Blak Nite Cinema kicks off on 8 February will host 20 films alongside a range of special guest talks.
The free program features short and feature films, screening over three days at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). This year, the program highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts, hip hop and country music, traditional and contemporary dance, theatre and moving image.
Festival Ambassador and acclaimed actor Aaron Pedersen will be in conversation with a number of the special guests, from filmmakers to musicians and art curators. The talks include:
On Friday 8 February, Blak Nite Cinema opens with a tribute to Bart Willoughby. Aaron Pedersen will host a special conversation with Bart Willoughby, after the screening of the documentary No Fixed Address on Tour, a record of Bart's band on the road. The tribute also includes Wrong Side of the Road, a feature film which looks at two days in lives of Aboriginal bands No Fixed Address and Us Mob.
On Saturday 9 February:
- Filmmaker Grant Leigh Saunders will participate in a conversation following his film B.L.A.C.K, a celebration and understanding of the Aboriginal voice in hip-hop.
- After Buried Country, which explores the largely untold story of Aboriginal country music, featured artist Aunty Auriel Andrews will join in a conversation with Aaron Pedersen.
- Son of Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, Amos Roach, will introduce a documentary on the making of Butcher Paper, Texta, Blackboard & Chalk. Song Book by Ruby Hunter & Archie Roach with illustrations by Ruby Hunter.
- Charismatic curator Hetti Perkins will participate in a discussion with Aaron Pedersen following the screening of art doco series Art & Soul which looks at the "insider's” view of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and artists.
On Sunday 10 February, writer Tony Briggs will discuss the smash hit The Sapphires after its screening. Inspired by his own mothers story, The Sapphires is a triumphant celebration of youth, courage, love, family and Soul Music.