NITV has boosted its commitment to remote Indigenous production during the Indigenous Remote Communications Association Media Festival.
NITV has revealed this year’s $30,000 NITV Spirit Award winner and has also called for submissions for a fourth series of mini-documentary initiative, Our Stories.
Announced in the Northern Territory’s Lajamanu community, the NITV Spirit Award, offered as a commissioning pre-sale, recognised the work of Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media for Marumpu Wangka! Kukatjua Hand Talk.
It will lead to a 30-minute documentary production to be broadcast nationally on NITV in 2016.
NITV’s senior commissioning editor, Mary Ellen Mullane, said 156 works were assessed 156 prior to settling on a winner of this year's NITV Spirit Alward.
"We were very impressed by the diversity of the films and their subject matter, as well as the ever increasing talent within the remote media production sector.”
Short-documentary initiative, Our Stories, which aims to share the history, culture and language of Indigenous Australia through stories of elders, youth and communities, was also announced for a fourth series.
Part of NITV’s Regional, Remote and Emerging Initiative, the series will welcome a further 40 to 50 works for 2016.
NITV Channel Manager, Tanya Denning-Orman, said NITV was proud to support Indigenous storytelling from the remote sector, "developing the skills of filmmakers to bring stories of our culture, people and languages to all Australians,” she said.
The 2015 Festival was hosted by IRCA, in partnership with PAW Media and Communications and the Lajamanu community, with key partner Indigenous Community Television.