Documentary Australia Foundation

RED EARTH STORIES

About the film

10 Short Films about Indigenous Australians.
Visually compelling images, and inspirational individual stories, our journey of ancient voices and modern thoughts reveal the shared humanity of Indigenous Australians.

1.
Queen of the Arts
It’s midnight, with 1.1 billion people in her audience, Bundjalung woman Rhoda Roberts is celebrated as the Creative Director of Sydney’s exhilarating community and international event, the Sydney Harbour New Years Eve Fireworks. Rhoda Roberts story.

2.
Welcome to Titjikala
An eco-tourism enterprise, Gunya Titjikala, with David Liddiard
A small Aboriginal community establishes a five star eco-tourism resort in the Northern Territory.
This film describes the positive effects of mutual respect and friendship, and the ensuing destruction of this success and goodwill by the Intervention.

3.
Aboriginal Writers Retreat
The story of award winning Nunga poet and author Ali Cobby Eckermann, establishing the Aboriginal Writers Retreat in the middle of a small country town in South Australia.

4.
Circles And Squares
Sydney Writers Festival 2010, 2011
A gentle balancing of two disparate cultures. An honest and poignant poem by Ali Cobby Eckermann.

5.
I Tell You True
An insight into the heart and history of preconceived judgement, illustrated in a raw and beautiful poem by Ali Cobby Eckermann
1st prize ATSI Survival Poetry Award

6.
Mr Poetry
Lionel Fogarty is an award winning author and an internationally acclaimed human rights poet and activist, having lectured in Europe, Asia and Australia. This film presents a poetic reflection sharing Lionel's views on Aboriginal social justice issues.


7.
Dignity
Institutionalised as a baby, Aunty Nada is an inspiration to those coping with a life they are forced to accept.
Simply because she was Aboriginal, she was stripped of her right to study medicine, and forced instead to work as a domestic labourer for 15 years yet Aunty Nada embraces her life with dignity and humour.
With her giant smile she now works as a volunteer at The Aboriginal Medical Centre, Redfern.

8.
Aboriginal Art is the source of a fragile and sometimes controversial meeting point between two cultures.
A personal reflection by Aboriginal Artists.

9.
We don’t want Government Handouts!
Feli McHugh, Ngemba Tribal Elder.
How a NSW country town has rejected and returned Government funding, prefering to remain non dependent.
The Ngemba Billabong Restoration and Landcare Group provides employment opportunity for the Aboriginal community.

10.
Homelands
A film about the joy and the wellbeing of living with the land. A journey of children talking, walking, hunting, learning and laughter.

Funding amount Sought

485 000

Total Project Budget

AUD $500000

Length of Production

100 minutes

Stage of Production

Development

How does the project meet the aims of a philanthropic foundation?

Oneland Films Red Earth Project will meet the aims of philanthropic foundations that promote and support Indigenous social justice or humanitarian objectives; or which promote the Arts as a catalyst to broaden perspectives in society by bringing focus to situations that may generally be misinterpreted or misunderstood.

We spotlight problems and solutions that might be considered too difficult to approach on a day-to-day basis; and we make them visible from a grass roots viewpoint, in a non-accusative manner, and broadly accessible to adults and children, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike.

With visually stunning images, tough individual stories, humour, emotive poetry and music, we open a vision to nourishing public awareness and better understanding, the motivation being to change attitudes and policy.

Australia is in the unique position to value the oldest culture in the world.
Yet an imbalance of human rights and social justice occurs every day, and stems from a belief that co-existence of two disparate cultures is in the too-hard basket.

These films take on that challenge and mirror an insight into fragile lives that might otherwise be overlooked and which will inspire our society.

What outcomes do you hope to achieve by making this film and how will you measure its impact?

The films are being made to reveal the values and initiatives of Indigenous people’s lives to those who may not be as familiar with some aspects.
We hope to broaden perspectives and inspire change in attitudes and policy caused by damaging preconceptions about Indigenous Australians.

That there is an informed and honest understanding so that Indigenous Australians are treasured, their voices heard and respected

That the importance of friendship and a shared future vision is seen as a critical element for a better, richer future Australia

That discussion arises leading to constructive interaction and action

Reaching a wide audience with the inclusion of articles in mainstream media and segments on television programs commenting on these documentaries and encouraging debate about the key messages.

That contemporary Aboriginal children’s books are read in classrooms across Australia, so there is an awareness that both traditional and urban Aboriginal culture is vibrant today.

That schools with Indigenous children should be allowed to teach freely in Aboriginal language as well as English.

That pervasive stereotypical thinking in our society is stirred enough to allow the vibrancy and richness of today’s Indigenous life to be acknowledged, appreciated, embraced and encouraged.

What is your education and outreach strategy

Oneland Films Red Earth Series education and outreach strategy is to reach the widest possible audience.
The messages aim for positive outcomes, the films are beautiful to watch, and will be poignant and informative at many levels for adults and children, throughout Australia and worldwide.

TELEVISION
The 10 documentaries are crafted as short films to maximise viewing flexibility.
They can be screened:
• as individual films
• as complementary selected groupings chosen according to specific needs, or
• as a cohesive series of 10

National broadcasting venues - ABC, SBS, NITV and community and commercial television networks.

DISTRIBUTION
United Nations Programs
Documentary Film Festivals in Australia
International Film Festivals
Indigenous community festivals
Aboriginal storytellers with the Aboriginal Writers Retreat.
National Indigenous Times Magazine
Koori Mail


PRIMARY and SECONDARY SCHOOLS and UNIVERSITIES
Researching and working in collaboration with Aboriginal Education Officers,
Aboriginal advisory units and Aboriginal centres within primary, secondary and tertiary education boards of studies


DISCUSSIONS and INTERVIEWS
Koori, Nunga and Murri Radio
ABC Radio National

The films are for the benefit of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Who are the filmmakers responsible for the project?

oneland films - Susie Agoston

in collaboration with
Ali Cobby Eckermann
Lionel Fogarty
Rhoda Roberts
David Liddiard
Feli McHugh

and with
Luminous Films - Gina Twyble
Manual Films - Fergus Cahill
Definition Film - David Gross