories of the footballers will foster a renewed appreciation for the diverse voices that shape the nation.
This short documentary will bring attention to and celebrate the contributions of a group often overlooked in Australian sports history, and inspire a deeper understanding of the Chinese Australian community, and diaspora communities in general. It is our hope that it will spark reflection, dialogue, and a renewed appreciation for the role Chinese Australians and other diaspora groups play, in shaping Australian culture and history.
I belong to the Chinese community in Australia, and have lived in diaspora communities in other countries. I also enjoy footy, and know that footy lovers out there will gravitate towards this heartwarming footy story. We have the support of the North Melbourne Football Club and the Footy Almanac, an online paper on Aussie Rules; they will help promote the film when it plays at film festivals as part of its path to audience, locally and internationally. We will build our audience through these promotions, word-of-mouth and social media. We hope to meet with online and TV broadcasters alike, at film markets or directly, to find the film a suitable partner. We also hope to eventually share the film on our Youtube channel, pending agreements with the successful online / broadcast partners.
• Word of Mouth: Tell everyone about the surprising and uplifting story presented in the film. Share the film, and the importance of inclusion, and respect for the elderly.
• Practice and promote equality: Advocate for equality, regardless of race, ethnicity, abilities, gender, age and sexuality. Call out discrimination in all its forms.
• Reflect and Examine: Reflect on how far Australia has come since the end of the White Australian Policy. Examine one’s and society’s stereotyping of diaspora communities, and other marginalised communities. Recognise stereotypes in media portrayals and the inaccuracies presented.
• Connect and Correct: Connect and include members of marginalised communities in all facets of life. Take note of societal misconceptions, and correct them, one person at a time.
Angela How’s a WOC / Asian filmmaker based in Naarm / Melbourne, Australia, and an alumna of the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television (MFA Directing). She makes both fiction and non-fiction films, and has had her work play many festivals, including Mar Del Plata International Film Festival, Stockholm International Film Festival, Torino Film Festival, Short Shorts Asia, Environmental Film Festival Australia, Melbourne Women In Film Festival and at the United Nations. Angela was invited to the Berlinale Talent Project Market, the Binger Institute and IFP NYC with her feature project, CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERMAN. Angela has directed two feature films to-date, and has recently completed doc series FIRST GENERATION as producer / director and editor for ABC Australia.
11/05/2026
Document Link
NEWS FLASH: – We will debut CARN THE CHINESE! in this year’s Footy Shorts Program at MIFF!!! Very grateful for the generous support of MIFF, AFL and VicScreen. Hope to see you all at the screening!
21/01/2026
Amazingly talented AFLW player, Darcy Vescio of Carlton FC, has come on board as our executive producer(!), and we are over the moon! No word(s) can fully capture the depth of our appreciation for Darcy’s generosity and faith in the film. We still can’t believe an Aussie icon is in our corner. Hurray!
$17,000
FUNDING GOAL$2,100
FUNDS RAISED3
SUPPORTERS
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