AFTRS ? Australia’s premier screen broadcast and digital media training institution ? is committed to providing an avenue for Indigenous filmmakers to enhance their creative and technical skills through education and training.
A recent report conducted by The Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) commended AFTRS ‘for its long-standing support for Indigenous education that is matched with external funds, strongly supported by the Council, and by successive directors of AFTRS.’
In April, at a glamorous Gala evening, attended by the likes of Sam Neil, Susie Porter, George Miller and a host of screen and broadcast industry AFTRS awarded its 2007 indigenous scholarships.
The recipients were:
– Jeffery Dunn: a current Screen Composition student who was awarded The Macquarie Bank Foundation’s Indigenous Scholarship for 2007
– Sethy Willie: a current Location Sound student who received The Myer One Year Indigenous Scholarship
The AFTRS indigenous scholarship program has supported the screen careers of a broad range of talented people to date including Rachel Perkins (Radiance, One Night The Moon), Priscilla Collins (CEO, Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association), Catriona McKenzie (Fireflies, Remote Area Nurse), documentary filmmakers Kelrick Martin, Penny Smallacombe and Beck Cole (Empty Plains), Steven McGregor (Cold Turkey), Adrian Wills (Living Black) and editors, Kim West and Dena Curtis among them.
In addition to nurturing the careers of our indigenous film makers AFTRS has partnered with a number of organisations this year to screen Indigenous productions made at AFTRS including: The Australian Film Commission (AFC), Ryde City Council (in Sydney) and The Australian Centre for the Moving image, ACMI (in Melbourne).
From July 2007 audiences around Australia will get the chance to see AFTRS productions as part of the AFC’s Black Screen annual NAIDOC screenings. The Black Screen program provides Indigenous communities and the wider Australian public with access to Indigenous films at a variety of locations around the nation. AFTRS productions on tour this year include: B.L.A.C.K., Road Home, Your Brother My Tidda, Warm Strangers, Too Little Justice, Redreaming the Dark, Glass, Grace and Third Note.
From July 8 ? 15 ACMI, in Melbourne, is presenting a special program of AFTRS films – on the big screen – in Federation Square! Celebrating Indigenous Talent will screen each day at 11am, 5pm and 9pm and includes the following AFTRS productions: Third Note, Fireland, B.L.A.C.K, Grey Goblin, Market, Bad Habits, Weeping willow, Redreaming the Dark, Warm Strangers, Arcadia and Fuse – and on July 12 – Ryde City Council and AFTRS have joined forces to present: Moving Pictures, a screening supported by The Bennelong and Surrounds Residents for Reconciliation Group, as part of Naidoc Week 2007.
A range of films, curated by the Council, will be on show in the AFTRS Main Theatre (Corner of Balaclava and Epping Roads, North Ryde) including two AFTRS indigenous productions.
[release from AFTRS]