AFW + NFSA: My Survival as an Aboriginal (1978)

Directed by Essie Coffey. 50 mins. 16mm projection. $10 tix.

6:30pm, Thurs 7 December
Platform Arts, Geelong

Platform Arts is thrilled to welcome Narrm/Melbourne-based collective Artist Film Workshop for a special co-presentation of Essie Coffey’s landmark 1978 documentary My Survival as an Aboriginal, which tells the story of Murawarri woman Essie Coffey and her life in the township of Brewarrina, or Dodge City, as it is also known.

“Essie Coffey OAM was a Murawarri activist, advocate and filmmaker concerned about the influence of white culture and education on Indigenous children. As seen in her groundbreaking documentary, My Survival as an Aboriginal (1978), she taught culture – and the importance of cultural knowledge – to her community. Importantly, her documentary also exposed how First Peoples were marginalised in all aspects of their lives, from school to wider society. The treatment of First Peoples laid bare in her documentary reached wider audiences through screenings at prestigious Australian and international film festivals, where the film won numerous awards.”
– The Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons.

ABOUT
Artist Film Workshop (AFW) is an artist collective and not-for-profit organisation which provides access to knowledge and resources for filmmakers and artists in Melbourne. AFW holds regular screenings and workshops for people interested in film or working with sound and vision.