Sun 16 July | 16:00 | Pálás Screen 2

1972 | Australia | 72’ | Documentary

On January 26th, 1972 Australian Prime Minister William McMahon declared that, under his government, land rights would never be granted to Aborigines. Later that night four young men stuck a beach umbrella into the ground outside parliament house and sat under it. They called it the Aboriginal tent embassy.

That single action set off a chain of events which reverberated around the world. It marked the beginning of a new and more radical chapter in the struggle for justice as a young angry generation of black Australians established that they weren’t going to wait any longer. Watched by the intelligence services, harassed by the police, the embassy was the beginning of a movement that lead to the establishment of the Aboriginal Legal and Medical services, the National Black Theatre and a tide of support from across Australia which led to the grant of native title land rights.

NINGLA-ANA is the only film shot from within the embassy and close to the people who created it. This hard-hitting film tells the story from inside the fight for justice. It is a unique social document now restored through the generous support and goodwill of people via a crowdfunding project.

European Premiere

Director/Producer: Alessandro Cavadini
Cast: Gary Foley, Bob Maza, Roberta Sykes, Paul Coe