Reel Australia: the dialogue between Indigenous and non Indigenous filmmakers

In this talk, Associate professor Lisa French will explore the dialogue between Indigenous and non Indigenous filmmakers. Associate Professor French's professional history includes a broad range of experiences in screen culture, including three years as the director of the St Kilda Film Festival, and nine years as a non-executive Director of the AFI. She recently completed a major study on the participation of women in Victorian film, television and other audiovisual industries.

Further details

In film and television, arguably the most vibrant and interesting contemporary work emerging from the Australian film industry has been created by Aboriginal filmmakers who, as artists in their own right, have produced outstanding Australian feature films; for example, films like the ‘Best Film’ at the 2009 AFI Awards, Samson & Delilah (Thornton, 2009), which also won numerous other international awards, including the Cannes Film Festival ‘Golden Camera’.

Aboriginal people have made notable productions in all genres, such as the Logie and AFI award-winning television documentary First Australians (Rachel Perkins and Bec Cole, 2008), or the avant-garde work of the internationally acclaimed Tracey Moffatt.

Through genuine engagement and dialogue, non-Indigenous filmmakers have also creatively collaborated with Aboriginal people to also make great Australian films; for instance, in the feature film sector, directors such as Phillip Noyce with his film Rabbit Proof Fence (2002), and Rolf de Heer’s Ten Canoes (2006).

These engagements have had a deep impact through sharing Indigenous knowledge, understanding our history and the diverse perspectives and peoples of our nation.

Presenter

Associate Professor Lisa French

The gallery is located diagonally opposite Melbourne Central Railway Station and can be reached by trams traveling on Swanston and La Trobe Streets, including the City Circle Tram.

Limited street parking is available.