Ned Lander

Into the Mainstream

Ned Lander

Yothu Yindi, Peter Garrett

Every 'overnight sensation' in the music industry is preceded by a few years of fine-tuning the act. But 40,000 years? From the far north of Australia, YOTHU YINDI draws on the song cycle of its Arnhem Land ancestors to create a mesmeric mix of traditional Aboriginal music and rock 'n' roll. Into the Mainstream takes us on a journey across the vast continent of America with YOTHU YINDI, on the 'Diesel and Dust to Big Mountain' concert tour featuring MIDNIGHT OIL and American Indian band GRAFITTI MAN. The bands travel 16,000 km over 38 days and play to crowds of up to 10,000. On the way they meet American Indian communities to talk about land rights and cultural identity, culminating in the presentation of a gift from the Yolngu people in Arnhem Land to the Navajo elders in Big Mountain, Arizona. YOTHU YINDI proves to be a revelation on tour - Aboriginal traditional music and dance quickly become the latest American vogue in performing art.

Starstruck

Gillian Armstrong

Joey Kennedy, Ross O'Donovan

A Sydney teen tries to make it as a rock singer, with help from her odd 14-year-old cousin.

Molly

Ned Lander

Claudia Karvan, Garry McDonald

After Dan collapses at a train station, he enlists Maxie to watch his beloved dog, Molly. Maxie develops a soft spot for her new furry companion - a dog which has a unique ability to sing in tune.

Puberty Blues

Bruce Beresford

Nell Schofield, Jad Capelja

Two teenage surf chicks from the southern suburbs of Sydney ingratiate themselves with a new group of boys.

Archer's Adventure

Denny Lawrence

Ned Lander, Brett Climo

During the 1860s, Dave Powers, apprentice to a horse trainer, volunteers to ride Archer to the Melbourne Cup race. Their start is 600 miles from Melbourne, and the journey is anything but easy. Of course, the pair have numerous adventures along the way, and in the end Archer competes in the Melbourne Cup race.

Blood Brothers: Broken English

Ned Lander

Arrernte elder Rupert Max Stuart tells his side of the story about how he was sentenced to death for a crime he says he didn’t commit. For 30 years, Arrernte man Rupert Max Stuart has maintained his innocence of the rape and murder of a young white girl. His story became the basis for the movie Black and White in 2002. In Broken English, we hear from Max and those personally involved in the case. Max Stuart claims he fell prey to prejudices in the white justice system and alleges he was beaten and verballed by police. He spent 14 years in prison and faced the gallows nine times for the crime he says he didn't commit. This film, which combines documentary and drama, recreates some of the events of his trial, appeals and subsequent Royal Commission. It features Hugo Weaving, Noah Taylor and Tony Barry, with Lawrence Turner playing Max Stuart.

Blood Brothers: Jardiwarnpa - A Warlpiri Fire Ceremony

Ned Lander

Law man Darby Jampinjimpa Ross and other Warlpiri elders introduce us to their community's fire ceremony. Made with the close co-operation of the outback Warlpiri community of Yuendumu, the film follows the staging of the ceremony, involving hundreds of people, over several weeks - part of the process of retaining traditional law and culture within the community. Anthropologists describe the ceremony as a means of resolving personal conflicts in society; the elders speak of paying tribute to their ancestors.

50 Years Of Silence

Ned Lander

Jan Ruff-O-Herne

The film spans five generations, from my mother's colonial life in Java, recorded on old home movies, through the war, to a new start in England as a young bride, and our family migration to Australia in 1960. It shows how one woman's testimony changed recorded history and became an inspiration to others. It was awarded Best Documentry at the AFI Awards, and a Logie Award for Best Documentary.