MORE THAN A FISH KILL

Two beloved rivers and more than 30 million dead fish bring artists, scientists and First Nations custodians together to turn ecological disasters into a journey of cultural healing.

VIEW TRAILER HERE: vimeo.com/1082039808

The Barka (Darling River) is more than just a flow of water; it is a community of people and other species, a repository of culture and history, a practice of connection, a place for swimming and fishing and healing, and a gauge of how we are caring (or not) for Country. For the First Nations Barkindji people, who have lived as part of the river for tens of thousands of years, the waterway and its flourishing cannot be separated from their stories, identities and wellbeing.

In 2019 and again in 2023, the unprecedented deaths of millions of fish along the Barka near Menindee, in far western New South Wales, signalled the river's devastating decline. Film-maker Otis Filley captured these shocking events, documenting locals' struggles with the stench of decaying fish, flooded homes, polluted drinking water, and their profound grief for their beautiful Country. Filley's meticulous record sets the scene for More than a Fish Kill, as the film explores the Menindee region's continuing fight for water justice and cultural survival.

More than a Fish Kill traces how, in the wake of the Menindee fish kills, artists, scientists and First Nations custodians came together to form a remarkable collaboration. Over four years, regional artist-run organisation, The Cad Factory, worked with NSW Fisheries managers and the Barkindji and Wiradjuri communities to explore what it means when our rivers are sick. This surprising group of people collectively created a series of spectacular art events that bridged cultural and geographical boundaries to demonstrate how celebrating the values of waterways helps heal communities living with ecological catastrophe.

This inspiring film joins Filley's sympathetic footage of the Menindee fish kills and their impacts with intimate conversations with Barkindji custodians and the wider collaborative team and the spectacular experiences of the collective's art performances. Vic McEwan's haunting soundtrack evokes the deep time life of the river, positioning the waterway at the heart of the story. 'More than a Fish Kill' doesn't pull any punches about the sad state of the Barka, but it is uplifting rather than depressing, suggesting how Australians can come together for a better future.

More than a Fish Kill issues an urgent call to action, advocating for a future where Australia's rivers can once again flourish. The film traces how river mismanagement impacts cultural and emotional, as well as environmental, wellbeing. It also reveals how arts, science and ancient knowledges can be interwoven to bring people together to celebrate our places, strengthen our connections and create the kind of spaces that enable our collective navigation of this time of environmental crisis

Primary Contributors: Barbara Quayle, Cheryl Blore, David Doyle, Neville Bamblett, John Ingram, Matthew McLellan, Sarah McEwan.

More than a Fish Kill was created by a direction, writing and production team including Otis Filley, Kirsten Wehner and Vic McEwan.

Co-produced by the National Museum of Australia, the Cad Factory and Otis Filley Studios, supported by the James Fairfax Foundation and the Sydney Environment Institute at the University of Sydney.

© 2024, National Museum of Australia

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