David Gulpilil in Charlie's Country.
The South Australian Film Corporation launched its first Aboriginal Screen Strategy on Wednesday night, with the aim of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers.
The development of the new strategy has been guided by SAFC’s Aboriginal Screen Strategy Executive Lee-Ann Buckskin and SAFC CEO Annabelle Sheehan.
“The Strategy is designed to grow and support the extraordinary stories and creative voices of the Aboriginal screen sector in this state, and to provide opportunities to develop skills and knowledge in filmmaking through production, professional mentoring and partnerships," Sheehan said.
Buckskin said that the strategy "will help the funded projects reach their potential and provide an opportunity for South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to share their stories."
Sheehan initiated the NAIDOC Week Micro-Documentaries Pilot last year, which funded five micro-documentaries with support from partners National Indigenous Television (NITV) and the Media Resource Centre. The five docs were screened on NITV during NAIDOC Week.
The following month, SAFC launched the Aboriginal Project Development Grant to provide script and project development grants to SA-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) storytellers for the development of long form (feature and series) drama and factual projects.
This year, SAFC launched the Aboriginal Short Film Initiative, which will support the development of up to five projects from treatment or script through to production.
SAFC has also established Pirrku Kuu (The Story Room) at Adelaide Studios, described as a "creative and administrative hub" for Aboriginal filmmakers to work on project development.
http://www.safilm.com.au/pdfs/production%20support/SAFC%20Strategy%20Digital%20FINAL.pdf