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Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra

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Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra
GenreDocumentary
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
ProducerIvan O'Mahoney
Production locationAustralia
Cinematography
  • Andy Taylor
  • Aaron Smith
  • Tyson Perkins
Editors
  • Nick Meyers
  • Karen Johnson
Production companyIn Films
Original release
Release2020 (2020)

Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra is a 2020 Australian documentary film directed by Wayne Blair and Nel Minchin. It tells the story of the three Page brothers' - Stephen, David and Russell - and their role in the development of Bangarra Dance Theatre.[1]

Firestarter was produced by In Films and premiered on 11 October 2020 at the Brisbane International Film Festival. It received critical and audience acclaim and won the AACTA Best Documentary Award (2021), the Rose d'Or Award for Best Arts Program (2021), the Most Outstanding Documentary Logie Award (2022) and the Walkley Documentary Award (2021).[2]

Production

The film charts the birth of Bangarra Dance Theatre, from its early beginnings in the late 1980's through the politically tumultuous '90's and into the new millennium as it became one of Australia's most revered cultural institutions. The film features archival material and interviews with co-founders Carole Johnson, Cheryl Stone and former dancers and creatives.[3]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival [4] on 11 October 2020 and was the closing night film. It was the opening night film at the Sydney Film Festival (2020),[5] Byron Bay International Film Festival (2020),[6] Revelation Perth International Film Festival (2020) [7] and Birrarangga Film Festival (2021).[8]

It won the Special Jury Commendation Prize at the Port Townsend Film Festival (2021), the Documentary Award and Inaugural Change Award at the Adelaide International Film Festival (2021) and Best Documentary Award at the Pan African Film + Arts Festival (2021).[9]

The film premiered on ABC Television on 6 July 2021.[10]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra has an audience score of 100%.[11]

Guardian critic Luke Buckmaster gave the film five stars, saying 'What an experience. What a joy. I've watched it twice, and on both occasions emerged deeply moved.'[12]

The Sydney Morning Herald said 'That's a lot to pack into 90 minutes, a challenge which writer-directors Nel Minchin and Wayne Blair fluidly accomplish while fashioning a compelling, sometimes joyful and sometimes heart-breaking tale of resilience and fragility.'[13]

Accolades

Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
AACTA Awards 2020 Best Documentary Firestarter Won [14]
AACTA Awards 2020 Best Editing in a Documentary Nick Myers, Karen Johnson Nominated [15]
AACTA Awards 2020 Best Sound in a Documentary Angus Robertson, Tara Webb, Leah Katz, Nick Meyers Nominated [14]
Rose d'Or Awards 2021 Best Arts Program Firestarter Won [16]
Walkley Awards 2021 Documentary Award Firestarter Won [17]
Logie Awards 2022 Most Outstanding Documentary Wayne Blair,

Nel Minchin

Won
Australian Directors Guild Awards 2021 Best Direction in a Documentary Wayne Blair,

Nel Minchin

Won
Screen Producers Australia Awards 2021 Feature Documentary Award Firestarter Nominated
Adelaide Film Festival 2021 Documentary Award Firestarter Won
Adelaide Film Festival 2021 Inaugural Change Award Firestarter Won
AIDC Awards 2021 Best Feature Documentary Firestarter Nominated
Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards 2021 Best Sound in a Documentary Angus Robertson, Tara Webb, Leah Katz, Nick Meyers Nominated
Australian Screen Writers Guild Awards 2021 Best Documentary Wayne Blair,

Nel Minchin

Nominated
TBI Content Innovation Award 2021 Best Representation on Screen Firestarter Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra on ABC". Bangarra. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  2. ^ https://www.walkleys.com/awards/walkleys/the-walkley-documentary-award/
  3. ^ https://www.bangarra.com.au/news/firestarter-wins-walkley-documentary-award/
  4. ^ https://concreteplayground.com/brisbane/arts-entertainment/brisbane-international-film-festival-has-just-revealed-its-full-2020-lineup
  5. ^ https://2021.sydneyfestival.org.au/events/firestarter-the-story-of-bangarra
  6. ^ https://www.bbff.com.au/firestarter-1
  7. ^ https://www.outinperth.com/firestarter-charts-the-success-and-tragedies-of-bangarra-dance-theatre/
  8. ^ https://www.birrarangga.world/
  9. ^ https://www.filmandtvnow.com/pan-african-film-festival-2021-review-firestarter/
  10. ^ Ward, Sarah (5 July 2021). "The ABC Is Screening (and Streaming) Two of the Best Australian Docos of 2021 for NAIDOC Week". Concrete Playground. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  12. ^ Buckmaster, Luke (17 February 2021). "Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra review – an engrossing celebration of artistic creation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  13. ^ Enker, Debi (30 June 2021). "'Compelling, joyful, heartbreaking': the story of the three brothers behind Bangarra". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Winners & Nominees". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Winners & Nominees".
  16. ^ "Winners of 60th Rose d'Or awards announced – Rose d'Or Awards". Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  17. ^ "The Walkley Documentary Award". The Walkley Foundation. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
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