Birrarangga Film Festival, a dedicated celebration of First Nations film, is set to return to Naarm in 2025.
Set to take place from March 13-18, the festival will host events at multiple locations across the city.
A biennial celebration of Indigenous films and storytelling from around the globe, the festival continues to grow in scope and diversity. This year the fourth edition promises to be the biggest yet, featuring over 150 films from across the globe over six days.
Audiences can look forward to a vibrant program showcasing First Nations filmmakers from Australia, Aotearoa/NZ, Samoa, Canada, the United States, Finland, Norway, Russia, Mexico, Hawaii, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Fiji, Peru, Taiwan and more.
Many of the films will be presented in their original languages with English subtitles, with highlights including Australian premiere screenings, guest appearances, panel discussions, live music performances, filmmaker masterclasses, 360-degree immersive screenings and networking events.
Birrarangga Film Festival Artistic Director Tony Briggs said: "We are proud to promote once again the rich diversity of global First Nations culture that we at the Birrarangga Film Festival celebrate."
"We look forward to uniting people from around the globe to share stories that reflect the beauty of our respective cultures and again provide Australia with the opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary offerings that First Nations global communities have to share with everyone right here in Naarm," he said.
"With just one week to go, the excitement around the fourth edition of the Birrarangga Film Festival is undeniable. Seeing the community rally around First Nations storytelling—locally and globally—reaffirms the power of Indigenous cinema and the importance of a dedicated platform like Birrarangga Film Festival."
The festival will span across 11 venues throughout the city and inner suburbs, offering dozens of screenings and special events at the Capitol Theatre, Lido Cinemas, Kino Cinema, Sofitel Arthur Auditorium, Palace Westgarth Cinemas, Treasury Theatre, Classic Cinemas, VCA Theatre (Victorian College of the Arts), ACMI and Nant Studios (Docklands Studios Melbourne). Each feature film screening will also be preceded by a short film.
Opening night on Thursday, March 13, at the Capitol Theatre will feature Je'vida, an award-winning Finnish Skolt Sámi–language drama written and directed by Katja Gauriloff. The film tells the story of Iida, an elderly Skolt Sámi woman who has abandoned her past under the pressures of assimilation, exploring the experiences of Sámi people in Finland across three historical eras.
Closing the Birrarangga Film Festival will be the Victorian premiere of Tinā, the acclaimed Aotearoa/New Zealand film by award-winning director Miki Magasiva who will be in attendance with lead actress Anapela Polataivao.
Other highlights in the festival include a three-hour masterclass with AACTA Award-winning Australian filmmaker Ivan Sen, an opening weekend Centerpiece Gala film event screening of Origin with live performance by acclaimed singer and actor Stan Walker and much more.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said the Victorian government "has proudly backed Birrarangga from the start".
"It's fantastic to see the festival return in 2025 bigger than ever before to showcase First Peoples films from around the globe," he said.
"Congratulations to Tony Briggs and the team – we share your commitment to nurturing First Peoples leadership, and with Treaty underway here in Victoria, events like Birrarangga play an important role in celebrating First Peoples culture and talent, and truth-telling."
With some events moving to larger cinemas to accommodate demand and Samoan film, Tinā already selling sold out in both sessions, the public are encouraged to purchase tickets sooner rather later.
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