Bourke filmmaker takes over reins of Indigenous film festival in Paris

Allan Clarke, a filmmaker and former journalist from Bourke, NSW, has been appointed as the artistic director of the Festival du Cinéma Aborigène Australien, the only Australian First Nations film festival in Europe. The festival will take place from December 4-6 at the Cinémas l’Arlequin et Reflet Médicis in Paris. Growing up in Bourke, Clarke was troubled by the negative stereotypes of Indigenous people in media.

Now living in Paris, he aims to challenge and subvert these tropes as the artistic director of Europe's only Australian First Nations film festival.

The 11th annual festival, themed "Kinetic — Tradition in Motion: Cinema in Revolt", will showcase films from acclaimed First Nations filmmakers such as Warwick Thornton, Wayne Blair, and Danielle MacLean. The festival, founded by Greta Morton-Elangué, is unique in France and Europe, as there was no existing platform to showcase First Nations cinema internationally.

Clarke, who has directed documentaries like "The Dark Emu Story" and "The Bowraville Murders", will bring a fresh perspective to the festival. He wants to highlight filmmakers who challenge the status quo and subvert genres to tell authentic Indigenous stories. He also hopes to expand the European perception of First Nations Australians, showing that they are modern and making significant contributions to the international cultural landscape.

Screen Australia's head of First Nations content, Gillian Moody-Ardler, emphasizes the importance of sharing Indigenous stories to a broader audience. Clarke, known for his empathetic and hard-hitting films, is seen as a good fit for the role. This is the first year Morton-Elangué will not be in charge of programming the Parisian film festival, signaling a new era for the festival under Clarke's leadership.