Celebrating NAIDOC Week at SBS Movies

SBS Movies is celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers and actors this NAIDOC Week. Here are four must-see Australian films screening this week on NITV, SBS and On Demand.

An image from 'The Tall Man'. Source: The Tall Man

Blackfellas (1993)

Source: Blackfellas

Nyoongar man Doug Dooligan (John Moore) has just got out of prison. He wants to remain law-abiding, but the pull of his old family and friends - who are deeply embroiled in a life of crime - is very strong. When Doug is asked to help a friend (David Ngoombujarra) pull off a robbery, he knows it's a bad idea but he goes along anyway, with tragic results. Directed by James Ricketson, Blackfellas is based on the book 'The Day of the Dog' by Archie Weller. It won the 1993 AFI Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (David Ngoombujarra). 

Watch Blackfellas now

The Tall Man (2011)

Image

Based on Chloe Hooper's investigative journalism book of the same name, The Tall Man is the Walkley Award-winning documentary about the events on Palm Island that follow the death of local Indigenous man Cameron Doomadgee. On the morning of November 19, 2004, Cameron Doomadgee was arrested for public nuisance. An hour later he lay dead in a watchhouse cell, and the island community erupted over another Aboriginal death in custody. Directed by Tony Krawitz, the documentary interviews the family, friends and island residents as they struggle to understand what happened to Cameron. 

Watch The Tall Man on SBS Wednesday 8 July 2am

Radiance (2009)

Radiance, showing 9:30PM Friday 13 June on NITV Source: SBS Movies

Deborah Mailman, Trisha Morton Evans, Rachel Maza play estranged sisters who are brought together by their mother's death. Cressy, the eldest of the three, is an opera singer who is reluctant to visit the past and definitely doesn’t want to share it with her sisters. Mae has stayed behind looking after mum, and Nona, the youngest and the party girl, just wants them to all be one happy family. Radiance is based on the play by Louis Nowra and is the first feature film by director Rachel Perkins (Brand Nue Day, Black Panther Woman).

Watch Radiance on NITV Sunday 12 July 9.30pm, or after broadcast at On Demand

The New Black (2009)

Source: The New Black

This collection of seven short films showcases the rising stars of the Indigenous filmmaking industry in Australia. Beautifully crafted by Indigenous writers and directors from around Australia, including Deborah Mailman, Leah Purcell, Adrian Wills and Dena Curtis, these short films illustrate the diverse storytelling abilities of Australia’s Indigenous filmmakers, while also sharing intimate depictions of Indigenous life. Starring Rachel Maza and David Ngoombujarra.

Watch The New Black on NITV Sunday July 12 11pm, or after broadcast at On Demand

Find more NAIDOC Week coverage, news and short documentaries at NITV