First Nations Storytellers in the Spotlight at Regionality Sunshine Coast

The upcoming Regionality Sunshine Coast, happening Friday 7 August at Maroochy RSL, is set to spotlight some of Queensland’s (and Australia’s) most original and inventive First Nations documentary and factual storytellers.

The session Bearing Witness: Queensland Documentaries in the Spotlight will feature Kalkatungu producer Yale MacGillivray and Muruwari and Gomeroi filmmaker / investigative journalist Allan Clarke, alongside Ivan O’Mahoney (Sentient) and Andy Huang (Replica), as they share their unique approaches to telling compelling character-led feature documentaries. 

Yale MacGillivray is a Kalkatungu, Australian South Sea Islander, and Scottish documentary producer based on Darumbal Country in Rockhampton, whose latest project Moblands (currently in development) is a bold, knowledge-led documentary challenging extractive systems and reimagining futures grounded in Country, culture, and truth.

Allan Clarke is a multi-award-winning Muruwari and Gomeroi filmmaker, investigative journalist and writer. His notable work includes the acclaimed two-part television series and podcast Blood on the Tracks for the ABC, and the feature documentaries The Bowraville Murders and The Dark Emu Story. He was the writer for the television series The School That Tried To End Racism, the feature documentary Rose Gold, and the television series The Last Goodbye with Ray Martin. His current project as a director is Hey Brother, which unearths the story of Far North Queenslander Malcolm Cole – a fearless queer Blak icon of the 1980s Sydney gay scene and his twin brother Robert Cole.

In a session focused on long-form storytelling – Play the Next Episode: The Art of Documentary and Factual Series – acclaimed Torres Strait Islander writer, director and producer and Creative Director of Brown Cabs, John Harvey, will join commissioning editors Stephen Oliver (ABC) and Bethan Arwel-Lewis (SBS), alongside producer Bettina Dalton of Wildbear Entertainment, to provide an insider’s guide to developing a documentary series. 

John Harvey’s storied achievements include writing and directing Still We Rise (2023 AIDC Best Documentary / Factual Single, 2023 ADG Award for Best Direction); Off Country (2022 ADG Award for Best Direction, MIFF); Kutcha’s Koorioke (NITV); Katele (2023 Flickerfest – Best Australian Short Film, MIFF – Best Australian Short Film), Water (Adelaide FF, MIFF), Out of Range (MIFF). He also produced Spear (TIFF), Sand for The Turning (MIFF, Berlinale) and The Warriors (ABC). His current project is Empire in Colour, a new international co-production series from Stranger than Fiction and Rezolution Pictures International.

On the First Nations industry decision maker front, Doc Chat 1:1 Meeting opportunities are available with Far North Queensland Bagarrmuguwarra man and recently appointed NITV Commissioning Editor Caden Pearson – newly added to the Regionality program – and proud Torres Strait Islander woman Danielle Ah Boo, Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit, Screen Queensland.

Regionality Sunshine Coast will provide a fully-rounded program catering to Queensland-based doc and factual practitioners, with additional sessions covering:

• exclusive insights into how leading nonfiction creators are navigating careers that defy genres and formats [Limitless Filmmaking with Chai Vasarhelyi]
• tips for how to thrive in the current financing landscape [Financing Nonfiction Futures: Impact, Philanthropy and Funding]
• essential insider access to broadcasters, streamers, funds and distributors [Regionality Roundtable: Meet the Decision Makers]

Plus, the opportunity to connect with the screen sector broadcasters, streamers, funds and distributors in Doc Chat 1:1 Meetings and networking. View all the speakers and industry guests here.

Please note: Sign-ups for Doc Chat close 11:59pm Monday 27 July.

Tickets for Regionality Sunshine Coast are on sale now through AIDC, priced at $110 inc GST, or $90 inc GST for AIDC and Sunshine Coast Screen Collective members, and $80 inc GST for full-time students and concession card holders, and provide access to all sessions, Doc Chat 1:1 Meeting sign-ups and networking drinks. 

To find more information, buy tickets, and sign up for Doc Chat, visit the Regionality Sunshine Coast page on the link.

ENTER REGIONALITY

Regionality Sunshine Coast is presented by AIDC and Screen Queensland, with the support of Sunshine Coast Council, in association with Sunshine Coast Screen Collective.