Remote Indigenous Media Festival: A Diamond in the Western Desert Dust
24 October 2017
SBS and NITV sent four delegates to Wingellina for the 19th Remote Indigenous Media Festival. The aim was to build pathways with Indigenous content makers and build the Indigenous production sector. On arrival, The SBS and NITV delegates were welcomed to country, culture, big night skies and Tjukurrpa by Irrunytju Traditional Owners and community leaders.
The remote desert community of Irrunytju (Wingellina) almost doubled its population to accommodate more than 100 remote media workers, artists and industry affiliates from across Australia. The week-long event, co-hosted by IRCA and Ngaanyatjarra Media (NG Media), affirms the remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media industry as a powerful and connected voice for generations to come.
Tanya Orman, NITV Channel Manager said, “This relationship is crucial for NITV’s development as IRCA transitions to become the national organisation representing all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island content makers.”
The Festival was held in a community that is well represented in NITV’s target audience demographic.
Each morning, delegates were engaged in forums and meetings discussing sector accomplishments, developments and strategies. The week included the full spectrum of desert weather, from heat and dust storms to rain and cold, but this didn’t deter the dedicated media workers as they acquired new skills in state-of-the-art media workshops, including radio podcast, sound skills, digital photography and design, stop-motion animation and aerial cinematography with drones.
Irrunytju is on the Ngaanyatjarra lands of WA, located near the tri-state border of WA, SA and NT. With a population of approximately 150 people, mostly Pitjantjatjara, Irrunytju is the home of Festival co-host NG Media, a pioneering Aboriginal-owned media organisation supporting 14 remote communities in the Western Desert region of Western Australia.
Daisy O’Byrne, IRCA Board Member and NG Media Minyma Chairperson, said “This year’s Festival has been a huge project with the whole community getting involved. We are proud to have welcomed so many media workers who travelled a long way to be here. Lutjurringkulala nintiringama ngapartji ngapartji was the theme for the Festival and it means come together to learn and share. We shared our Turlku/Inma (traditional dances), visited special sites, and showcased our art and music. We learnt and shared so much this week, new media skills and industry knowledge. We celebrated, exchanged stories and shared songlines. The Festival has strengthened our remote media sector and inspired our young people.
MEDIA AWARD WINNERS
REMOTE MEDIA MAJOR AWARDS
Preston Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement
Roma Butler and Simon Butler, NG Media
John Macumba Media Operator of the Year Award
Adam Tjapaltjarri Gibbs, PAW Media
Steve McGregor Award for Best Emerging Talent in Film/Television
Viviana Petyarre, CAAMA
CBF Excellence in Community Television Award
Renee Wilson
NITV Spirit Initiative
Chris Fitzpatrick, CAAMA
Mr Garawirrtja Award for Contribution to Media, Entertainment and the Arts
Matthew Lewis, NG Media
REMOTE MEDIA INDUSTRY AWARDS
Best Song Award
Thinking About You – Esau Marshall featuring Crystal, produced by PAW Media
Best Music Video Award
Set the Tone – Charmaine Ingram (Director)
Best Outside Broadcast Award
Garma Festival, Yolngu Radio/ARDS
Best Station Promotion Award
PAW Media
Best Radio Production Award
Yolngu Radio for ‘Nhaliy dhu Yol?uy yutjuwa?a’kum mari be?ur pokies?ur?’
Best Video Production Award
Spinifex Rangers, NG Media
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MEDIA AWARDS
Best Innovation in Online and Digital Media
Virtual Kamay – Bilbie Labs
Best Television Production
Yarrapiri’s Story – PAW Media
REMOTE MEDIA ORGANISATION AWARDS
Best RIBS Broadcaster of the Year
NG Media: Roma Butler
TEABBA: Barak Sambono Snr, Nauiyu Nambiyu Community
PAW Media: Adam Tjapaltjarri Gibbs
TSIMA: Harry Lui, Warraber
QRAM: Sai Matainavora
CAAMA: Stanley Roberts — Papunya
PAKAM: Rohanna Angus
PY Media: Bradley Roberts
Best Emerging Radio Talent
TEABBA: Martina Kinthari and Patrick Jongmin – Wadeye Community
PAW Media: Marietta Wilson
QRAM: Lavinia Collins
CAAMA: Jason Bill — Elliott
PAKAM: Billy Jo Shoveller