I’m pleased to share that NITV has renewed the broadcast licensing for the film for the next 3 years. This means that BLACKBIRD is available to screen online for free in Australia until 2027. View the film on SBS OnDemand here. If you’re outside of Australia, click through here. More information about BLACKBIRD film project here.
In October 2023, I was fortunate to be able to travel to the lands of the Yuwibara people, Mackay, Queensland for the Brown Sugar Festival. The event marked “the 160th anniversary since the first South Sea Islander people were brought to Queensland to work in the sugar and cotton industries.” I had the honour of …
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
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
BLACKBIRD DVD INTERNATIONAL RELEASE 4th JULY 2018: https://bit.ly/BlackbirdRonin BLACKBIRD is a short film by Australian Solomon Islander filmmaker Amie Batalibasi, that sheds light on a little known part of history – Australia’s sugar slaves. Ronin Films will release the BLACKBIRD DVD 4th JULY 2018, 9am AEST. BLACKBIRD screened at the New Zealand International Film Festival in …
Firstly I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Ute peoples. And pay my respects to elders past and present and also acknowledge other First Nations peoples in the room today. Being here with you all, the other indigenous fellows, is an absolute honor and a privilege. I am truly grateful for …
In October, BLACKBIRD screened at the 17th Annual imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada. The festival is the world’s largest presenter of indigenous content and it was an absolute privilege to be a part of it and have BLACKBIRD acknowledged on an international platform such as this. The underlying feeling of the festival seems to be …
‘Blackbird’ Screens at imagineNATIVE in Canada & Scores Pasifika Film Fest Prize
Blackbird was selected to screen at the New Zealand International Film Festival this month as part of the NZIFF Nga Whanaunga Maori Pasifika Short Film Programme. It was an absolute honour to be sharing the screen with some wonderful Maori and Pasifika filmmakers and to have the opportunity to share Blackbird with a New Zealand audience. …
‘Blackbird’ Short Film Screens at New Zealand International Film Festival
On December 5th & 12th 2015, ‘Blackbird’, a short narrative film exploring a dark and little known part of Australian history, will screen as part of the VCA Graduate Screenings at ACMI. The film is the culmination of a long personal journey for Australian Solomon Islander filmmaker and Footscray local, Amie Batalibasi. 2013 marked 150 …
JUNE 2015 Melbourne based Australian Solomon Islander filmmaker Amie Batalibasi has embarked on a journey to tell a story that has so often been left out of mainstream Australian history dialogue. The Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) are the descendants of some estimated 55,000 to 62,500 Pacific Islanders who were brought to Australia between 1863 …
Blackbird Film Shines a Light on a Dark Part of Australian History