There were once very few Indigenous Australians in lead roles on television and in cinema.
That changed with the establishment of the Indigenous Department at Screen Australia, 25 years ago.
A quarter of a century on, Aboriginal writer, director and actor Wayne Blair tells SBS News: “We've still got a long way to go, but for Indigenous storytellers to be telling their own stories is paramount.”
Clockwise: Sweet Country, Little J & Big Cuz, Mystery Road, Black Divaz. Source: Screen Australia
Blair is highly acclaimed in the Indigenous screen space. He has worked across TV series Cleverman, Redfern Now and Love Child, as well as the award-winning short film The Djarn Djarns and hit feature films Samson and Delilah, and The Sapphires, starring Jessica Mauboy.
He says the formation of the Indigenous department led him to achieve such success.
Set up in 1993 after consultation between the Australian Film Commission and the Indigenous community, the department prides itself on putting Indigenous people in control of telling their own stories.
"Redfern Now was a game changer,” the department’s head Penny Smallacombe told SBS News.
“That helped bring all through these exciting new actors and exceptional new talent.”
Wayne Blair starrs in season two of ABC drama Redfern Now. Source: Supplied
To date, the department has provided over $35m in funding for development, production and talent escalation, provided 160 titles with production support, and inspired the Canada Media Fund to create their own Indigenous Film Fund.
Ms Smallacombe said the 25th anniversary fills her with pride: "[It] has been a tremendous part of the professional development of so many wonderful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers."
"Now we are three per cent of the population, and we are five per cent on-screen talent which is significant and amazing."
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Actor Hunter Page-Lochard, who is of Aboriginal and American descent, was born in 1993, the same year the department was established. He began acting when he was only five.
His career has flourished through projects funded by the department, with roles in Cleverman and Wentworth, another Australian TV series, and 2015 feature film Spear.
Wayne Blair and Hunter Page-Lochard. Source: Supplied
"I'm always impatient and hungry for what's next," he said.
"If we've come this far in 25 years, then I would love to see what the next five years holds for us."
Hunter Page-Lochard in Spear. Source: Supplied
Page-Lochard told SBS News he wants to see an Indigenous Australian actor make it big in Hollywood.
"It hasn't been done yet, but it could be any one of us," he said.
"It will be stupid if none of us had that goal in our heads because it would be putting our culture on the map.
"A culture that's lived this long needs to be shown to the world."
The anniversary will be formally recognised at a function in Sydney later this month, with guests attending from around Australia.
