Since many years Sydney is host to the Indigenous Film Festival. The festival premiers a fine selection of Indigenous films in drama, documentary, comedy and shorts. Many of the film reviews you find on this site come from my visits to the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival which is very popular.
The 2007 Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival's theme revolves around 'A Bit of Black Business'. It comprises five
minute drama story ideas that explore individual notions and experiences of contemporary 'Black Business', from the
unique perspective of Indigenous Australians. On television, 'A Bit of Black Business' films will screen on SBS in the
7.30pm timeslot at the end of the popular Inspector Rex.
The 'A Bit of Black Business' was shot all over Australia, predominantly by first time filmmakers. You might want to watch
these men and women because they might show up again next year!
For the first time films are screened at two different venues in parallel. Due to the huge demand Sydney Opera House has introduced tickets as well, but only if you want to secure a seat. Individual film screenings remain free.
| Friday, May 4 | Saturday, May 5 | Sunday, May 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playhouse | The Studio | Playhouse | The Studio | ||
| 12pm | 12pm - 1pmBit of Black Business Part 1 Custard (Michelle Blanchard), Too Late (Michael Longbottom), Two Big Boys (Jon Bell), Days Like These (Martin Leroy Adams), Back Seat (Pauline Whyman), Nana (Warwick Thornton) |
12pm - 1.30pmSunset to Sunrise (Allan Collins, 25min) & Destiny in Alice (Sonja Dare, 27min) | 12pm - 1.15pmSonglines to the Seine (Julie Nimmo, 52min) | ||
| 1pm | 1.45pm - 3pmBit of Black Business Part 2 Bloodlines (Jacob Nash), The Turtle (Kelli Cross), Sharpeye (Aaron Fa'aoso), Done Dirt Cheap (Debbie Carmody), Kwatye (Trisha Morton-Thomas), Hush (Dena Curtis), Jackie Jackie (Adrian Willis) |
||||
| 2pm | 2:15pm - 3:30pmDark Science (Johan Gabrielsson and Julie Nimmo, 52min) | 2.15 pm - 3.45pmMiss Navajo (Billy Luther, 52min) | 1.45 pm - 3.15pmNigger Lovers (Stephen Hagan, 27min) & Flour, Sugar, Tea (Lee Willis-Ardler, 27min) | ||
| 3pm | |||||
| 4pm | 3:45pm - 5.15pmA Sister's Love (Ivan Sen, 52min) | 4:30pm - 6.00pmFootprints in the Sand (Glen Stasiuk, 27min) & When Natives Get Restless (Adrian Wills, 27min) | |||
| 5pm | |||||
| 6pm | 6.00pm - 7.00pmNana (Warwick Thornton) & Crocodile Dreaming (Darlene Johnson, 27:30min) followed by an Artists Talk with David Gulpilil | ||||
| 7pm | ![]() Poster by Jeremy Saunders |
||||
| 8pm | 8.00pm til lateGala Opening Night and Party featuring Crocodile Dreaming, selected short films from Bit of Black Business, the Tudawali Award and the Bob Maza FellowshipAll tickets $50 | 7.45pm - 9.30pmConversion (Nanobah Becker, 9min) & Four Sheets to the Wind (feature, Sterlin Harjo, 91min) | |||
Find Aboriginal books, CDs, DVDs in our Aboriginal Book Store