Blackbird

A brother and sister from the Solomon Islands are forced to leave their homeland and move to Australia, at the end of the 19th century, working as modern Helots at a sugar plantation. Juggling the memories from home and the harsh reality of uprooting, the camera juxtaposes images of the overgrown landscapes with the monotony of the fields and everyday labor. Shedding light on one of the darkest and lesser-known pages of Australian history, the “sugar slaves”, this lyrical short film is a declaration of determination and desire for survival.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Amie Batalibasi

Script: Amie Batalibasi

Cinematography: Mark Morris

Editing: Amie Batalibasi

Actors: Jeremy Bobby, Regina Lepping, Putu Winchester

Production: Melbourne University Victorian College of the Arts

Format: Digital File

Color: Color

Production Country: Australia

Production Year: 2015

Duration: 13΄

Contact: Ronin Films

Awards/Distinctions: Best of the Fest Award – Pasifika FF 2016, Best Drama Film, Best Female Lead – Sydney Indie FF 2017, Best Short Film (People’s Choice Award) – Maoriland FF 2017

Associate Producers: John Harvey & Lia Pa’apa’a
Supervising Producer: Sandra Sciberras
Community Consultant: Elizabeth Warren

Amie Batalibasi

Amie Batalibasi is an Australian Solomon Islander (Feralimae/ Kosi) writer, director, and producer. Her filmmaking practice is driven by a passion to collaborate with diverse people and communities at a grassroots level, to unearth stories that have the possibility to spark empowerment and create change. Amie was the 2017 recipient of the Sundance Institute Merata Mita Fellowship and is a Berlinale Talents & TIFF Filmmaker LAb 2018 alumna. Her award-winning short films have been screened around Australia and internationally. Over the last ten years, as a mentor and media trainer, Batalibasi has produced dozens of short films by first-time filmmakers through collaborative community projects with children and young people, new migrant groups, remote Indigenous communities, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities in and around Melbourne, interstate Australia and in the Solomon Islands. Amie graduated with honors from Melbourne University Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) with a Graduate Diploma of Film and TV (Documentary) in 2007 and a Master of Film and TV (Narrative) in 2015.