Showcasing First Nations
Film is one of the great mediums for connecting us to story and culture. Both are vital elements in many indigenous communities, and we love having the opportunity to use film to bring otherwise untold stories to our audience in celebration of global diversity and connection.
Byron Bay Film Festival is proud to feature so many amazing stories from First Nations peoples all over the world. Check out these amazing films screening throughout the festival:
WESTWIND: DJALU’S LEGACY
Westwind: Djalu's Legacy tells the story of Djalu Gurruwiwi, an ageing Yolgnu elder who is running out of time to pass on the Yidaki (didgeridoo) Songlines entrusted to him – his clan’s knowledge, culture and country. Screens Thursday 12 October, Byron Community Theatre, 7:30pm
JOURNEYS TO ADAKA
Seven indigenous artists look to the past for the strength to overcome a legacy of hurt, becoming cultural giants and leaders in the process. The documentary follows them as they prepare for the Adäka Cultural Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, inviting viewers into carving sheds, kitchens, and community halls. In these spaces, the artists and their families reconnect with their ancestors, heal, and attempt to find their personal light. Screens Tuesday 10 October, Brunswick Picture House
MAURICE COLE: THE FIRST WAVE
A compelling story of a gifted Aboriginal surfer’s battles with law, mental health and himself. Screens Saturday 7 October, Byron Community Centre
WELCOME TO COUNTRY (Short)
A hot shot public servant is sent to a remote Aboriginal community to prepare for the Prime Minister’s visit. Screens Thursday 12 October, 7:30pm Byron Community Centre.
GHOST (Short)
You’ve got Buckley’s hope. Based on a true story, Ghost is a re-imagining of convict William Buckley’s first contact with Indigenous Australians. Screens Thursday 12 October, 7:30pm Byron Community Centre
FRONTERIA INVISIBLE (Short)
As big land owners rush for palm oil to produce ‘green’ fuel, peasant farmers and indigenous people are displaced. Screens Monday 9 October, 6pm, Byron Community Centre
CRAZYWISE
An exploration of mental health from the perspective of different cultures. Human rights photographer Phil Borges searches out indigenous cultures that identify ‘psychotic’ symptoms as an indicator of shamanic potential. Screens Tuesday 10 October, 7:30pm, Byron Community Centre // Thursday 12 October, 7pm, Brunswick Picture House
A LIFE TOGETHER (SHORT)
Daughter and Davo have journeyed through life together for 24 years, navigating through hardship and bad luck, while remaining fiercely loyal to each other. Screens Friday 13 October, 6pm Pighouse Flicks
RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD
Closing Night Red Carpet Gala Party & Feature Film Screening
The story of a profound, essential, and, until now, missing chapter in the history of American music: the Indigenous influence. RUMBLE explores how the Native American influence is an integral part of music history, despite attempts to ban, censor, and erase Indian culture in the United States. RUMBLE shows how Indigenous music was part of the very fabric of American popular music from the beginning, but that the Native American contribution was left out of the story – until now. Screens Saturday 14 October, Byron Community Theatre, 6:45pm
THE FESTIVAL
Now in its 11th year, BBFF spans across ten days in six venues, featuring over 175 independent films, and attracting filmmakers and film-lovers from all over the world; it is Australia’s most loved regional film festival. The 11th Annual Byron Bay International Film Festival will be held on Friday 6 – Sunday 15 October 2017 in multiple venues throughout Byron Bay and surrounding suburbs. BBFF invites you to join us on the red carpet for gala events, filmmaker discussion panels, VR & AR exhibitions and workshops, celebrity spotting, and an immersive cinematic experience covering a diverse range of genres and themes, including equality, women in film, surfing, mental health, environment, human rights, and much more. Program and tickets available via bbff.com.au