History remembers Willaberta Jack as man whose courage survives an evil pastoralist and an unjust law system, but will it be enough to protect him from his own community.
A clash of bush craft and pride as an Aboriginal man runs for his life pursued by the law of the day. Set in 1929, this is an extraordinary tale of survival and resilience set amongst the harsh landscape of Central Australia.
In the middle of the Central Australian Outback stands a church that is like no other in the world.
The Santa Teresa church, in Ltyentye Apurte Aboriginal Community, one hour south of Alice Springs, is an extraordinarily beautiful church with walls that are painted with vibrant portraits and landscapes.
Agnes Palmer, an Arrente woman, looked at the bare walls of her church and was divinely inspired, she listened to the spirit people that look after the land and also worked for God.
This documentary explores the spiritual project led by Agnes and coordinated by Cait Wait, with many local Aboriginal women, to paint the walls of the church from the floor to the ceiling.
“You must be crazy!”
A documentary about the Indigenous participants of the 2005 Tattersalls’ Finke Desert Race.
The Finke Desert Race tests both the body and the mind in putting the contestants through a gruelling race from Alice Springs to the community of Finke 229 km away. The contestants stay overnight and then do the return trip the next day. The race itself may seem innocuous, but the older participants speak of inspiring younger people to get involved in something and life itself.
In 1942 at the age of 5 Frank Byrnes was taken from his mother and sent to Moola Bulla training station. At the same time his mother went into a deep depression a direct result of the loss of her child. The authorities sent her to the Claremont Mental Asylum where she remained until her death in 1962. Mother and son never saw each other again.
Two old man, Alyawarra elders who are master spear makers, share their cultural knowledge on a journey through the red sand and spinifex of their country, unravelling the secrets of an ancient craft and its relationship to their heritage.
Using traditional tools and methods, Crook Hat and Camphoo talk about spear making, bush knowledge and the ‘old ways’, hoping to maintain a culture disenfranchised by a modern world.
With patience, dignity and an ever present sense of humour, these two men open the door to a dry and harsh land where magic happens.
This is the story of the campaign by Aboriginal people of Central Australia to protect land, animals and dreaming stories at two proposed uranium dump sites. Both proposed sites have aboriginal communities living within 10km of the sites (one is 40km from Alice Springs – one is 100 km).
The film focuses on the Aboriginal people living traditionally on the lands ear-marked for dumping sites.
How do they feel about their homelands becoming a “dump”?
What do they understand about the plans to store uranium?
What do they know about uranium?
And, most importantly, how will this affect their lives, their lands, and the generations to follow?
Noodlers are people who sift through miners’ scrap heaps in order to find opals. In Coober Pedy, South Australia, we meet Mr Norman Hayes Jagamarra.
Made by award winning director, Warwick Thornton, this documentary will explore the ‘fortunate life’ of one old Noodler, as he talks about his experiences in the early days of droving, mining and noodling.
”You go out there and you ride time like nobody’s rode time before”.
Set in the dust and excitement of the Mt Isa Rodeo, RYDIN’ TIME is a half hour Documentary about family support and unity.
Already seasoned rodeo riders themselves, three teenagers, Kaleb Comollatti, Dallas McNamara and John Stacey are continuing a proud, family history of professional saddle Bronc and Bull Riding.
“Rydin’ time” is a positive story about youth and the strength of family.
Jessie Bartlett is about to take you on an incredible journey back to her Pintubi grandmothers’ homelands where she will learn about the lore of love: traditional way.
This half hour documentary explores the relationship between Jessie, a shy 18 year old girl and her outgoing and mischievous grandmothers: Mijili, Nancy and Kumanjayi. This is a film about sexuality, relationships and culture set in an extremely isolated location, Lake Mackay.
The Merrepen palm tree is a life source for the people of the Daly River region. On this adventure you will discover the colourful and humorous character of various Aboriginal ladies from the Nauiya community on the Daly River.
A group of traditional women take us into their country to gather the precious Merrepen leaves and berries. Merrepen leaves are striped, dyed with other roots and berries and dried and then intricately hand woven to make incredibly versatile dilly bags and baskets. The ladies develop their masterpieces working together at the Merrepen Arts Centre.
”I’m not black, I’m not white, I’m a yellow fella and I’m gonna stay that way”.
Festival De Cannes Official Selection, Un Certain Regard
The descendants of a great Aboriginal leader tell an inspiring story of two laws, two cultures and two families coming to terms with the past.
Seventy years after the controversial murder trial of the great Yolngu leader Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda and his subsequent disappearance, his family is still searching for answers. Dhakiyarr’s body has still not been found and laid to rest. His descendants know that justice was not served and want to restore what was denied to him, his honour. Dhakiyarr vs The King is their story, told in their own words. It is also the story of a clash of cultures and of one man bravely facing the unknown.