11 First Nations Australian titles to keep the fire burning this NAIDOC Week
In recognition of NAIDOC Week 2024, we’ve collected 11 Indigenous Australian screen stories funded by Screen Australia that are available to watch now.
Content warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned this article may contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.
This article also includes mention of violence and suicide.
NAIDOC Week runs from 7-14 July 2024, and celebrates the history, culture, achievements and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme – Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud – celebrates the spirit and strength of First Nations communities, amplifies and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, and invites everyone to stand in solidarity and support of First Nations peoples.
This collection of screen stories recognises the diversity and breadth of First Nations experiences and the rich cultural heritage and history that shapes Australia, and with so many titles to choose from, are just a small reflection of the world-class, critically acclaimed First Nations screen stories.
Read on for a selection of profiles and behind-the-scenes content about First Nations creatives and projects that are available to watch now, and for even more titles supported by the First Nations Department, click here.
For more information about NAIDOC Week, events near you and to learn about this year’s theme Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud visit the website here.
Always Was, Always Will Be.
Based on the award-winning book of the same name by Bruce Pascoe, The Dark Emu Story charts the impact of the acclaimed novel and challenges Australia to rethink its history and the pre-colonial narrative. Winner of the Walkley Award for Excellence in Australian Journalism, written by Bruce Pascoe and Jacob Hickey, and directed by Erica Glynn, this is a thought-provoking journey across Australia that presents a very different history of our nation and the First Australians.
Discover The Dark Emu Story on ABC iview
Combining modern sciences with ancient techniques, First Weapons showcases the skill and principles behind First Nations weaponary that have survived thousands of years. Presenter Phil Breslin gets a hands-on tutorial from weaponmakers across the country, highlighting the craftmanship and ingenuity of each weapon, and consults with scientists and experts on their contemporary application to uncover the genius of the world’s oldest and deadliest weapons.
Watch First Weapons on ABC iview
When filmmakers Gillian Moody and Adrian Russell Wills met making a short film together 21 years ago, little did they know that later they would become close friends relying on each other to navigate the rollercoaster of life. Both were adopted out to white families in Sydney's Northern Beaches and North Shore. This documentary details their experiences growing up, parted from their culture and in turn, parted from a huge part of their identity. Kindred seeks to excavate family, bloodlines, identity, friendship, and ultimately explores what it means to live in two worlds, black and white.
Hear more from writer/director Adrian Russell Wills about honouring your voice and being authentically yourself here and watch Kindred on SBS onDemand.
Little J and Big Cuz are back for another season of adventures exploring and learning about Country and Culture with the help of Nanna, Old Dog and their teacher Ms Chen. Featuring voice talent of Deborah Mailman, Miranda Tapsell, Ningali Lawford, Aaron Fa’aoso, Renee Lim, Ursula Yovich, Shari Sebbens, and Mark Coles Smith, the groundbreaking series has been translated into over 17 First Nations languages. The series also has a range of great resources for littlies available online to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and skills, and get them gearing up for the classroom, developed in partnership with Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
Catch up on all of Little J & Big Cuz’s adventures on ABC iview and NITV
A tragic death, an epic love, and the brutal reality of life as a police officer straddling two worlds, form the indelible mould out of which will emerge, Detective Jay Swan in the multi-award-winning and critically acclaimed Mystery Road: Origin. With award-winning Bunya Productions once again at the helm and Dylan River in the director’s chair, Mystery Road continues to be a masterclass of filmmaking, showcasing remarkable parts of Australia not often seen on screen. The series showcases an exciting new generation of Indigenous filmmakers including director Dylan River, DOP Tyson Perkins and producer Penny Smallacombe, alongside Mystery Road veteran writers Blake Ayshford, Steven McGregor, Kodie Bedford and Timothy Lee.
Journey behind-the-scenes of Mystery Road: Origin with director Dylan River here, and gain insight into breaking characters and worlds for writer Kodie Bedford here.
Mystery Road: Origin, alongside season 1 & 2 of Mystery Road and the films that started it all Mystery Road and Goldstone, are all available on ABC iview
Our Law: Australia continues the journey of First Nations officers, recruits, and cadets as they aim to repair troubling Aboriginal-police relationships and break the cycle of Indigenous incarceration, providing an honest insight into the challenges First Nations police officers face as they work to change the system from within. Narrated by Deborah Mailman, and directed by Perun Bonser, season 2 expands across Australia to explore how First Nations officers are serving in their communities.
Both seasons of Our Law are available now on SBS onDemand
Showcasing Queensland game changers, trailblazers, and rebels that shaped new pathways for future generations, Rebel With A Cause celebrates the personal journeys of four First Nations leaders who left lasting legacies in their respective fields. Executive produced by Dena Curtis, the anthology series honours the eloquent passion of poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal and her literary legacy, one of Australia’s most respected and recognised legal minds, teacher and barrister Pat O’Shane AM, the first Aboriginal Australian to serve in Australian Government, Senator Neville Bonner, and activist and radio presenter Tiga Bayles, who co-founded Australia’s first commercial Aboriginal radio station.
All four stories are available to view on SBS onDemand
First airing on ABC in 2019, Australia’s favourite political drama comes to an explosive end in the third and final season of Total Control. Set amongst the machinations of contemporary politics, Total Control has had a commanding run exploring powerful issues such as violence against women, incarceration of Indigenous Australians, land rights, and sexism in politics, and this farewell season will have you engrossed to the very end. Starring Deborah Mailman in her AACTA-winning turn as Alex Irving, and boasting an impressive cast alongside Mailman, including Rachel Griffiths in the AACTA-winning role as political frenemy Rachel Anderson, Rob Collins, Huw Higginson, Darren Dale, Wesley Patten, Anita Hegh, Steph Tisdell, and series creator Wayne Blair as (spoiler alert) Australia’s first Indigenous PM.
Go behind-the-scenes of season 2 with Deborah Mailman here and catch the must-watch political drama on ABC iview
Rarriwuy Hick spearheads a talented ensemble playing Detective Toni Alma, who is assigned to investigate a suspicious car accident in Perdar Theendar, the Indigenous community she left as a child and has had little to do with over the years. Spanning her small Northern Territory community and art galleries across the globe, the murder explores culture, community, and the very human pursuit of identity and belonging. Based on an original concept by Arrernte singer-songwriter Warren H. Williams and co-creator, writer and director Erica Glynn, and featuring debut performances from a standout cast of First Nations storytellers.
True Colours is streaming now on SBS onDemand
An adventure film celebrating the power of friendship, family, and being the hero of your own story, Windcatcher stars newcomer Lennox Monaghan as Percy Boy, a kid with a passion for running and he’s saving up to buy a pair of Terminal Velocity sneakers. Along with his mates, new kid Keithy (Max Turner) and Daisy (Coco Greenstone), Percy Boy concocts fundraising schemes and trains for the upcoming school carnival. Set in smalltown country Victoria, pre-social media of the nostalgic 90s, this ragtag group of mates, along with Percy Boy’s loving Aunties and Pop, grapples with bullies and bushfires, ghosts and grief, in a beautiful coming-of-age story. Written by Boyd Quakawoot and directed by Tanith Glynn-Maloney, it stars Jessica Mauboy, Kelton Pell, Lisa Maza, Pia Miranda, and Jessica McNamee, with a stellar debut by Monaghan as Percy Boy.
Hear from director Tanith Glynn-Maloney in this behind-the-scenes interview here and watch Windcatcher now on Stan.
A multi-protagonist drama film interweaving eight Indigenous stories from First Nations filmmakers from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific in a story of hope and survival. Spanning 1000 years from Arrenrnte Country of central Australia and the rainforests of Aotearoa and exploring kinship, loss, grief and resilience, We Are Still Here reflects the diverse experiences of First Nations people through time, challenges colonial myths, and demonstrates the hope to overcome shared traumas that Indigenous people from the region continue to face. The anthology film made its world premiere as opening film of the 2022 Sydney Film Festival, as well as screening at MIFF and Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival, and made its international debut at TIFF in the World Cinema section.
Don’t miss We Are Still Here on SBS OnDemand now.
What to read next
Screen Australia is pleased to announce that Samuel Paynter has joined the First Nations Department in the role of Development and Investment Manager, reporting to Head of First Nations, Angela Bates.
27 Jun 2024
Screen Australia