Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation, Tennant & District Times

After sold-out previews at the Croatian Film Festival in Sydney, a locally filmed documentary – Countryman – will make its cinema release with screenings that bring the film back home to where the Australian story began. 

Tennant Creek’s Joseph Williams is the co-producer and artist of the doco and he is excited to screen it in town next Wednesday at Nyinkka Nyunyu  from 5.30pm.

Locals can come and watch Countryman, a documentary which retraces his late immigrant father’s footsteps – a traveller from the urban coast embarks on a 10,000km road trip around Northern Australia. 

In remote desert country he encounters an emerging Warumungu artist whose father was also a migrant. Through their growing friendship they discover the living history of each other’s Indigenous and Mediterranean ancestry re-igniting connections along the way.  

It will be a celebration of local talent – with the Jajjikari Café Food Truck there to provide snacks, while both Countryman editor Peter Pecotić and Joseph speaking before the screening.

The film will also be screened in Alice Springs at the Araluen Arts Centre tomorrow night at 7pm. It is a ticketed event, so if you’re in Alice, just visit Araluen Arts Centre for more details.

“As a film we hope that Countryman connects communities, cultures, countries and also connects us to Country,” said Peter who directed and co-produced the film.

“We are really excited to bring this film back to the families and communities in the NT that shared their stories and to introduce this adventure to cinema audiences across Australia.”

“With the support of an impact campaign through Documentary Australia and as Associate Members of Independent Cinemas Australia we are raising funds to host community screenings around Australia and New Zealand, raise awareness of how indigenous and immigrant cultures enrich our experience as Australians and make it possible for Joseph to travel for the first time to Croatia, birthplace of our immigrant fathers.”

Joseph said Countryman was a film about travelling together and now will be there for the world to see, giving understanding and realistic approach, of bloods of heritages strong together.

Nyinkka Nyunyu Manager Kate Reithmuller is looking forward to the documentary’s local launch which will be a great celebration of its release to the Barkly community. 

Celebrate the screening of Countryman next Wednesday 16th April from 5.30pm. Food available from the delectable Jajjikari Food Truck! Watch the trailer HERE.

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 8 April 2022.