New opportunity for emerging First Nations Australian filmmakers

Filmmaker Marissa McDowell and students at Tuggeranong Arts Centre.

A new filmmaking project, ‘Connections to Country: Now’ will continue a multi-year investment by Tuggeranong Arts Centre in First Nations Australian filmmakers and telling First Nations stories through film.

The Centre is seeking expressions of interest from emerging First Nations Australian filmmakers to work with producer and director Marissa McDowell (Black & White Films) to create original short films telling traditional First Nations stories and documenting connection to country.

As part of the project, selected participants will have the opportunity to develop and produce their films under McDowell’s mentorship.

The Centre is looking for filmmakers who have a story about connecting to land, places and sites of personal significance. The resulting films are intended to help with the preservation of language, history and the passing down of knowledge to the next generation.

This latest project follows on from a number of recent projects by the Centre, which have documented First Nations stories through film.

In 2016, the Centre worked with filmmaker Pat Fiske and producer Nevanka McKeon to produce Footprints on Our Land, a short documentary about highly respected Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea. And in 2017, the Centre collaborated with Belconnen Community Service and Canberra Short Film Festival to offer a series of filmmaking workshops to local Indigenous youth and aspiring filmmakers.

Zach’s Ceremony: Screening at Tuggeranong Arts Centre Sunday 27 May. Image courtesy Wangala Films.

As part of Reconciliation Week 2018, the Centre will also be hosting a special screening of feature documentary Zach’s Ceremony on Sunday 27^th May. The event will include a Q&A with writer and producer Alec Doomadgee and his son Zach Doomadgee, whose journey from boyhood to manhood against the backdrop of Indigenous oppression is documented by the film.

Further information about ‘Connections to Country: Now’ and details on how to apply can be found at: http://www.tuggeranongarts.com/events/connections-to-country/

GURRUMUL theatrical poster – courtesy Madman Films.

GIVEAWAY: Thanks to Madman films, TAC has 10 double passes to Gurrumul at Palace Cinemas to give away. Gurrumul is a portrait of Indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, one of Australia’s most important and celebrated voices.

For your chance to win, simply tell us in the comments what your favourite First Nations Australian film is and why.