18th National Remote Indigenous Media Festival
Yirrkala, NT | 26 - 30 September 2016

The 18th National Remote Indigenous Media Festival will be held 26-30 September in the community of Yirrkala. Hosted by the Indigenous Remote Communications Association (IRCA) in partnership with Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA), the Festival will see over 180 remote media workers and industry guests from across Australia gather on Yolngu Country for an action packed program.

This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media event will feature industry forums, award presentations and skills workshops led by inspiring trainers from across the industry. It provides a platform for remote media workers, organisations and stakeholders to network, learn, celebrate achievements and build the capacity of the remote Indigenous media industry. IRCA is currently transitioning to become the national peak body representing the remote, regional and urban broadcasting, media and communications industry, and the festival will also involve consultation and progress updates on these changes.

IRCA Chairperson John ‘Tadam’ Lockyer said: “The Festival is an important meeting place for Indigenous media workers from across remote Australia, where we share knowledge and ideas, develop new skills, showcase our work, and celebrate our culture and achievements. It’s very special to be in Yolngu country this year at Yirrkala, the home of land rights, during the 50th anniversary of land rights in Australia”.

Delegates will be welcomed to saltwater Country by Yirrkala traditional owners and community leaders with an opening Bunggul (ceremony) featuring songmen and dancers from across the Arnhem Land region. Top End bands and musicians will be featured throughout the week, including East Journey, Shelley Morris, Chooky Dancers, Rirratjingu dancers, Bara band and Yothu Yindi. This year’s Festival is themed ‘Our Stories from the Home of Land Rights’, acknowledging the Yirrkala bark petitions in 1963 that led to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act in 1976. This recognises the importance of Country and Culture to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media sector.

ABC Sports Broadcaster and Indigenous Leader, Charlie King, and CEO of the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, Kirstie Parker, will provide keynote addresses to the delegates. Skills workshops for this year include digital archiving, virtual reality film, radio news, music recording, mobile device video production, radio sports commentary and iPad animation. The evenings include an outdoor cinema and the closing night will conclude in a celebration of cultural performance and music with the local community.

IRCA acknowledges the significant support and contribution from the Yirrkala community, local organisations and our community partners; Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation, East Arnhem Regional Council, Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre and Mulka Project, Indigenous Community Television and Aboriginal Resource and Development Service (ARDS), as well as our as our funding partners and sponsors; the Australian Government, Northern Territory Government, Community Broadcasting Foundation, NITV and AFTRS.

Tune in to the live broadcast of the Festival throughout the week over TEABBA’s radio network 105.3FM and on other regional radio networks across the country. Follow the highlights on the IRCA Festival Event page on Facebook and on Twitter #rimf.