Press release from Message Sticks
The Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival returns to Sydney Opera House in May with its biggest program to date. The only festival solely dedicated to films made by and about Indigenous people, this year’s program will include eight world premieres, one Australian premiere and one Sydney premiere.
Since it commenced in 2000, Sydney Opera House is proud to have helped nurture Message Sticks to become a major event in the Australian cultural calendar. A significant cornerstone of Sydney Opera House’s public programs, the free festival engages with the wider community and creates a platform for public discourse as well as celebration.
The next wave of Australian filmmakers will be showcased in The New Black, a series of seven 10-minutes dramas from emerging Indigenous writers, directors and producers that will have their world premiere at Message Sticks.
The New Black is the latest drama initiative from the Indigenous Branch of Screen Australia and features stories from Far North Queensland, Bourke, Alice Springs, South Coast NSW, inner west and western Sydney The projects were financed with production support from the ABC, NSWFTO and the Pacific Film and Television Commission.
“The Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival provides audiences with a fantastic opportunity to immerse themselves in work from Australia’s leading Indigenous filmmakers,” said Sally Riley, manager of Screen Australia’s Indigenous Branch. “We are so proud of Warwick Thornton’s debut feature Samson & Delilah and know that its premiere at Message Sticks will be an event to remember.”
Writer-director Adrian Wills’ beautiful film Bourke Boy follows a man (Andrew McFarlane) taking his troubled adopted son back to his birthplace where they try to say the right words to each other before it’s too late. Michelle Blanchard’s Party Shoes highlights the difficult relationship between nine-year-old Jenny and her flawed, occasionally attentive mother Patsy.
Deborah Mailman makes her directing debut with the charming Ralph, co-written with Wayne Blair. Infatuated with Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio, 10-year-old Maddie finds out it takes more than just dreaming to survive, it takes a friend.
Written by Angelina Hurley and directed by Leah Purcell, the funny Aunty Maggie and the Womba Wakgun is the tale of a hungry family, disgruntled neighbours and a rooster with attitude. Writer-director Romaine Moreton tracks the story of a girl who sees her ancestors and her mother’s efforts to avoid revealing the truth of the past in The Farm.
Set in the 1940s, Jacob by Dena Curtis tells how the joy of a young boy’s birth quickly disintegrates when his obvious fair skin reveals a rape by a white man. Nia’s Melancholy is writer-director Sio Tusafa’aaefili’s tale of a young girl’s descent into melancholy and her journey of redemption following her sister’s suicide.
Chief Executive Richard Evans said a significant feature of Message Sticks is that the films must be by Indigenous artists and not simply about Indigenous issues. The films selected showcase excellence in the quality of performance and filmmaking, and are culturally significant works that speak to an Indigenous and non Indigenous audience.
“Our Public Programs provide experiences that stimulate, educate and broaden the public’s interests in arts and culture, whilst enhancing their enjoyment, understanding and participation in the life of Sydney Opera House,” Mr Evans said.
“We are committed to screening the films for free in order to give access to the stories our filmmakers have to tell and to develop and encourage an Indigenous audience at the House. Another important part of the festival is the chance for audience members to meet and talk with artists.”
The winner of the Bob Maza Fellowship, with a cash prize of $10,000, and the Tudawali Lifetime Achievement Award will also be announced at the opening night gala on May 7. Every screening will be followed by a short Q&A;session.
MESSAGE STICKS INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL 2009 PROGRAM
Thursday May 7
10am – 12pm: Samson & Delilah (House:ED screening) 12.30pm – 2pm: House:ED short film session
7.30pm til late: Gala Opening Night and Party: Samson & Delilah
Friday May 8
7.30pm – 8.30pm: The New Black: Bourke Boy, Party Shoes, Ralph
9pm – 10pm: The New Black: Aunty Maggie and The Womba Wakgun, The Farm, Jacob, Nia’s Melancholy