In 2020 AFF led a project to commission a Kaurna Welcome to Country film to screen in front of all AFF 2020 screenings & events.

A pilot program, the project was designed to provide a development and production pathway for local Aboriginal filmmakers in South Australia and increase the skills and experience of local Aboriginal filmmakers. It provides a screening opportunity for Aboriginal produced content, and aims to foster cultural understanding and build connections with Kaurna and local Aboriginal filmmakers.

You can watch the films below and request to screen at your event.

Who is involved?

Working with four funding partners: AFF, Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, the City of Adelaide’s Reconciliation Department and the South Australian Film Corporation with the pilot program had two parts; create a series of Welcome to Country films for AFF 2020 with a further film produced in 2021.

From an Expression of Interest call out, a team of five local Aboriginal screen practitioners were selected;

  • Adam Galea: Location & post sound
  • Isaac Coen Lindsay: Editor
  • Kiara Milera: Camera Assistant
  • Clem Newchurch: Second Unit Director
  • Damien Wanganeen: Gaffer

Mentor producers Living Stories supported and managed the project.

Consultation with the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation confirmed the first films would connect with Kaurna leader Jack Buckskin and Kaurna Elder Aunty Lynette Crocker as cultural custodians, storytellers and to represent Kaurna on film.

Hear Jack Buckskin discuss what Welcome to Country means.

The Films

The project produced three 1-minute Kaurna Welcome to Country films for AFF 2020 which screened at more than 100 screenings to an audience of 20,000.

If you missed seeing them on the big screen at AFF 2020 you can watch the final films below.

Beyond the Festival

The Kaurna Welcome to Country films are available for screenings at events and festivals beyond AFF.

To date the films have screened at Adelaide Fringe Opening Night, the 2020 South Australian Screen Awards, Ausday at the Entertainment Centre and the opening of new venue Light.

You can request to screen these films at your venue or event!

The films cannot replace a spoken or live Welcome to Country but rather work to complement this important cultural activity or where an online or screen version is appropriate.

As a guide, the screening fee for a one-off license is $200 plus GST. Up to 5 screenings per event is $500 + GST, 6 – 20 screenings per event is $550 – $750 + GST and more than 20 screenings are priced by negotiation.

Jack Buckskin and Aunty Lynette Crocker hold the copyright for the films and AFF can assist with confirming license details.

If you would like to request permission to screen one of the films, please contact Jack Buckskin and his team.

What’s next?

AFF plans to grow this pilot program; to fund future iterations of the project, to tell more Aboriginal stories on screen and to support more emerging local Aboriginal filmmakers with on-set experience and a valuable screen credit.

If you would like to speak with AFF about becoming a partner on future Welcome to Country and Aboriginal short film projects  please contact AFF on 08 8394 2505 or email [email protected] 

 

Images from top:
Jack Buckskin on set
Producer Alison Rogers and Aunty Lynette Crocker on set
Editors Issac Linsday and Renee Diprose

2020 – 2021 Funding partners