Showcasing First Peoples' stories from across the nation.
This year’s National NAIDOC Week marks 50 years of the week-long celebrations, and the theme, 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy', celebrates not only achievements of the past but the bright future ahead. Over the decades, NAIDOC week has grown into a powerful national celebration, a testament to the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In keeping with this year's theme, our NAIDOC Shorts program kicks off with a suite of short films showcasing the breadth of Indigenous filmmaking, from factual to fantasy.
Following this program is the feature documentary Our Warrior: The Story of Robbie Thorpe. This film explores the legacy of Krauatungalung (Gurnai) and Djapwurrung (Gunditjmara) political activist Robbie Thorpe. Looking back on his childhood and early years in Melbourne's inner city suburb of Fitzroy, it explores Thorpe's role in the great legacy of Indigenous resistance to invasion. The powerful documentary explores the emergence of his radical politics as a controversial and uncompromising sovereign black activist.
– Jenna Warwick, Curator
Crew Night
Before the screening, from 6pm, you can mingle, connect and talk film with fellow cinephiles, creatives and industry folks at the ACMI Cafe + Bar. Find out more about Crew Nights.
Films
HOLDING S P A C E
Conceived by Apryl Day (Yorta Yorta/Wemba Wemba/Barapa Barapa) and Jirra Lulla (Yorta Yorta/Wiradjuri) HOLDING S P A C E is a love letter to Cummergunja and the Barmah Forest. This short film celebrates joy and the enduring spirit of their family and community, a thank you to their Elders, for nurturing connections and passing down knowledge.
Apryl Day & Jirra Lulla, 2025
Crepuscular
Melbourne based production company Sapphic Flicks brings us Crepuscular a non-narrative short film following transhuman drag beings, awakening at dusk to prepare for the night” staring the iconic motherless collective.
Sapphic Flicks, 2024
Marlu Man
Marlu man is a short film inspired by the unjust handling of a 14-year-old Elijah Doughty’s fatal Collison in Western Australia. Justice for Elijah and similar cases are hard to come by in a media landscape where young indigenous men are criminalised at a young age. This superhero short conceived by Elijah’s uncle and is a poignant and heartbreaking comedic release.
Zac James
Re-Imagining Our Futures: birthing
Nyikina and Jabirr Jabirr woman, Kalinda (Gal) Palmer’s birthing journey is explored in Re-imagining Our Futures: birthing. The film follows Gal and the difficulties of existing as Indigenous woman in the western medical system. She dreams of a future where she, her family, and community have sovereignty over birthing ceremony and tradition. A future where she can bring new life into the world on Country in a way that she has always imagined.
Kimberley Benjamin
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