Cirrus@Austlit

'Early in 2017, legendary Australian actor David Gulpilil was diagnosed with lung cancer. His doctors estimated six months for him but David, being David, was always likely to defy the odds. And he continues to do so with probably his last great work, My Name is Gulpilil. For the first time, it's all Gulpilil, his story, in his words. He takes us boldly on the journey that is his most extraordinary, culture-clashing life.'

Source: Adelaide Festival.

'ShoPaapaa delves deeply into the 2020 lockdown experience in London and was made entirely remotely by Australian Molly Reynolds (My Name is Gulpilil) and UK-based creative Shekhar Bassi. Co-produced by Rolf de Heer.

'Physically compromised, filmmaker Bassi has been shielded and totally isolated in suburban London for six months during the pandemic. A trained actor, Bassi plays a partly fictionalised version of himself. In a monologue that has no audience, he contemplates his existence in lockdown. Somehow, in this age of uncertainty he still believes the future is bright. Reynolds had been keen to work with Bassi for a while, and when 2020 placed him in the eye of the storm, so to speak, he finally agreed. Cinematically audacious, ShoPaapaa explores the edges between drama and documentary in the worst of times and the best of times.'

Source: Sydney Film Festival.

'According to the great Australian Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil, Another Country is what happened when his way of life was interrupted by ours. This documentary film speaks to the havoc caused by superimposing a new culture over an old culture and the consequent clashes about all manner of things, such as time, money, garbage and errant kangaroos.' (Source: Screen Australia website)

The Balanda and the Bark Canoes is a 52 minute documentary that is concerned not only with the day to day production issues, including the practicalities of working with non-professional actors in crocodile infested Arnhem Land, but also the complex consultations with the Aboriginal cast and community members (many who speak little or no English) and who put forth views on the path Ten Canoes ought to follow. The film similarly explores the cross-cultural issues tackled by directors Rolf de Heer and Peter Djigirr and their Aboriginal collaborators, while illustrating storytelling methodology on both sides of the cultural divide.