For Indigenous Australian rugby league players, a pre-game ‘unity dance’ is an important step towards celebrating their cultures and combating entrenched racism. Former National Rugby League (NRL) star #DeanWidders is a man on a mission. After fellow Indigenous players Preston Campbell, Timana Tahu and George Rose devised their own pre-game performance to match the haka of their Maori counterparts, Widders began a journey to bring this dance – and First Nations pride more broadly – to the game. So far, his advocacy has garnered support from the Indigenous All Stars league, but his dream is to have Australia’s national team adopt this unifying battle cry. The bonds between sport and community are at the forefront of this powerful documentary by celebrated writer/director Larissa Behrendt. Featuring several NRL greats, prominent First Nations figures like Stan Grant and Adam Goodes, and the #Bangarra Dance Theatre, #Araatika: Rise Up! is the story of one man’s determination and a spirited call-to-arms to stand behind Indigenous Australia. More from Madman Films: http://www.madmanfilms.com.au Instagram: http://www.instagram.com.au/madmanfilms Twitter:   / madmanfilms   Facebook:   / madmanfilms  

An intimate and compassionate observational documentary from the perspective of a 10-year-old Aboriginal boy in Alice Springs, Australia, struggling to balance his traditional Arrernte/Garrwa upbringing with a state education.

Release: August 15, 2013 Director: Ivan Sen Writer: Ivan Sen Cast: Aaron Pedersen, Hugo Weaving, Jack Thompson, Ryan Kwanten, Tony Barry, Roy Billing, Zoe Carides, David Field, Damian Walshe-Howling, Tasma Walton, Samara Weaving, Robert Mammone Genre: Thriller Returning to his small outback hometown, an Aboriginal police detective undertakes an investigation into the brutal murder of a teenage Aboriginal girl that brings the town's long-simmering tensions to the surface. Aaron Pedersen, Jack Thompson and Hugo Weaving star in this new film from internationally lauded Australian director Ivan Sen (Beneath Clouds, Toomelah).

The great Australian actor David Gulpilil (Walkabout, Ten Canoes) won the Best Actor prize at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard for his majestic performance in this semi-autobiographical drama, about an aged Aborigine who journeys into the Outback to live in the traditional ways of his ancestors.

MIFF 2012 The Sapphires Official Trailer #1 (2012) - Australian Musical Movie An adaptation of Tony Briggs' successful stage musical of the same name, The Sapphires is set in the late 60s when the McCrae girls -- four talented young singers from a remote Aboriginal mission -- are plucked from obscurity and branded Australia's version of The Supremes. The girls dream of becoming as big as their Motown idols and they get their chance when they're flown to Vietnam to entertain the troops, opening their eyes to a whole new world of sex, war, politics and soul. Directed by Wayne Blair (who appeared in Blessed, MIFF 09) and starring Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell and Deborah Mailman reprising her role from the original play, The Sapphires had its world premiere at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. The Sapphires is a heartwarming, distinctly Australian tale full of joy, love and laughter, and featuring an unbeatable soundtrack of Motown-era soul music.

The Breakfast Club meets the outback in this uplifting coming-of-age road movie by Nyul Nyul / Yawuru director Jub Clerc (The Turning, MIFF Premiere Fund 2013; The Heights). Director: Jub Clerc Origin: Australia

The latest film from Warwick Thornton. Inspired by real events, Sweet Country is a period western set in 1929 in the outback of the Northern Territory, Australia.

Starring: Aaron Pedersen, Alex Russell, Jacki Weaver Directed By: Ivan Sen Synopsis: Indigenous Detective Jay Swan arrives in the frontier town of Goldstone on a missing persons inquiry. What seems like a simple light duty investigation opens a web of crime and corruption. Jay must pull his life together and bury his differences with young local cop Josh, so together they can bring justice to Goldstone.

Experience the power of First Nations storytelling by joining The First Nations Film Festival 2024 during National Reconciliation Week featuring a line up of films to help inspire, examine and drive discussion. All films will stream from 27 May to June 10 on our streaming platform, FanForceTV. SERVANT OR SLAVE SYNOPSIS The confronting story of five Indigenous Australian women told in their own words, revealing how they were removed from their families and forced against their will to serve in cruel conditions amounting to secret slavery. Runtime: 57 mins Rated: M

Set in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, Satellite Boy tells the story of Pete (Cameron Wallaby) who lives in an abandoned drive-in with his grandfather Jagamarra (David Gulpilil), whom Pete calls Jubbi. Jagamarra is determined to pass on knowledge and culture to his grandson, but Pete is a reluctant learner. However, when Pete and his friend Kalmain get lost in the remote country of the Bungle Bungles, their survival depends on the lessons Pete’s grandfather has taught him.

★★★★ "A spectacular achievement. A strikingly original piece of work" - THE GUARDIAN. Acclaimed Artistic Director and Choreographer Stephen Page brings Bangarra Dance Theatre’s outstanding dance work #Spear to the screen. Striking and original, Page weaves story through dance to deliver an extraordinary cinematic experience in his feature film debut. Using gesture and dance, with minimal dialogue, SPEAR follows a young Aboriginal man named Djali (Hunter Page-Lochard) from North East Arnhem Land to the streets of Sydney on his quest to understand what it means to be a man with ancient traditions in a modern world. Featuring the brilliant Bangarra dancers and an evocative David Page score that combines traditional and contemporary music, SPEAR is an intimate journey with one of Australia’s most celebrated artists and one of the most affecting and spiritually resonant films of the year. Instagram:   / madmanfilms   Twitter:   / madmanfilms   Facebook:   / madmanfilms   Tiktok:   / madmanfilms   More from Madman Films: http://www.madmanfilms.com.au Follow us on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/madmanfilms/ Join our mailing list: https://www.madmanfilms.com.au/subscr...

Download ATOM Study Guide for 'The Beach': https://bit.ly/3c79sKU 📺 Stream 'The Beach' via The Education Shop: https://bit.ly/39zaQX4 SYNOPSIS: 'The Beach' follows one man's personal journey of transformation, to heal and change his life while he still can. Over six, half-hour episodes, the series goes on a deeply personal and intimate journey with award winning, Indigenous film maker Warwick Thornton. It explores the fragility of the human mind, body and spirit in modern times. A life of excess, neglect and self-abuse is transformed in the most profound way, through the ancient healing power of nature. 'The Beach' is set in the remote, harsh and yet stunning, location of Jilirr, on the Dampier Peninsula, on the north-west coast of Western Australia. A piece of paradise which remains largely unseen by most Australians and the rest of the world. The experience isn't easy, it's not predictable. It doesn't always go to plan. But it is life changing. There are moments of hopelessness, helplessness, fear and failure and joy and triumph. Warwick is forced to confront areas in his life he'd rather not think about – father, friend and film maker. Areas which may seem successful to the outsider. Audiences are given a rare opportunity to be invited inside, to see the real man. A man plagued by self-doubt and self-loathing, yet one who is committed to changing his life and reconnecting with Country. He needs to get physically, mentally and emotionally strong. He needs to face his demons. Along the way, he has to develop his instincts and skills to hunt and gather food to survive and thrive in this isolated, brutal part of paradise. Over the six episodes we discover how much he relies on food not only for his body, but also for his spirit... we watch as he cooks, silently and without instruction to the audience. Warwick needs to build a new life, a life that can sustain him in the 'real' world, a life that embraces his passion for food, and which nourishes the mind, body and soul. Warwick's incredibly personal journey reminds us how important it is to reconnect with nature to heal and transform our own lives, before it's too late. Directed by Warwick Thornton and filmed by his son Dylan River, with a small key crew including producer Michelle Parker, The Beach is observational and unobtrusive, yet visually stunning and cinematic. It is remarkable and rare television.