ART+FILM: A River in the Middle of the Sky

See the first feature by Dogmilk Films on the big screen in ACMI Cinemas. Victorian premiere.

A River in the Middle of the Sky is a portrait of Torajan videographer Victor Konda, whose work captures the intersection of his personal and community life. Despite lifelong vision problems, Victor became fascinated with the moving image and now documents social events, ceremonies and rituals in Tana Toraja, Indonesia, through his company, Delta Sangalla' TV (DSTV).

While the region is globally known for its elaborate funeral ceremonies, DSTV’s footage reveals lesser-seen moments of everyday life in Toraja. From a grandmother’s body being lovingly prepared by her family to a village mourning a young man’s death, Victor has been recording the life and transformations of his community since 2005, filming both public and personal moments with equal dedication.

The DSTV archive is a visual chronicle of Toraja’s unique approach to death, grief and life itself. A River in the Middle of the Sky combines footage from this archive with new images of Victor, creating a multifaceted portrait of a man whose work preserves collective memory, transcending the limitations of memory and mortality.

About Dogmilk Films

Dogmilk Films is an independent filmmaking collective based between the lands of the Kulin Nation [Melbourne], Mparntwe and Makassar. Since 2017, they have produced and promoted alternative, ambitious cinema, including video art and expanded forms of filmmaking, with a focus on collaborative storytelling across communities and fostering DIY film culture​.