Following the sold-out success of last year’s Screen Territory SPARK Short Film Initiative, we return with our own curated program of Central Australian short films.

This new showcase celebrates our region’s rich filmmaking talent, diverse storytelling, and creative voices.

Featuring works by Damon Van der Shuit, Jonathan Daw, Kieran Mpetyane Satour, the Mala Girls Rangers, and more, this event marks the beginning of what we hope will become an annual tradition of spotlighting Central Australian stories on screen.

Doors Open: 5:30 pm | Screening Starts: 6:00 pm

LINE UP SO FAR:

Truth About the Telegraph

Director: Kieran Mpetyane Satour | Year: 2024 | Rating: Unclassified 15+ | Run time: 17 mins Country: Australia | Genre: Documentary, First Nations, History | Language: Kaytetye & English

Hailed as a triumph of technology, the Overland Telegraph Line stretched 3,000 km across Aboriginal lands — but for the Kaytetye and Warumungu people it was also the frontier of colonisation. Through first-hand accounts passed down through generations, this powerful documentary shares stories of survival, resilience, and truth in the face of violence.

First Drop

Director: Damon van der Schuit | Year: 2023 | Rating: Unclassified 15+ | Run time: 15 min Country: Australia | Genre: Comedy, Drama | Language: English

Set in Alice Springs, this award-winning short follows Ted, a reclusive retiree, who is reluctantly tasked with caring for his Pakistani neighbour’s 8-year-old daughter, Saleha. What begins as an awkward favour blossoms into an unlikely friendship forged through a shared love of cricket — until painful memories threaten to break it apart. A heartfelt story about connection, loss, and finding common ground. Produced by Emma Alix Smith & Bridget May.

Mini Retrospective: Jonathan Daw

This mini retrospective honours Central Australian filmmaking talent and Jonathan’s outstanding contribution to the region’s screen culture.

Jonathan Daw is an Australian filmmaker specialising in stop-motion animation. For more than 20 years he has worked as a director, producer, animator, and model-maker, and has collaborated widely in Central Australia with organisations such as Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Tangentyere Artists and ICTV. His award-winning shorts include Extreme Makeover (2007), Catch of the Day (2003) and The Seagull (2008), with his most recent work The Hunter (2021), co-directed with Yanyangkari Roma Butler, screening at the Adelaide Film Festival.

Learning and Burning

Director: Mala Rangers | Year: 2025 | Rating: G | Run time: 5 min | Country: Australia | Genre: Documentary | Language: Pitjantjatjara, English

See how the Mala Rangers from Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park learn from elders and teach new generations how to care for culture and country. Youth Entry.

More titles announced soon - stay tuned!