Founded in 1993 Hot Docs is the largest documentary film festival in North America. Hot Docs screens over 250 documentaries each year of which twelve select films screen in the ‘Competition’ category . This is remarkable recognition for this powerful new film made in Alice Springs, NT.
In 2016 Director Maya Newell released her feature documentary Gayby Baby which allowed children of same sex parents to speak their stories at a time when their lives were being politicised and spoken for amid the lead up to the marriage equality plebiscite. With IN MY BLOOD IT RUNS, Maya is back, this time collaborating with Arrernte & Garrwa families and communities, to tell the story of a 10 year-old Arrente boy and who speaks with autonomy.
IN MY BLOOD IT RUNS shares the story of ten-year-old Dujuan – a child-healer and good hunter who speaks three languages. As he shares his wisdom of history and the complex world around him, we see his spark and intelligence, yet Dujuan is ‘failing’ in school and facing increasing scrutiny from welfare and the police. As he travels perilously close to incarceration, his family fight to give him a strong Arrernte education alongside the western education system, lest he becomes another statistic. We walk with him as he grapples with these pressures, shares his truths and somewhere in-between finds space to dream, imagine and hope for his future.
Shot and directed by Maya Newell in collaboration with Dujuan Hoosan, Carol Turner, Megan Hoosan, James Mawson, Margaret Anderson, Jimmy Mawson IN MY BLOOD IT RUNS is a powerful and intimate story of struggle, strength and love.
“It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to learn from Dujuan and his family over these years. I am inspired by their courage to their story. Dujuan is growing up to be a strong young man and I am thrilled that his truth telling will begin at such a prestigious international Film Festival.” – Director, Maya Newell
“I’m a bit nervous because it’s going to be my first time going overseas and on a plane. But I am really excited to share my story with the world.” – Dujuan Hoosan, 12 yrs old.
The film will screen in select Australian film festivals in 2019 and be release theatrically in 2020. In My Blood it Runs was developed through Goodpitch Australia, funded via Goodpitch, Documentary Australia Foundation, Screen Australia, Screen Territory and the South Australian Film Corporation.
CREDITS
Director: Maya Newell
With Dujuan Hoosan, Carol Turner, Megan Hoosan, James Mawson, Margaret Anderson, Jimmy Mawson.
Producers: Sophie Hyde, Rachel Naninaaq Edwardson, Larrissa Behrendt & Maya Newell
Executive Producer/Senior Traditional Owner of Alice Springs: Felicity Hayes
Advisors: Margaret Kemarre Turner, Agnes Abbott, William Tilmouth, Amelia Turner, Jane Vadiveloo
Production company: Closer Productions
Hot Docs April 25th – May 5th 2019 Toronto, Canada
https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=89988~6052eab3-8904-4c72-8914-433e6b8b62f1&epguid=2157979d-886e-46a2-ace8-e46670981e8a&
