Journey Home, David Gulpilil
Synopsis
A Yolŋu man, David Gulpilil lived a traditional life in the Arafura Swamp before being cast at age 16 in his first film, Walkabout, in 1971. He became an industry trailblazer, always navigating two worlds – although his Yolŋu culture was rarely in the spotlight. Before his death in 2021, Gulpilil’s family promised to lay him to rest at his birthplace of Gulpulul, and guide his spirit back to a sacred waterhole known as Marawuyu. This would prove an epic journey involving planes, boats and helicopters, and months of waiting for the right seasonal conditions. It's the remarkable final chapter of his incredible story, as narrated by Hugh Jackman and cultural storyteller Baker Boy and skilfully chronicled by co-directors Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas.
Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.
Special Guests
Maggie Miles is a significant figure in the Australian film industry. Most recently, she co-directed the Stan Original documentary Trailblazers, featuring members of the Australian Women’s Football team ‘The Matildas’. Maggie’s other film credits include: script editor and producer on the Berlinale-selected feature film High Ground (Opening Night Film, SFF 2020), producer on the Australian hit Paper Planes (2014), producer on The Turning, and producer-and-co-writer on the documentary Guilty (2017).
Trisha Morton-Thomas is a First Nations Anmatyerr woman and co-founder of Brindle Films based in Alice Springs. She has written, directed, produced, and presented award winning documentaries Occupation: Native and History Bites Back for NITV/SBS. Producing credits include: Kangaroo, MaveriX, 8MMM Aboriginal Radio and feature documentaries Audrey Napanangka (SFF 2022), Finke: There and Back and The Song Keepers. Trisha is also a renowned actor, appearing in numerous television series.
Tickets
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Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.
We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
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