National Indigenous Television (NITV) is set to premiere a compelling documentary, Audrey Napanangka, at 8.30pm on Sunday, 12 November.
This expansive feature-length presentation has been captured over a decade and is an intimate portrait of the life of the Warlpiri matriarch, artist, and actor.
Audrey’s early life was marked by the profound changes brought about by colonisation in Central Australia. These shifts moulded her existence, and now, as a grandmother and great-grandmother, she, alongside her Sicilian partner, Santo, endeavours to raise the younger generation, teaching them to traverse multiple worlds. Central to their upbringing is the emphasis on their culture, language, and Law, intertwined seamlessly with mainstream education.
The documentary has been crafted on the traditional lands of the Arrernte people of Mparntwe, the Warlpiri people of Mount Theo and Yuendumu, and the Anmatyerr people’s territories.
“I am happy to share my story so that people can learn about my life. For me family is everything,”
shared the subject and collaborator, Audrey Napanangka.
Emphasising the significance of the documentary, Marissa McDowell, NITV Head of Commissions, remarked,
“We are thrilled to share this powerful documentary with audiences, delving into Audrey’s philosophy that family and love are everything. We learn about Audrey’s cultural obligations and see that life is not always easy for Audrey and those around her, but family and love prevail.”
Produced by a talented team including Penelope McDonald (known for Robbie Hood), Trisha Morton-Thomas (of History Bites Back, Occupation: Native fame), and Rachel Clements (noted for History Bites Back, Occupation: Native, Finke: There and Back), the documentary has garnered significant attention.
Alex West, Screen Australia’s Head of Documentary, stated, “Ten years of dedication and heart have brought us the incredible journey of Audrey Napanangka. This remarkable documentary showcases the enduring power of kinship and family in the face of adversity. Audrey’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of embracing culture, language, and love.”
Reflecting on the filmmaking journey, Penelope McDonald, Director and co-producer from Chili Films, expressed, “It has been a great privilege to have walked beside Audrey over many years as we created this documentary. This is a story of love, courage, and resilience, of an extraordinary family, recorded over a decade, across generations. I thank Audrey and her family immensely for opening their home and sharing their lives. This story from the centre, the beating heart of Australia, is more important and relevant to us now than ever.”
The documentary’s significance in promoting Indigenous storytelling is further underscored by Jennie Hughes, Screen Territory Director, “We are proud supporters of Indigenous storytelling. It is vital that we continue to support our Territorian filmmakers and the development of documentaries such as Audrey Napanangka, bringing powerful and diverse Territory stories to Australian audiences.”
Audrey Napanangka is a product of collaboration between Chili Films and Brindle Films for NITV, with principal production funding coming from Screen Australia, in association with Screen Territory.
Following its broadcast on NITV, the documentary will be available for streaming on SBS On Demand, featuring captions in English and subtitles in languages including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Korean. Additionally, an audio description will cater to blind and low vision audiences.
