Telling Stories That Matter: Catherine Kolomyjec and the Power of Everywhere
Santa Maria College alumni Catherine Kolomyjec (Class of 1986) believed Everywhere was a story the world needed to hear – and she was right. As Executive Producer, she helped bring this documentary to life, spotlighting the 2023 World Transplant Games in Perth. What began as a behind-the-scenes media role grew into something far greater.
Everywhere is a celebration of life, inclusion and storytelling through a lens rarely seen. Thanks to Catherine’s leadership, this homegrown story is now capturing hearts around the world.
What is the documentary about, and how did you get involved?
Everywhere tells the story of The Periscope Crew – our film crew of young people with disabilities – and their journey at the World Transplant Games. Initially tasked with filming sports coverage, by the end of the week they had become the official media crew. They connected deeply with the transplant athletes, capturing the joy and power of these life-changing moments, telling this story from their unique point of view.
Knowing this story had never been told, we applied for funding and support from Sum Effect Studio to bring Everywhere to life.
What was your role, and what were the highlights and challenges?
I co-founded The Periscope Crew and served as Executive Producer with my husband Michael. One of the most exciting parts was watching the local community get behind the project. Over half the funding came from small donations (including some from the OGA – thank you!).
Filming at the WA Athletics Stadium on day one was unforgettable. Seeing the Crew step up as professionals was magic.
The biggest challenge was the relentless pace, learning contracts, music rights and film language. Every day brought new skills to master, which was both hard and rewarding.
Catherine said, “Every day I was learning something new (this was something cool too!) But the most challenging part of all was the relentless nature of a project like this. It was three years in total, every day of the week getting this baby over the line and out to the world.”
Where has the film been screened, and what has the response been like?
The Crew wanted to get Everywhere into the world – honouring their mission to tell stories from every angle. Since then, the film has been screened on all six continents.
Our very first screening was for transplant athletes at Parliament House in Canberra, a full house of 380 athletes and their families, with not a dry eye in the room. That reaction proved we were telling something powerful.
“This is going to change everything,” one of the athletes said. “It’s the first time someone outside our community has told our story.”
Has the film won any awards you're proud of?
Everywhere has received 22 awards across six continents. Highlights include:
- Australia Independent Film Festival – Best Documentary and People’s Choice. A magical moment with three of our Crew attending.
- Cannes World Film Festival – Disability Film of the Year.
- Palermo Opera House – University Award, voted by young people. Being on stage with transplant athletes was surreal.
- UN Association Film Festival – As a lifelong human rights advocate (since my Amnesty days at Santa Maria), this was a career high point.
What has audience feedback been like?
The emotional reaction has been overwhelming. At the UNAFF in Palo Alto, someone said, “Everywhere was the hopeful film the world needs right now.” At FICTS Milan, IOC members watched it over breakfast, including Alexandria de Coubertin, the great great grand niece of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, who said the film embodies the very messages of inclusion, strength and humanity that the Olympics is all about
Audiences fall in love with The Periscope Crew. They laugh, cry and cheer with them. They are global superstars now!
What impact do you hope it has?
More than anything, I hope it shifts conversations around disability and organ donation. We’ve heard from so many people who signed up as organ donors after seeing the film. Every registration can save up to eight lives. That’s real, global impact.
Schools in WA, Italy and Belgium are showing the film, and I hope it continues being used in education, especially given that only 1 in 10 young Australians are registered organ donors.
How has this journey shaped you personally and professionally?
Right now, we are in a lovely place where the whole Everywhere Crew are finally getting to stop and ‘smell the roses’. This experience reaffirmed my belief in storytelling as a force for social change. It has transformed the lives of the Crew, mentors, and transplant community, and certainly mine.
There are a few new stories ‘stewing’ in the back of my mind – perhaps another documentary is on the horizon.
Where can people watch Everywhere?
Everywhere will air on SBS on Thursday 4 December at 4.15 pm and will be available on SBS On Demand. Please message us @theeverywherefilm, we would love your feedback. And don’t forget your tissues!
Final thoughts
What changed me most was witnessing the gratitude of transplant athletes, living each day in honour of their donors. It reminded me how precious life is, right here, right now.
Everywhere gives voice to two often-invisible communities: people with disabilities and transplant recipients. It shows them not as subjects of pity, but as creators, athletes, and thriving individuals.
From the World Transplant Games to global film festivals, this film has sparked conversations, inspired change, and saved lives. It is a story of strength, inclusion and what happens when every voice is heard.
If you would like to be an organ donor, you can register here https://www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today
- Alumni Spotlight, Catherine Kolomyjec, Disability Inclusion, Everywhere Documentary, Featured, Organ Donation Awareness, Perth Documentaries, Santa Maria Alumni, The Periscope Crew, World Transplant Games, Youth Led Filmmaking
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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