BLACKBIRD is an award-winning short narrative film inspired by the history of Australia’s sugar slaves, written and directed by Australian-Solomon Islander filmmaker Amie Batalibasi. To watch BLACKBIRD via online streaming (for private viewing) or DVD (for educational use, community screenings & a variety of uses) read below. We invite you to share viewing links with …
It was a joy directing my first episode of television on a show that is kicking goals on and off screen. Watch Season 3 of Mustangs FC on ABC TV + iview now (Episode #5 “Roll With It” written by Magda Wozniak, directed by Amie Batalibasi). Matchbox Pictures’ Mustangs FC is a gem in this industry and I’m …
I was honoured to be invited by Weerianna Street Media to direct two episodes of THALU for ABC/ NITV. The story follows a mob of young Indigenous kids on a mission to get to the Thalu in order to save their country from a dangerous dust cloud. The show will air in 2020. This production was …
Directing on THALU TV Series for ABC/ NITV in Western Australia
ADG Press Release — Director Amie Batalibasi has just wrapped her shadow directing placement on Season 3 of Matchbox Pictures‘ Mustangs FC for ABC-TV – working with director Roger Hodgman, as part of the hugely successful Australian Directors’ Guild’s Shadow Directing program, which first commenced in 2016. Amie’s previous directing credits include the short films, Blackbird, Ka Puta Ko Au and Docked, and the drama/comedy webseries, Fresh!. …
That’s A Wrap for Directing an Episode of Matchbox Pictures’ Mustangs FC
BLACKBIRD (13 mins, PG) is now available to screen online for free for those in Australia, via the SBS OnDemand platform. Watch on your computer or phone HERE (UPDATE: available until June 2024) BLACKBIRD (13mins, PG) tells the story of Solomon Islander siblings, Rosa & Kiko, who were kidnapped from their island home to work on …
We’re delighted to announce that ABC International has acquired broadcast rights for BLACKBIRD to screen throughout the Asia Pacific region, free to air via their ABC international platform. This is particularly exciting because it means that those throughout the Asia Pacific region in over 40 countries, will have the opportunity to access to our short film. …
BLACKBIRD to Broadcast in Asia Pacific Region via ABC Australia 2020
It was such a joy to bring BLACKBIRD to the Berlinale – a career highlight in fact. This year the Berlinale NATIVe programme focused on films from Pasifika. I thank the Berlinale for highlighting the Pacific Island region and for valuing our stories. Meeting the other filmmakers, participating in the panels, sharing stories – having a …
After the Berlinale, BLACKBIRD was invited to screen in Washington DC for the Smithsonian’s Mother Tongue Film Festival. This festival aims to “amplify the work of diverse practitioners who explore the power of language to connect the past, present, and future”. Here’s a few lines from my introduction to the BLACKBIRD screening: “For me, telling this …
I was invited to speak at an event centred around climate change and filmmaking – the intersection of this environmental issue, science and the medium of film and how this crossover can have an impact. It was an honour to be welcomed to this conversation as part of the Berlinale NATIVe program. We watched short narrative films about climate change by students, engaged …
In February, our short film DOCKED had it’s Melbourne premiere at the Melbourne Women in Film Festival. Leading up to the festival, actor Nyawuda Chuol and I were very grateful to do a few national newspaper interviews and also (for the first time) have our short film reviewed by film critics. Interviews: THE AGE (pictured above) …
BLACKBIRD has been invited to screen at the 69th Berlinale International Film Festival in February 2019 as part of the Berlinale NATIVe Program. It’s an honour for our film and this story to be recognised at an international festival of this calibre especially as it’s part of a program focusing on indigenous storytelling in the Pacific region. BLACKBIRD is one of 16 films selected. …
BLACKBIRD to Screen at Berlinale International Film Festival
After last year’s NITV national screening debut, BLACKBIRD (13 mins, PG) is now available to screen online for free for those in Australia, via the SBS OnDemand platform. Watch on your computer or phone until [EDIT: 17 January 2019] previous showing 9 December 2018. UPDATE: If you missed this date, you can watch anytime: CLICK …