Emu Runner, a feature debut from Imogen Thomas hits Australian screens on Thursday November 7.
Emu Runner tells the story of nine-year-old Indigenous girl, Gem Daniels (played by Rhae-Kye Waites), who lives in a remote Australian town.
As Gem copes with her mother’s unexpected death, she finds solace in the company of a wild emu, unwittingly connecting with her mother’s traditional totem animal.
Emu Runner is the directorial feature debut from Imogen Thomas, who wrote the film in consultation with Aboriginal Ngemba woman Frayne Barker, from Brewarrina NSW where the film is set and shot.
In a yarn with NITV Rradio, Frayne Barker says the film seeks to tell in a nonjudgmental way the issues faced by Aboriginal people in remote communities like hers.
It also sheds some light on misunderstandings between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in these communities.
Frayne Barker also says the film played a role in bringing the Brewarrina community together. The film also helped showcase the immense pool of talented actors from this small rural community.
