Benjamin Gilmour

Benjamin Gilmour is a German Australian author and filmmaker, best known for writing and directing the film Jirga (2018).

Career

=Paramedic=

Gilmour became a paramedic around 1999.{{Cite web|date=2019-09-07|title=Books That Changed Me: Benjamin Gilmour|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/books-that-changed-me-benjamin-gilmour-20190902-p52n0q.html|access-date=2021-10-10|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en| url-access=subscription}}{{Cite news|date=2020-04-29|title=We're treated like lepers, and called coronavirus 'spreaders' — just for doing our jobs|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-30/coronavirus-benjamin-gilmour-paramedic-during-covid-19-crisis/12188092|access-date=2021-11-19}} He has worked in public health development in low-middle income nations.{{Cite web|date=2019-08-08|title=Paramedic reveals the highs and lows of working in emergency services|url=https://7news.com.au/the-daily-edition/paramedic-benjamin-gilmour-on-the-highs-and-lows-of-working-in-emergency-services-c-387831|access-date=2021-10-10|website=7NEWS|language=en}}

=Writing=

Gilmour has written several non-fiction books.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-07|title=The Gap – a paramedic's summer on the edge|url=https://southsydneyherald.com.au/the-gap-a-paramedics-summer-on-the-edge/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=South Sydney Herald|language=en-AU}}

Warrior Poets: Guns, Movie-making and the Wild West of Pakistan, first published in 2008,{{Cite web|date=2008-09-15|title=Benjamin Gilmour: Moviemaking in Pakistan|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/benjamin-gilmour-moviemaking-in-pakistan/3184890|access-date=2021-10-10|website=ABC Radio National|language=en-AU}} is an account of the making of his feature film, Son of a Lion, but it also describes much about the Pashtun people of the North-West Frontier Province and in particular the town of Darra Adam Khel, where guns are made.{{cite book | last=Gilmour | first=B. | title=Warrior Poets: Guns, Movie-making and the Wild West of Pakistan | publisher=Murdoch Books Pty Limited | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-74196-651-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uZFDwAAQBAJ | access-date=27 February 2024 | page=}}{{Cite web|date=2008-09-15|title=Benjamin Gilmour: Moviemaking in Pakistan|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/benjamin-gilmour-moviemaking-in-pakistan/3184890|access-date=2021-10-10|website=ABC Radio National|language=en-AU}}

Paramedico - Around the World by Ambulance (2012), a "collection of adventures by Australian paramedic Benjamin Gilmour as he works and volunteers on ambulances around the world".{{cite book | last=Gilmour | first=B. | title=Paramédico: Around the World by Ambulance | publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Limited | year=2013 | isbn=978-0-00-749251-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eDlWMQEACAAJ | access-date=27 February 2024 | page=}}{{Cite web|title=Book Review—Paramédico: Around the World by Ambulance|url=https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/emsworld/article/11134289/book-review-paramedico-around-world-ambulance|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010084252/https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/emsworld/article/11134289/book-review-paramedico-around-world-ambulance |archive-date=2021-10-10 }}

The Gap: A paramedic's summer on the edge (2019) is a memoir recounting incidents in a group of paramedics' work in the lead-up to Christmas one summer.{{cite book | last=Gilmour | first=B. | title=The Gap: A paramedic's summer on the edge | publisher=Penguin Random House Australia | year=2019 | isbn=978-1-76089-021-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3CSbDwAAQBAJ | access-date=27 February 2024 | page=}}{{Cite web|last=Cerabona|first=Ron|date=2019-09-14|title=The Gap is a poignant glimpse into the trials of an ambo's life|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6344752/the-gap-is-a-poignant-glimpse-into-the-trials-of-an-ambos-life/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=The Canberra Times|language=en-AU}}

Cameras and Kalashnikovs: The Making of Jirga (2018) is about making the film Jirga in Afghanistan.{{cite book | last=Gilmour | first=B. | title=Cameras and Kalashnikovs: The Making of Jirga | publisher=Benjamin Gilmour | year=2018 | isbn=978-0-646-98771-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1eBdDwAAQBAJ | access-date=27 February 2024 | page=}}

He is also the author of an illustrated book for children The Travel Bug (2011), and two volumes of poetry, The Song of a Hundred Miles and Night Swim.{{cite web | title=inauthor:"Benjamin Gilmour" | website=Google Search | url=https://www.google.com.au/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Benjamin+Gilmour%22 | access-date=27 February 2024}}

=Films=

Son of a Lion (2007) was his first film, a documentary filmed in Pakistan as he lived among the Pashtun tribes of the Northwest Frontier Province.{{Citation|title=New Zealand International Film Festival: Son of a Lion|url=https://www.nziff.co.nz/2008/archive/son-of-a-lion/|language=en-GB|access-date=2021-10-10}}{{Cite web|last=Kerr|first=Elizabeth|date=2007-10-09|title=Son of a Lion|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/son-a-lion-158892/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2008-07-13|title=Movie: "Son of a Lion" by Benjamin Gilmour|url=https://pakistaniat.com/2008/07/13/review-son-lion-gilmour-pakistan/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=All Things Pakistan}}

Paramedico (2011) is another documentary film, released at the same time as his book of the same name. It was nominated for the Foxtel Best Documentary Award at the Sydney Film Festival.{{Citation|title=Paramedico (2012) - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2324296/awards/|language=en|access-date=2021-10-10}}{{Cite web|title=Paramedico (2011) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/paramedico-2011/31346/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=www.screenaustralia.gov.au}}

Gilmour wrote and directed the 2018 film Jirga,{{Cite web|date=2018-06-11|title=Jirga review – contemplative war film with a powerful sense of purpose|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/11/jirga-review-contemplative-war-film-with-a-powerful-sense-of-purpose|access-date=2021-10-10|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2019-08-01|title=Review: 'Jirga' asks if atonement for war sins is possible|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-08-01/jirga-review-war-australia-afghanistan|access-date=2021-10-10|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} Son of a Lion (2007){{Citation|last=Gilmour|first=Benjamin|title=Son of a Lion|date=2009-11-06|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1198220/|type=Drama, War|publisher=Australian Film Commission, Carolyn Johnson Films, Leapfrog Productions|access-date=2021-10-10}}{{Cite web|title=Interview: Benjamin Gilmour|url=https://newslinemagazine.com/magazine/interview-benjamin-gilmour/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=Newsline|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2008-02-15|title=Interview with 'Son of a Lion' Director Benjamin Gilmour: 'Pakistan's Pashtuns Just Want to Protect Their Way of Life'|language=en|work=Der Spiegel|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/interview-with-son-of-a-lion-director-benjamin-gilmour-pakistan-s-pashtuns-just-want-to-protect-their-way-of-life-a-534771.html|access-date=2021-10-10|issn=2195-1349}} and Paramedico (2012). Jirga won the inaugural AACTA Award for Best Indie Film at the 8th AACTA Awards in 2018{{Cite web|last=Maddox|first=Garry|date=2018-12-03|title=Risky film shot in secret in Afghanistan steals show at AACTA Awards|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/ladies-in-black-and-sweet-country-share-early-honours-at-aacta-awards-20181203-p50jsa.html|access-date=2021-10-10|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Nominees Announced for the 2018 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel|url=https://www.aacta.org/our-news/media-room/nominees-announced-for-the-2018-aacta-awards-presented-by-foxtel/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=www.aacta.org|language=en-AU}} and the CinefestOZ Film Prize.{{Cite web|date=2018-08-26|title=Surprise result: Benjamin Gilmour's 'Jirga' wins $100,000 CinefestOZ prize|url=https://www.if.com.au/surprise-result-benjamin-gilmours-jirga-wins-100000-cinefestoz-prize/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=IF Magazine|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|title=CinefestOZ 2018 Film Prize Winner Announced • CinefestOZ Film Festival|url=https://cinefestoz.com/cinefestoz-2018-film-prize-winner-announced/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=cinefestoz.com|language=en-AU}} It was selected as Australia's entry to the 91st Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film section.{{Cite web|date=2018-10-08|title='Jirga' is Australia's submission for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar|url=https://www.if.com.au/jirga-is-australias-submission-for-best-foreign-language-film-oscar/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=IF Magazine|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|date=2018-12-05|title=Oscar buzz for an Aussie film shot in secret in Afghanistan|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/breakfast/benjamin-gilmour-jirga/10584940|access-date=2021-10-10|website=ABC Radio|language=en-AU}}

Publications

Song of a Hundred Miles: A Collection of Poetry (1998){{cite book | last1=Gilmour | first1=B. | last2=Gilmore | first2=I. | last3=Moujafis | first3=Y. | title=The Song of a Hundred Miles: A Collection of Poetry | publisher=Peculiar Press | year=1998 | isbn=978-0-646-35696-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RsAjAAAACAAJ | access-date=27 February 2024 | page=}}
Warrior Poets: Guns, Movie-making and the Wild West of Pakistan (2008)
Paramedico - Around the World by Ambulance (2012)
The Travel Bug (2011)
Cameras and Kalashnikovs: The Making of Jirga (2018)
The Gap: A paramedic's summer on the edge (2019)
Night Swim: New Poetry by Benjamin Gilmour (2020){{cite book | last=Gilmour | first=B. | title=Night Swim: New Poetry by Benjamin Gilmour | publisher=Independently Published | year=2020 | isbn=979-8-5827-6015-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7KYkzgEACAAJ | access-date=27 February 2024 | page=}}