The first ever Tasmanian Aboriginal screen production company, kutikina, has launched.
It is owned and operated by playwright-screenwriter Nathan Maynard and author-screenwriter Adam Thompson.
The name ‘kutikina’ – lower case as per the palawa kani language – represents a long history of palawa storytelling and is a symbol of accountability and truth-telling.
The new company will focus on scripted content and telling Tasmanian Aboriginal stories, and will engage in broader industry and practitioner development for an emerging First Nations screen culture in Tasmania.
Maynard, a Trawlwoolway man who has written seven plays, said the company will have its place in the evolution and history of palawa storytelling bykutikipna giving its people and storytellers access to world-class film and TV makers.
“We are a dynamic people, our culture didn’t stop with invasion and colonisation, and neither has our story. It has grown and with it has grown the evolution of our storytellers, our audiences, and the mediums and forms our storytellers use to engage these audiences,” he added.
Thompson, a panaka writer who has been nominated for the 2021 Age Book of the Year Award, the Steel Rudd Award and the Readings New Fiction Award, said kutikina Productions is a new avenue for palawa stories to go out into the world.
“We are sick of non-Aboriginal people exploiting our stories and our culture. Through our company we will create fresh, authentic and high-quality content. And we will bring our community along with us, through collaboration and by developing the technical and creative skills of individuals,” he said.
Alex Sangston, the executive manager of Screen Tasmania, said he anticipates the company will play a leading role in content production and broader Indigenous practitioner development in the state.
“Screen Tasmania is thrilled that Nathan and Adam have launched kutikina as the first palawa production company. It is vital that Tasmanian Aboriginal people have the capacity to tell their own stories, so that we can continue to contribute to the national narrative and celebrate the world’s longest living culture. Screen Tasmania looks forward to working with Adam and Nathan on “Moonbird” and other future projects across lutruwita.”
The team is currently working on a digital original project with Rummin Productions titled “Moonbird”, pictured above.
Screen Australia, NITV and SBS are co-funding the project, which will be turned into six 10-minute episodes for NITV and SBS On Demand. An earlier version of the project received funding from Screen Tasmania.