Message Sticks FF now on!
May 7th 2010 08:27
Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival returns to Sydney Opera House from May 6 – 8 for another massive weekend of free films screenings, showcasing the best of Indigenous cinema in Australia and around the world.
In its 11th year, the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival will celebrate the beginning of another decade of Indigenous storytelling with five world premieres, four Australian premieres, Q&A;sessions with filmmakers and the debut of a sing-along version of the award-winning musical Bran Nue Dae hosted by Ernie Dingo.
For over ten years, the annual Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival has been a highlight in the Sydney Opera House calendar, showcasing the breadth and diversity of Indigenous culture and artists. In 2009, the Festival achieved widespread national recognition when it was awarded the IF Award for Best Australian Film Festival.
Curated by Rachel Perkins and Darren Dale from Blackfella Films, the festival will present 13 new feature, documentary and short films by established and emerging Indigenous directors from Australia and abroad.
“Film powerfully reveals the world of the storyteller, and our festival is unique in its exclusive focus on Indigenous storytellers. Over the past ten years, Message Sticks has gathered a loyal collection of people who come together to share this world as a family of sorts; both on screen, behind the camera and in the audience. Message Sticks is precious as one of a small number of Sydney’s annual events that carves out a space, where for a moment we share the experience of Black Australians”, Darren Dale said.
Sydney Opera House Chief Executive Richard Evans said, “We have long celebrated Indigenous arts and culture while also providing training and employment for young Indigenous people through a targeted program of traineeships. Sydney Opera House is proud to be aligned with Message Sticks.”
Opening this year’s Festival on Thursday May 6 will be two world premieres by emerging Indigenous director and Australian Film Television and Radio School graduate, Adrian Wills, including Boxing for Palm Island, a documentary that tells the story of the revival of boxing on Palm Island, a place with a dark history and a notorious reputation. Now, a new generation of warriors is fighting back and taking the future into their own hands with the support of Uncle Ray – the man who has revived boxing on the Island and in the process, overcome his own demons.
Adrian Wills will also premiere his latest short, Daniel’s 21st. It’s Daniel’s 21st birthday and something has gone horribly wrong. As Daniel struggles into darkness, he returns home to his Mother who is frightened that he is in some sort of trouble that she can’t bail him out of.
In an Australian premiere, Reel Injun, by Canadian director Neil Diamond, takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian. Travelling through the heartland of America, Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond looks at how the myth of “the Injun” has influenced the world’s understanding – and misunderstanding – of Natives. Featuring candid interviews with directors, writers, actors and activists, including Clint Eastwood, Jim Jarmusch, and others, plus clips from hundreds of classic and recent films, Reel Injun traces the evolution of cinema’s depiction of Native people from the silent film era to today.
Mary Munro will premiere Nin’s Brother, the story of a family’s love as they journey from NSW to South Australia to unravel the fate of their brother and uncle and to bring him home to a proper resting place alongside the graves of his family.
In another world premiere, we meet Aboriginal Australia’s biggest loser in Big Fella. Director Michael Longbottom presents the story of his good friend Rodney who is struggling with the crippling affects of diabetes and obesity, a widespread experience in Indigenous communities. This is one man’s love for life, his battle to stay alive, and his fight against the demons of disease.
Genevieve Grieves’ documentary, Lani’s Story, follows a woman’s experience of two relationships – one she has to escape to survive, the other she cannot survive without. It is a moving and intimate portrait of a young Aboriginal woman’s journey from victim to victor, from a broken and violent relationship to discovering the redemptive power of love. Lani’s Story also explores the impact of intergenerational violence within a family and community and how the courage of one person can transform the lives of others.
On Saturday May 8, the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival presents an afternoon of shorts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. Showing from 1pm – 2.30pm, films include: Shimasani (USA), Nundhirribala’s Dream (AUS), Barngngrnn Marrangu Story (AUS), as well as a repeat screening of Daniel’s 21st (AUS) and two world premieres, Redemption (NZ), The Cave (CAN).
And finally, what better way to complete this year’s Festival than to join host ‘Uncle Tadpole’ (Ernie Dingo) for a Sing-A-Long Bran Nue Dae. Based on the stage musical by Jimmy Chi and featuring an all-star cast including Geoffrey Rush, Ernie Dingo, Magda Szubanski, Missy Higgins, Dan Sultan, Jessica Mauboy and Deborah Mailman, Bran Nue Dae is the Australian musical hit of 2010. Complete with song lyrics to guide the audience through and special guests, the debut of this interactive musical experience is the perfect end to Australia’s only Indigenous film festival. The winner of the Tudawali Lifetime Achievement Award will also be announced at the opening night gala on May 6.
Every screening will be followed by a short Q&A;session.
MESSAGE STICKS INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL 2010 PROGRAM
VENUE: THE PLAYHOUSE, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
THURSDAY 6 MAY
8.15 pm – 10pm
GALA RED CARPET PREMIERE & PARTY
FRIDAY 7 MAY
7pm – 8.30pm
NIN’S BROTHER
BIG FELLA
SATURDAY 8 MAY
11am – 12.10pm
BOXING FOR PALM ISLAND
1pm – 2.30pm
SHORTS PROGRAM:
SHIMASANI
NUNDHIRRIBALA’S DREAM
REDEMPTION
THE CAVE
BARNGNGRNN MARRANGU STORY
DANIEL’S 21st
3.15pm – 4.45pm
REEL INJUN
5.30pm – 6.30pm
LANI’S STORY
7.30pm – 9pm
BRAN NUE DAY (SING-A-LONG version)
All sessions are FREE! Places are limited so get there early.
When you arrive, you must collect a free ticket in the Playhouse foyer. Tickets are available from one hour before each session begins, and are valid for that session only. Limit of TWO free tickets per person per session.
Please note that NO free tickets are available for the Opening Night Gala. A limited number of tickets are available to buy for this event.
WESTERN SYDNEY PROGRAM This year, Blackfella Films and Blacktown Arts Centre are proud to announce that the 2010 Message Sticks Film Festival will simultaneously run in Blacktown. For further information, visit Blacktown ArtsCentre or call (02) 8369 6558
In its 11th year, the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival will celebrate the beginning of another decade of Indigenous storytelling with five world premieres, four Australian premieres, Q&A;sessions with filmmakers and the debut of a sing-along version of the award-winning musical Bran Nue Dae hosted by Ernie Dingo.
For over ten years, the annual Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival has been a highlight in the Sydney Opera House calendar, showcasing the breadth and diversity of Indigenous culture and artists. In 2009, the Festival achieved widespread national recognition when it was awarded the IF Award for Best Australian Film Festival.
Curated by Rachel Perkins and Darren Dale from Blackfella Films, the festival will present 13 new feature, documentary and short films by established and emerging Indigenous directors from Australia and abroad.
“Film powerfully reveals the world of the storyteller, and our festival is unique in its exclusive focus on Indigenous storytellers. Over the past ten years, Message Sticks has gathered a loyal collection of people who come together to share this world as a family of sorts; both on screen, behind the camera and in the audience. Message Sticks is precious as one of a small number of Sydney’s annual events that carves out a space, where for a moment we share the experience of Black Australians”, Darren Dale said.
Sydney Opera House Chief Executive Richard Evans said, “We have long celebrated Indigenous arts and culture while also providing training and employment for young Indigenous people through a targeted program of traineeships. Sydney Opera House is proud to be aligned with Message Sticks.”
Opening this year’s Festival on Thursday May 6 will be two world premieres by emerging Indigenous director and Australian Film Television and Radio School graduate, Adrian Wills, including Boxing for Palm Island, a documentary that tells the story of the revival of boxing on Palm Island, a place with a dark history and a notorious reputation. Now, a new generation of warriors is fighting back and taking the future into their own hands with the support of Uncle Ray – the man who has revived boxing on the Island and in the process, overcome his own demons.
Adrian Wills will also premiere his latest short, Daniel’s 21st. It’s Daniel’s 21st birthday and something has gone horribly wrong. As Daniel struggles into darkness, he returns home to his Mother who is frightened that he is in some sort of trouble that she can’t bail him out of.
In an Australian premiere, Reel Injun, by Canadian director Neil Diamond, takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian. Travelling through the heartland of America, Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond looks at how the myth of “the Injun” has influenced the world’s understanding – and misunderstanding – of Natives. Featuring candid interviews with directors, writers, actors and activists, including Clint Eastwood, Jim Jarmusch, and others, plus clips from hundreds of classic and recent films, Reel Injun traces the evolution of cinema’s depiction of Native people from the silent film era to today.
Mary Munro will premiere Nin’s Brother, the story of a family’s love as they journey from NSW to South Australia to unravel the fate of their brother and uncle and to bring him home to a proper resting place alongside the graves of his family.
In another world premiere, we meet Aboriginal Australia’s biggest loser in Big Fella. Director Michael Longbottom presents the story of his good friend Rodney who is struggling with the crippling affects of diabetes and obesity, a widespread experience in Indigenous communities. This is one man’s love for life, his battle to stay alive, and his fight against the demons of disease.
Genevieve Grieves’ documentary, Lani’s Story, follows a woman’s experience of two relationships – one she has to escape to survive, the other she cannot survive without. It is a moving and intimate portrait of a young Aboriginal woman’s journey from victim to victor, from a broken and violent relationship to discovering the redemptive power of love. Lani’s Story also explores the impact of intergenerational violence within a family and community and how the courage of one person can transform the lives of others.
On Saturday May 8, the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival presents an afternoon of shorts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. Showing from 1pm – 2.30pm, films include: Shimasani (USA), Nundhirribala’s Dream (AUS), Barngngrnn Marrangu Story (AUS), as well as a repeat screening of Daniel’s 21st (AUS) and two world premieres, Redemption (NZ), The Cave (CAN).
And finally, what better way to complete this year’s Festival than to join host ‘Uncle Tadpole’ (Ernie Dingo) for a Sing-A-Long Bran Nue Dae. Based on the stage musical by Jimmy Chi and featuring an all-star cast including Geoffrey Rush, Ernie Dingo, Magda Szubanski, Missy Higgins, Dan Sultan, Jessica Mauboy and Deborah Mailman, Bran Nue Dae is the Australian musical hit of 2010. Complete with song lyrics to guide the audience through and special guests, the debut of this interactive musical experience is the perfect end to Australia’s only Indigenous film festival. The winner of the Tudawali Lifetime Achievement Award will also be announced at the opening night gala on May 6.
Every screening will be followed by a short Q&A;session.
MESSAGE STICKS INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL 2010 PROGRAM
VENUE: THE PLAYHOUSE, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
THURSDAY 6 MAY
8.15 pm – 10pm
GALA RED CARPET PREMIERE & PARTY
FRIDAY 7 MAY
7pm – 8.30pm
NIN’S BROTHER
BIG FELLA
SATURDAY 8 MAY
11am – 12.10pm
BOXING FOR PALM ISLAND
1pm – 2.30pm
SHORTS PROGRAM:
SHIMASANI
NUNDHIRRIBALA’S DREAM
REDEMPTION
THE CAVE
BARNGNGRNN MARRANGU STORY
DANIEL’S 21st
3.15pm – 4.45pm
REEL INJUN
5.30pm – 6.30pm
LANI’S STORY
7.30pm – 9pm
BRAN NUE DAY (SING-A-LONG version)
All sessions are FREE! Places are limited so get there early.
When you arrive, you must collect a free ticket in the Playhouse foyer. Tickets are available from one hour before each session begins, and are valid for that session only. Limit of TWO free tickets per person per session.
Please note that NO free tickets are available for the Opening Night Gala. A limited number of tickets are available to buy for this event.
WESTERN SYDNEY PROGRAM This year, Blackfella Films and Blacktown Arts Centre are proud to announce that the 2010 Message Sticks Film Festival will simultaneously run in Blacktown. For further information, visit Blacktown ArtsCentre or call (02) 8369 6558
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