Film
Development:
Umuzimu (Spirit): This magic realist dramatic feature film follows Mariam, a single mother and a newly arrived Zambian migrant to Melbourne. She’s preparing for the arrival of her only child, Joy, when tragedy strikes and she has to learn to parent from a distance. Umuzimu (Spirit) is written and directed by Santilla Chingaipe (Our African Roots) and produced by Robert Connolly (Blueback).
Past work:
13-year-old Gulnisa has been a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s flagship community music program ‘The Pizzicato Effect’ since 2018. The program, which runs in partnership with the City of Hume, provides free string and instrumental tuition to primary and secondary students within the City of Hume council area of greater Melbourne. Since taking up the violin, Gulnisa’s confidence, communication and social skills have all improved. Now, she’s even ready to share a special performance of the Turkish song ‘Hatırla Sevgili’ with her family.
Commissioned by ABC Arts and broadcast in August 2022
Role: Writer/Director
At a time when African Australians are increasingly made to feel that they don’t belong in this country, journalist and author Santilla Chingaipe unearths Australia’s forgotten African history and reveals the central role people of African ancestry have played in events that shaped our nation - from the First Fleet to the Eureka Rebellion and beyond. Our African Roots was created, written, produced and presented by Santilla Chingaipe. The project was produced in collaboration with Chemical Media and aired on SBS in October 2021. It is currently available to stream on SBS On Demand. Our African Roots marked the first time an African-Australian historian and filmmaker questioned Australia’s colonial history. The documentary was critically acclaimed and went on to win several awards in Australia and overseas, including the prestigious MIPCOM award at Cannes in France. For teaching resources and more information, visit: ourafricanrootsfilm.com
Role: Writer/Producer/Presenter
The Dancer
“Actors, dancers, singers, comedians - performers have been among the hardest hit during the coronavirus pandemic, their work depending as it does upon a group of people amassed in a confined space. That is, on an audience. Shark Island Institute and the Documentary Australia Foundation, in collaboration withThe Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, have responded to this crisis by turning the spotlight squarely back onto performers. The result is voxdocs, a series of eight short films that explore what it's like to be a performing artist today.” This short documentary stars performing artist, Zelia Rose. It was made during the Covid-19 stage four lockdown in Melbourne in 2020 and can be viewed here.
Role: Writer/Director
Who Gets To Stay In Australia?
This landmark Australian television series, Who Gets To Stay In Australia? is a four-part documentary series by ITV Studios Australia for Australian public broadcaster, SBS, which gave cameras unprecedented access to observe the lives of 13 migrants and their families as they made the case to settle in Australia. The full series, which aired in July 2020, can be viewed via SBS On Demand.
Role: Associate Producer
Third Culture Kids
This six-part short documentary series follows six emerging Australian artists as they explore belonging and discuss themes of migration, identity and personal memory. Chloe Brugale, Kate Laurie and Robert Connolly of Arenamedia (Acute Misfortune, Balibo) produced the project. Film Victoria provided financial support for this series. Originally airing in May 2019 on the Australian public broadcaster, ABC, it is currently streaming in full on ABC iview
Role: Writer/Director
Black As Me
This short documentary explores Melbourne artist, Atong Atem's struggle growing up dark skinned in Australia. It was funded by Screen Australia and News Limited and produced by Arenamedia. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, ACMI, described it as "a confronting exploration of colourism, somehow made lovely by the skilful creative team.” The film received a theatrical release at ACMI in 2018 and has gone on to screen at the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, The St Kilda Short Film Festival and the Australian Festival of African Film. More info can be found here . You can view the film here
Role: Writer/Director
Date My Race
This landmark television documentary for SBS explored race and online dating and was produced by MatchBox Pictures in 2017. More on the show can be found here and here
Role: Presenter