We acknowledge Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF are based.
We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Ten Canoes

Directed by Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr
2006
Australia
92 minutes
M
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The first Australian feature filmed entirely in Indigenous languages, this modern classic by Rolf de Heer and Peter Djiggir (SFF Opening Night 2006) is a fable-like tale set in Arnhem Land long ago.

The legendary David Gulpilil narrates this unique mix of docudrama and mythmaking, telling the film’s story-within-a-story with great charisma and humour. Gulpilil was also the driving force behind the production, inviting de Heer to the far north to collaborate with Yolngu creatives and actors. Gulpilil’s son Jamie stars in a dual role: as Dayindi, a young man learning how to make bark canoes and hunt geese in the wetlands; and as Yeeralparil, the subject of an old parable of jealousy and its consequences. Wonderful performances bring out the playfulness – rarely have myths been this funny – while the hypnotic cinematography, alternating between striking black-and-white and lush colour, creates a sense of oral history coming to life.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

Special Guests

Peter Djigirr
Director
Peter Djiggir is a Djinba artist and filmmaker from the Arafura Swamp in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. He has produced and appeared in Rolf De Heer’s AACTA-nominated drama Charlie’s Country, which also won the Audience Award for Most Popular Feature at Adelaide Film Festival.
Rolf de Heer
Director, Screenwriter
Rolf De Heer is a Dutch-Australian filmmaker based in Tasmania. An AFTRS alumnus, De Heer’s career highlights include Grand Special Jury Prize (Venice) winner Bad Boy Bubby, the Cannes-selected Charlie’s Country, and The Survival of Kindness, shortlisted at the Berlinale Competition. He continues to produce films under his label Vertigo Productions.

Tickets

Sat 8 Jun
10:15am
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Past Event Cancel
Program Strand
Classics Restored
Year
2006
Classification
M
Country
Australia
Language
In English and Yolŋu Matha with English subtitles
Director
Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr
Producer
Rolf de Heer, Julie Ryan
Cast
David Gulpilil, Jamie Gulpilil, Crusoe Kurddal
Screenwriter
Rolf de Heer
Cinematographer
Ian Jones
Editor
Tania Nehme
Genre
Australian Films, First Nations, Festival Award Winners, Cinephile
Company Credits
Australian Distributor: Umbrella Entertainment
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