Cinderella Children

ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY

Having sponsored children with Childcare Kitgum Servants along with his church for a number of years, it was when Grant Windle was reading one of their magazines that spurred him to contact Irene Gleeson and ask if anyone had ever made a documentary on her life and work. The rest is history!

Though having no previous experience in making a documentary, Grant simply felt compelled to do it. But it was his church’s response that really sewed it up. After Pastor Grant had put the idea to the church, within 2 weeks the members of the church had given enough to finance the entire venture.

Pastor Grant says, “It’s really the church at CCC Westside that has produced this documentary. The people that finance visions are really the ones who make them happen. I was blown away by their response to doing this. It was as if they all leapt upon their feet and shouted ‘count me in’”.

There was another major factor made it all possible. Members of the church were able to contribute various areas of help with research, graphics and computer work, but the one person it couldn’t do without was Matt Clift. Matt had only recently started his own business with filming and editing, yet volunteered his time to film, edit and put the final programme together.

There was one more piece that was to complete this picture. Grant had developed a friendship with great gospel legend Andrae Crouch over the last few years so Grant asked if Andrae would let him use some of his music as soundtracks for the film. Andrae is an 8 times Grammy Awards winner and has worked with legends such as Michael Jackson and written music for movies such as ‘The Colour Purple’ and ‘The Lion King’, and in 2007, was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Upon hearing Grant’s request, Andrae quickly replied, “You can count me in!”

“To have Andrae’s music in this documentary was a dream come true. He’s such a legend and he’s done some amazing African music being African American himself. He also has such a heart for Africa, and there was no hesitation in him to be involved. Andrae is a very gracious person and his gift of music to this film is such a privilege.” – Pastor Grant But the person that this story is about is Irene Gleeson. It’s a testament to her life, her sacrifice and her faith in God.

With a couple of cameras and a few more bits and pieces, Grant and Matt set off for Uganda and over one week took 35 hours of film. All the interviews were done with the young people who have grown up in CKS and who now attend school or work there. Upon returning to Australia the entire film was produced within two months.

“The people of Northern Uganda are called Acholi. They are such gentle and beautiful people, unique, elegant and though in poverty, quite dignified. They have such presence on camera, and because they don’t watch T.V., it’s as if the camera is not even there. There’s an open, innocent honesty about them that picks up wonderfully on film. What a story! What a people!” – Grant Windle

When Grant Windle was asked why he, a local church Pastor, would make this documentary, he replied, “Well that’s simple – because no one else has. And it’s a story that must be told.”

View Selected Clips of Cinderella Children