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Australian Aboriginal movies and films

Movies with Aboriginal content have been scarce before the mid-1990s. It wasn't before the international success of the movie Rabbit-Proof Fence that the awareness for Aboriginal issues increased, even in Europe where this movie was screened for almost half a year in Germany. Many of the films listed here are available on DVD or VHS tapes.

The section "Movies by non-Indigenous directors" lists movies with Aboriginal topics which were directed by non-Aboriginal people whereas "Movies by Aboriginal directors" not nessessarily cover Aboriginal topics.

2007
Aboriginal FilmTimelineAboriginal film timeline

I've also prepared an Indigenous film timeline which lists the movies below in chronological order.

Browse for Aboriginal movie DVDs in my Aboriginal Book Store.

Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival 2008 at the Sydney Opera House... coming soon.

Films by non-Indigenous directors

Click table headers to sort films by name, director, film type or year.

  • Featured Aboriginal film: September - Peter Carstairs
  • Featured Aboriginal movie: Australian Rules
  • Featured Aboriginal movie: Liyarn Ngarn
  • Featured Aboriginal film: Yolngu Boy
  • Featured Aboriginal movie: Don Featherstone - Babakiueria.
  • Featured Aboriginal film: Blackfellas
  • Featured Aboriginal movie: Rabbit-Proof Fence
  • Featured Aboriginal film: The Naked Country
Film titleDirectorMovie typeYear
A Dying ShamePaul Roydocumentary1997
Australian RulesPaul Goldmandrama2002
BabakiueriaDon Featherstonecomedy1987
BackroadsPhillip Noycedrama1977
Benny and The DreamersIvo Burumdocumentary1993
Beyond The DreamtimeJohn Linddocumentary1994
Black And WhiteCraig Lahiffdrama2002
BlackfellasJames Ricketsondrama1993
Call me MumMargot Nashdrama2006
Coolbaroo ClubRoger Scholesdocumentary1996
Dead HeartNick Parsonsdrama1997
DeadlyEsben Stormdrama1992
How The West Was LostDavid Noakesdocumentary1987
JeddaCharles Chauveldrama1955
Journey out of DarknessJames Trainorepic1967
KanyiniMelanie Hogandocumentary2006
Liyarn NgarnMartin Mhandodocumentary2007
Rabbit Proof FencePhillip Noycedrama2002
SeptemberPeter Carstairsdrama2007
SerenadesMojgan Khademdrama2001
Sisters, Pearls and Mission GirlsDavid Battydocumentary2003
Storm BoyHenri Safrandrama1976
Ten CanoesRolf de Heerdrama2006
The Chant of Jimmie BlacksmithFred Schepisidrama1978
The Life of Harry DareAleski Vellisdrama1995
The Fringe DwellersBruce Beresforddrama1987
The Naked CountryTim Burstalldrama1993
The TrackerRolf de Heerdrama2002
Think About ItRichard and Wendy Friarpolitical documentary2007
WalkaboutNicolas Roegdrama1971
Where the Green Ants DreamWerner Herzogdocumentary1984
Why me?Rick Cavaggiondocumentary2006
Wrong Side of the RoadNed Landerdrama1981
Yolngu BoyStephen Johnson (III)drama2001

Films by Aboriginal directors

Click table headers to sort films by name, director, film type or year.

  • Featured Aboriginal film: Bedevil
  • Featured Aboriginal movie: Beneath Clouds
  • Featured Aboriginal movie: Bush Mechanics.
  • Featured Aboriginal film: Crocodile Dreaming
  • Featured Aboriginal film: Stolen Generations - Darlene Johson
  • Featured Aboriginal movie: One Night The Moon
  • Featured Aboriginal film: Radiance
  • Featured Aboriginal movie: Rabbit-Proof Fence
  • Featured Aboriginal film: Vote Yes for Aborigines
  • Featured Aboriginal film: Plains Empty - Beck Cole
Film titleDirectorMovie typeYear
A Sister's LoveIvan Sendocumentary2007
Aunty ConnieIvan Sendocumentary2006
Back SeatPauline Whymandrama2007
BedevilTracey Moffattdrama1993
Beneath CloudsIvan Sendrama2002
Bit of Black Businessvariouscompilation2007
Black Chicks TalkingLeah Purcelldocumentary2002
BloodlinesJacob Nashshort2007
Bollywood DreamingCornel Oziesshort2007
Bush MechanicsDavid Battycomedy2001
Case 442Mitch Torresdrama2005
Courting With JusticeDebbie Carmodydocumentary2007
Crocodile DreamingDarlene Johnsondrama2007
CustardMichelle Blancharddrama2007
Days Like TheseMartin Leroy Adamsdrama2007
Done Dirt CheapDebbie Carmodyshort2007
Fly, Peewee, FlySally Rileyshort1995
Freedom RideRachel Perkins and Ned R Landerdocumentary1993
Green BushWarwick Thorntondrama2005
Gulpilil: One Red BloodDarlene Johnsondocumentary2002
HushDena Curtiscomedy2007
Island FettlersKelrick Martindocumentary2006
Jackie JackieAdrian Willisshort2007
JourneyIvan Senshort1997
KwatyeTrisha Morton-Thomascomedy2007
La Perouse PanthersMichael Longbottomdocumentary2006
Mad MorroKelrick Martindrama2007
Marluku Wirlinyi - Kangaroo HuntersTimothy J. Marshall & Craig J. Williamsdocumentary1998
My Bed Your BedErica Glynn short1998
My Brother VinnieSteven McGregordocumentary2006
NanaWarwick Thorntonshort2007
Nigger LoversRhonda Hagandocumentary2007
Night Cries: A Rural TragedyTracey Moffattshort1990
No Way to ForgetRichard Franklinshort1996
One Night the MoonRachel Perkinsmusical/drama2001
One River All RiversTom E Lewisshort2008
Plains EmptyBeck Coleshort2004
RadianceRachel Perkinsdrama1998
River of No ReturnDarlene Johnsondocumentary2008
Sa Black ThingRima Tamoushort2005
SharpeyeAaron Fa'aososhort2007
Shifting Shelter 3Ivan Sendocumentary2006
Sister, if You Only KnewJanet Isaacdocumentary1975
Spirit StonesAlan Collinsdocumentary2007
Stolen GenerationsDarlene Johnsondocumentary2000
StorytimeJub Clercshort2007
TearsIvan Senshort1998
The Djarn DjarnsWayne Blairshort2004
The ForgottenGlen Stasiukdocumentary2003
The TurtleKelli Crossshort2007
Too LateMichael Longbottomshort2007
Two Big BoysJon Bellshort2007
Vote Yes for AboriginesFrances Peters-Littledocumentary2007
Wanja: Warrior DogAngie Abdilladocumentary2007
Warm StrangersIvan Senshort1997
When Colin Met JoyceRima Tamoudocumentary2007
WindIvan Senshort1999
Who Paintin' Dis Wandjina?Taryne Laffarshort2008
Yellow FellaIvan Senshort2005
Yolngu Guya DjamamirrFrank Djirrimbilpilwy Garawirritjashort2008

"[Aboriginal people are] one of the globe's invisible people. Most know them only from tourist ads, in which they appear almost as totems, evoking Outback exotica. A smaller number know some of their art, the colorful dot paintings of a strange, sunburned landscape. Yet there are few images that convey the humanity of Australia's struggling Aboriginal population, who [...] can seem invisible even at home. But that may be starting to change, thanks to the movies."

—The Miami Herald, Dec. 15, 2002

If you have heard of a movie not listed here, please contact me.

Movies listed for research

Many more films are out there. I've created a list of movies waiting for research where you might find a film not listed here.

Masthead image ©ourtesy Melanie Kuipers, www.sxc.hu.