Over the past year I have had the privilege to work with my partner, Alexander Hayes, and the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, to develop their website and to make short films with the Council’s members about the importance of protecting the Martuwarra, Fitzroy River, from invasive development, for all future generations of the world. You can watch their short stories here. The Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council is a strong voice for the Kimberley, and for all Indigenous people in the world (ABC News Article).
On May 14th 2020 I had the pleasure of being a panelist for the 2020 SAE Global Webinars: the Transformation of Creative Media Education, as part of my role as Film Program Committee Chair for SAE Australia / Dubai. You can access the whole webinar here: Film & VFX Webinar. and the PowerPoint Presentation here.
Good to be featured in this IF Magazine Article about how Film Schools all over Australia are coping with the COVID-19 Crisis, including SAE: https://www.if.com.au/film-school-in-the-time-of-covid-19/.
Very honoured to learn that our documentary, Protecting Country, is part of the Official Selection for the Rio de Janeiro International Uranium Film Festival in May 2020! Details of the Program here.
On December 12th, 2019, I was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in my graduation ceremony at the Australian National University: I am now officially Dr. Magali McDuffie!
On December 13th 2019 I was honoured an privileged to be announced as the recipient of the SAE Australasia Engagement Award:
Dr. Magali McDuffie has been liaising with various local and national organisations to establish partnerships that enable SAE Perth students to secure internship hours and valuable, real-world experience. Of particular importance are the many connections Dr. McDuffie has made with First Nations groups and community organisations. By establishing partnerships with community organisations Dr. McDuffie has improved the student’s work opportunities – particularly in the emerging area of community media work. She has helped students to strengthen their transferable skills, with a focus on cultural sensitivity and engagement with indigenous organisations and other communities.
As part of my role as the Head of the Film Department at SAE Creative Institute, Perth, I facilitated an opportunity for some of our fantastic students to work with the United Nations Association of Western Australia on their annual UN Day Gala and Awards Event on October 25th. Two of the students, Bryony and Sarah, wrote an article about their experience in the national SAE Newsletter.
“… Being an audio student it is rare for these opportunities to pop up which carry such significance. The opportunity to learn from Head of Film Magali McDuffie was a privilege and an unbelievable insight into documentary making”.
Sarah Rooks, Audio Student
Incredibly honoured and deeply moved to have our film, Protecting Country, as part of the 2019 Official Selection of the 13th Native Spirit Festival in London!
**** In Memory of Tauto Sansbury (1949-2019) ****
After nine years of very hard work, and incredible lived experiences with amazing people, I am delighted to announce that I received confirmation that my PhD had been awarded on September 11th, 2019. It certainly has been a long and arduous journey, but one that I am grateful for, and which would not have been possible without the patient teaching of three Nyikina sisters, Anne Poelina, Lucy Marshall, Jeannie Warbie, their families and communities, and the people of the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. When I started this thesis I set out to make their voices heard, and if I have achieved that, I will be very proud!
You can view the thesis on this link: http://hdl.handle.net/1885/165459
Absolutely delighted that one of our films, Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo, has won the United Nations Association of Western Australia’s Short Film Competition in the Indigenous Culture Category. The film, produced by Madjulla Inc and featuring Anne Poelina and Jeannie Warbie, calls for the protection of the Mardoowarra, Fitzroy River, and for the recognition of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Thrilled to see our 2018 film, Protecting Country, about the proposed nuclear dump in South Australia, featured on the international Films For Action Documentary Platform, and on the Black Mist, Burnt Country website!
Vince Coulthard in Protecting Country (2018)
Gerry Georgatos is a social justice and human rights campaigner who has worked tirelessly against injustice his whole life, advocating for Aboriginal communities, homeless and disabled people, amongst many causes. It was an honour to make a short film with him, Homeless: Visible but Forgotten, to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people in Perth. You can read Gerry’s article in The Stringer, and view the short film here.
The Stringer: Homelessness
Incredibly stoked, after four months at the SAE Creative Institute in Perth, to have been promoted to the position of Film Department Coordinator! Looking forward to some great collaborations… So privileged to work with such amazing students and colleagues - SAE rocks!
Great to know that this film is still travelling, after four years… Three Sisters, Women of High Degree, is now showing on ICTV Play!
When you are at work on International Women’s Day and this poster suddenly pops up…
Stoked to see our film, Three Sisters, Women of High Degree, being screened at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra (Friday 8th March) as a special showcase event for International Women’s Day! Featuring Dr Anne Poelina, and Nyikina Senior Elders Lucy Marshall OAM, and Jeannie Warbie, three inspiring Nyikina sisters speaking passionately about the Nyikina creation stories of their country, the beautiful Kimberley region of Western Australia, and of their fight to protect it from massive industrialisation.
“Brilliant... Everyone loved it... All round a big hit! I love your work and more importantly the voices that get to get through”
On February 9th, 2019, I was contracted by my former employer, PAKAM Media, and the Broome Aboriginal Media Association, to cover the opening of the Desert, River, Sea Exhibition at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. I was very happy to resume my role as a community media trainer for a day, working with artist Dolorosa Carrington, from Warmun Community, to cover the day’s events, talks, and workshops, and conduct interviews with the amazing Kimberley artists present for the opening. The film will be edited by Dolorosa for screening on Indigenous Community Television (ICTV) in the near future.
LET THEM SPEAK: DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE
Date
8th February 2019
Description
A 53 minute documentary film premiere featuring four courageous Wongi Aboriginal women who speak of the catastrophic effects of intergenerational sexual abuse they have suffered, shared and face as a Family.
Produced
Sharon Hume, Rosemary Bailey, Barbara McGillivray and Jillian Heneker.
Event MC
Megan Krakouer - NICRS (National Indigenous Critical Response Service)
Panel Chair
Dr. Hannah McGlade - Curtin University - legal academic and practitioner with special interest in Indigenous human rights.
Read the article written by Hannah McGlade at https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2019/02/11/its-time-change-aboriginal-women-will-stand-strong-against-sexual-violence-1
Increasingly, Aboriginal women are speaking out against men who sexually abused them as children. Last week in Perth the National Indigenous Critical Response Project launched Let Them Speak a documentary about four Aboriginal sisters from Leonora speaking out about sexual abuse they experienced. The film was launched at the same time as the report of the WA Coroner into the deaths of 12 Aboriginal youth in the Kimberley.
Executive Production
Gerry Georgatos - Institute for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISJHR) and the National Child Sexual Abuse Trauma Recovery Project (NCSATRP).
Music
Delly Stokes & Daughters ( Josephine, Iesha, Marika, Uniquewa)
Filmed and edited
Alexander Hayes & Magali McDuffie from Ngikalikarra Media, Perth, Western Australia.
Location
Kim Beazley Theatre, Murdoch University, Western Australia
Building 351 Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch WA 6150
On January 21st 2019 I started a new job as a full-time Film Lecturer at the SAE Creative Media Institute in Northbridge (Perth). Loving working with wonderful, helpful colleagues and talented, enthusiastic students in an amazing, state-of-the-art facility! I am teaching Documentary Production, Cultural Perspectives, and Introduction to Cinematography and Media.
Very proud to announce our film, What is Fracking?, warning people of the dangers of fracking, has been released on Indigenous Community Television (ICTV) on 1st November 2018, to be played on the ICTV channel in remote Aboriginal communities, but also accessible on ICTVPlay: https://ictv.com.au/video/item/6064. Please re-share widely as this is an important issue in the Kimberley at the moment, with the Western Australian government close to announcing whether or not they will allow fracking in the beautiful Kimberley region!
