Best Film Award for HOMELAND STORY!
24 May 2024
HOMELAND STORY has won the Jury's award for BEST FILM in the prestigious Archaeology Channel's International Film Festival, USA, May 2024. The Festival focusses on films that deal with archaeology and the recovery and preservation of cultural heritage.
HOMELAND STORY also won the Jury's Award for Best Narration, and Honourable Mentions for Public Education Value and Music. It won a further Honourable Mention in the Festival's Audience Favourite Competition.
An intimate portrait of Donydji, an Indigenous Homeland community in north-east Arnhem Land, HOMELAND STORY charts the community's struggle from the 1960s to the present day to overcome the corrosive effects of government policy and pressure from mining interests.
The film also tells the remarkable story of cross-cultural co-operation over nearly fifty years. In 1974, Dr Neville White, a biological anthropologist, went to Donydji to conduct research and has since spent part of each year on the Homeland, responding to the community's request to help them map their clan lands as a way of resisting the threat of mining claims.
"The film shows that Yolngu people can take on any challenge. ... My goal is for young people to watch it and then stand up and be strong for our land."
- Damien Guyula, Co-Producer
AVAILABLE NOW ON DVD and as a 1080p digital file and DCP for screenings. For information and orders: www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/16232.html
Writer, Director Glenda Hambly
Producers Damien Guyula, Glenda Hambly, Ken Sallows, David Rapsey
Camera Moira Moss, Brian McKenzie
Editor Ken Sallows
Music David Bridie
Sound recording Glenda Hambly
Produced by Rogue Productions and Donydji Homeland, with support from Screen Victoria, the Rotary Club of Melbourne Inc. and The Baker Foundation.