Yarn Up with Leah Purcell AM

Enjoy an afternoon in the theaterette in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere where you can see Leah Purcell on the big screen ‘live’ as she yarns with Sam Watson and her private audience (that’s you mob). Enjoy Leah’s honest yarning about her journey in the creative arts as an actress, writer, director and producer - surviving, thriving, winning awards and kicking goals that are changing the course of history for Aboriginal women in film.

SPECIAL GUEST: LEAH PURCELL AM

2022 CREATIVE DIRECTOR, OOMBARRA PRODUCTIONS

Leah Purcell is a proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka woman born and bred in Murgon, Queensland. Leah is a multi-award-winning director, actor, writer, producer and showrunner. She is an AACTA, Helpmann, The Deadly’s, Australian Directors Guild, AWGIE, IF, AFI, Matilda and Logie award winning and nominated artist for her outstanding work on iconic feature film, TV and theatre. Most recently, she was the 2021 Winner Asia Pacific Screen Awards Jury Grand Prize for her multifaceted role in her directorial debut, writer, producer and lead actor of the feature film, The Drover’s Wife, The Legend of Molly Johnson. In April 2022 at the QLD Gala Industry Awards Leah was the recipient of the 2022 Chauvel Award for her contribution to Australian Film, TV and the Arts, especially in the genre of Women’s and First Nations storytelling.

MODERATOR: SAM WORIPA WATSON

Leah will be introduced by local Meanjinn (Brisbane) resident, Sam Woripa Watson, Wangerriburrah and Birri Gubba activist and socialist and emerging filmmaker. Sam’s family have strong Aboriginal Activism ties in West End and it is a honour that we have his lineage introducing and yarning with Leah who holds community strong in her heart and fights for equality for Aboriginal creatives in the arts industry. Sam will yarn with Leah and facilitate the audience interactions.