STEPHEN JOHNSON

JOURNEY HOME, DAVID GULPILIL (2025)

Directed by Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas.

David Gulpilil, a Yolŋu man of the Mandhalpuyngu clan, was one of Australia's most outstanding Indigenous film actors. Since his 1971 debut in Nicholas Roeg's film 'Walkabout', he mesmerised audiences, appearing in numerous films including 'Storm Boy', 'The Tracker', 'Ten Canoes', 'My Name is Gulpilil', 'Rabbit-Proof Fence', 'Australia', 'Crocodile Dundee' and 'The Last Wave'.

'Journey Home, David Gulpilil' is the story of Gulpilil's journey home after his passing in 2021, back to his birthplace, the centrepiece of which is his Bapurru ceremony in Marwuyu near the Arafura Swamp and the remote community of Ramingining, Eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Narrated by Academy Award® nominee Hugh Jackman with Storyteller Danzal Baker AKA Baker Boy, this remarkable documentary is a rare insight into a powerful ceremony of renewal and regeneration and is told completely from the Yolŋu perspective, and that of his family.

JOURNEY HOME, DAVID GULPILIL (2025)

Directed by Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas.

David Gulpilil, a Yolŋu man of the Mandhalpuyngu clan, was one of Australia's most outstanding Indigenous film actors. Since his 1971 debut in Nicholas Roeg's film 'Walkabout', he mesmerised audiences, appearing in numerous films including 'Storm Boy', 'The Tracker', 'Ten Canoes', 'My Name is Gulpilil', 'Rabbit-Proof Fence', 'Australia', 'Crocodile Dundee' and 'The Last Wave'.

'Journey Home, David Gulpilil' is the story of Gulpilil's journey home after his passing in 2021, back to his birthplace, the centrepiece of which is his Bapurru ceremony in Marwuyu near the Arafura Swamp and the remote community of Ramingining, Eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Narrated by Academy Award® nominee Hugh Jackman with Storyteller Danzal Baker AKA Baker Boy, this remarkable documentary is a rare insight into a powerful ceremony of renewal and regeneration and is told completely from the Yolŋu perspective, and that of his family.

GUILTY (2018)

Starring Adam McConvell and Andre Ong Carlesso. Directed by Matthew Sleeth.

The final 72-hours in the life of Myuran Sukumaran, the Bali-9 convicted criminal who became an accomplished artist while in Kerobokan prison under the tutorship of artist Ben Quilty.

Myuran was executed by Indonesian firing squad on Nusakambangan Island, 29 April 2015 alongside fellow Australian Andrew Chan and six others. Dramatic and archival material takes us into the final three days of Myuran Sukumaran’s life, as he farewells his family and creates his final paintings.

HIGH GROUND (2021)

Starring Simon Baker, Callan Mulvey, Jack Thompson, Aaron Pedersen, Caren Pistorius, Ryan Corr, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Esmerelda Marimowa, Witiyana Marika and Sean Mununggurr. Directed by Stephen Johnson.

The journey of Gutjuk, a young Aboriginal man orphaned in childhood. Gutjuk is recruited by a former soldier to track down the most dangerous outlaw in the territory — his uncle.

REVIEWS High Ground - Australia's cycle of violence

PAPER PLANES (2015)

Starring Sam Worthington, David Wenham, Ex Oxenbould and Alex Williams. Directed by Robert Connolly.

Young Dylan from a small outback town, dreams of competing in the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan.

REVIEWS Paper Planes - Doesn't quite soar but aims pretty high
Paper Planes - A bumpy flight