CinefestOZ Broome, WA’s First Nations Film Festival!
Indigenous stories from Australia, the Torres Strait Islands and New Zealand will be celebrated from 26-29 October as part of CinefestOZ Broome – Western Australia’s First Nations Film Festival presented with Goolarri Media.
The four-day festival will feature film screenings and meet the filmmaker events under the stars at iconic Broome venues such as Sun Pictures – the World’s oldest operating picture theatre, Matso’s Brewery and Willie Creek Pearl Farm. There will also be free industry, school and community workshops and screenings.
Goolarri Media CEO and Indigenous film producer Jodie Bell said that the Festival, which is now in its second year, is fantastic platform to help raise the local, national and international profile of Indigenous creatives and stories, as well as Broome’s (Rubibi n the local Yawu-ru language) spectacular filmmaking landscape.”
“Broome and the Kimberley region is not only rich with Indigenous creative talent and cultural history – it also has a flourishing film scene that has produced screen successes such as Bran Nue Dae, The Circuit, Mad Bastards and Mystery Road 2.”
Check out the full program here!
The festival will open with a special screening of Kindred on Thursday 26th October at Sun Pictures.
Special guest Wonnarua man Adrian Russell Wills, whose writing credits include The Newsreader and Redfern Now, will open CinefestOZ Broome with Kindred, a film he co-wrote and directed with Wodi Wodi woman Gillian Moody that explores the emotional landscape of two close friends, both Aboriginal, who were adopted by white families and have connected back with their bloodline families.
When and Adrian Russell Wills met Gillian Moody making their first short film together, little did they know that 25 years later they would be best friends. The pair turned to each other in navigating the emotional rollercoaster of being adopted into white families, and when connecting back with their bloodlines. Kindred explores the importance of discovering your place in the world, and realising that home and love truly can be found in the people and places your heart connects to.
This year CinefestOZ has an incredible line up of filmmakers touching down in Broome to share their incredible wisdom and share some incredible stories.
The CinefestOZ Broome guest line up includes:
Mark Coles Smith – star of ABC drama Savage River and Mystery Road: Origin, and recent feature Sweet As – is Nyikina man who grew up on the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) and began working at a young age as an actor in Broome. In the time since he has gone on to forge an incredible career in
film, television, music and stage. With numerous awards and nominations under his belt and an incredible body of work already behind him, Mark has continued to grow and challenge himself as an artist and creative, earning industry attention as the wild card from the west, most recently with
his breakout performance as the young Jay Swan in the critically acclaimed ABC series Mystery Road: Origin.
Kelton Pell has built a reputation for being one of our finest Australian actors. He has enjoyed an illustrious theatre career over the last twenty years performing throughout Australia. His films include RedDog: True Blue, Looking For Grace, Bran Nue Dae, Blackfellas, Australian Rules and Three Summers. Kelton’s work was the subject of a Retrospective as part of the festival’s Indigenous program in 2015.
Michelle (Mitch) Torres – a Djugun, Djabirr Djabirr, Gooniyandi, Walmajarri and Yawuru women who has trained and worked for more than 30 years as a journalist, tv presenter and producer, as well as a writer, producer and director of stage, tv and film projects. A storyteller at heart, Mitch believes in
the power of a good story and the impact it can make to forge changes in society. She currently works with her family film production house: Wawili Pitjas Films producing factual and lifestyle programs and are venturing into drama.
Adrian Russell Wills is a Wonnarua man originally from Bourke NSW and comes from a strong line of ancient storytellers. Adrian wrote and directed two episodes of Blackfella Films’ drama series Redfern Now for ABC-TV and co-wrote an episode of RFDS and directed two episodes of the upcoming series. Adrian’s other television directing credits include; Rush, Wonderland, The Gods of Wheat Street, Wentworth and Warriors. Adrian often collaborates with fellow director, writer Gillian Moody of Kindred.
Zac James is a TO Wongi, Yamatji man who studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, specialising in acting and performance. After several years working as an actor for the Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, he made his playwright debut as the writer of “Kaarla Kaatijin.’ He continued with several other works showcased in the ‘Yirra Yaarns’ project.
Marlanie Haerewa is currently the Associate Director of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company and has strong ties to both her Aboriginal and Maori cultures, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the production. Artistic Director, producer, teacher and performer specialising in devised theatre, puppetry and contemporary performance.
Don’t miss out on having a chat with these incredible creatives and grab your tickets here!
