About this Event
19th Native Spirit Festial & Indigenous Studies Discussion Group (ISDG) present IMAGINE premiere at TRINITY HALL LECTURE THEATRE, TRINITY LANE (entrance at end of Senate House Passage), CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CB2 1TJ followed by discussion (speakers tbc)
IMAGINE 2025 |1h 15min | First Nations Australia
Synopsis: IMAGINE is a ground-breaking, co-created animated film blending Indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge technology. Following 15-year-old Kim and their alien canine companion Jeff, the story explores identity, freedom, and a world on the brink of collapse and is a meta-documentary about the current state of our world and long-term solutions thereto. IMAGINE is meant to wake people up from the reverie we’ve put ourselves in and realise our intrinsic inherent and deep connection to Nature, with the climate crisis being a symptom of the fracture of that fundamental, sacred relationship.
Featuring intelligence from Indigenous youth to fancy CEOs as well as renowned Indigenous Systems thinker Dr. Tyson Yunkaporta, Nelson Mandela's granddaughter Ndileka Mandela, former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and other screen icons & outlaws including Cloudy Rhodes, Wesley Enoch, Bec Bignall, Ned Benson, Wayne Blair, Simon Taylor, Ritza Bloom, Randy Feltface, Yael Stone, Emma Watts, Meyne Wyatt, Benjamin Law, Michelle Law and Rob Carlton.
Director Biography : Jack Manning Bancroft is an Indigenous Australian social entrepreneur renowned for his innovative contributions to education and the arts. At 19, while a student at the University of Sydney, he founded the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) in 2005, starting with 25 Indigenous students in Redfern. Under his leadership, AIME expanded significantly, supporting over 25,000 students across 52 countries, with the assistance of 10,000 university mentors.
In 2010, Jack was honored as the NSW Young Australian of the Year, recognizing his impactful work in mentoring. He is also an accomplished author, having written children’s books such as “The Eagle Inside” and “Imagi-Nation,” which he co-authored with his mother, Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft.
Jack’s latest endeavor is “IMAGINE,” an animated feature film co-created with Indigenous storyteller Tyson Yunkaporta. This groundbreaking project involved collaboration with over 150 young people from 17 countries, blending Indigenous knowledge with modern storytelling. “IMAGINE” follows the journey of 15-year-old Kim and their alien canine companion, Jeff, exploring themes of identity and environmental stewardship. The film aims to inspire viewers to reconnect with nature and reduce reliance on technology, with all proceeds directed towards environmental conservation efforts.
Through his visionary leadership, Jack Manning Bancroft continues to drive social change, fostering imagination and mentoring to create a more equitable and sustainable world.
Director Statement : “IMAGINE” is a true collaboration, a global effort where over 150 people stepped up, 18 partners hosted, and more than 200 guests across 17 countries contributed their ideas, knowledge, and creativity. This project began as a blank page, and through the collective power of imagination, it has evolved into an epic story—one that reflects the world we live in and the world we hope to create.
At its heart, “IMAGINE” follows Kim, a gender-fluid 15-year-old, and their alien dog, Jeff, as they journey through an ocean landscape to confront Kim’s life as a bully. The story challenges us to think beyond our limitations and recognize that imagination is the most important device we have as humans. It fuels innovation, shapes our future, and prepares us for the challenges ahead.
We are at a turning point in history. With automation threatening nearly 49% of jobs in the next 10 to 20 years, we must invest in creation, design, and human services—fields that are uniquely human and unlikely to be replaced by machines. The future demands a new way of thinking.
In 2025, we imagine zero-waste homes, seaweed farms pulling carbon from the atmosphere, fire-protected houses, and Indigenous knowledge embraced as mainstream wisdom. We imagine economic models that ensure a basic income for all and an education system that blends digital and face-to-face learning to unlock new waves of genius.
“IMAGINE” is a story for the next generation—one that dares to believe in what is possible. With voices from Kate Mulgrew, Taylor Schilling, Rose McIver, Yael Stone, Wayne Blair, Dame Simpson, and Jane Goodall, we are bringing this vision to life. This film is not just about storytelling—it’s about building a future where imagination leads the way.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Trinity Hall Lecture Theatre, Trinity Lane, Cambridge, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
