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Watching together during National Reconciliation Week

Head of First Nations Engagement Pauline Clague shares a curated selection of films that explore identity, truth-telling, family and connection to Country.

Written by Pauline Clague
25 May, 2026

WARNING: this article may contain names, images or voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

National Reconciliation Week is a time to reflect on our shared histories and how this country shapes us as a collective – for some across a few generations, and for others across tens of thousands of years. It is an opportunity to look beyond difference, to strengthen the work we do together, and to consider how our identities continue to evolve as we move forward side by side.

The 2026 theme, ‘All in’, reminds us that reconciliation is collective work. It is a shared journey we walk every day of the year – not only during National Reconciliation Week. The week also includes Sorry Day, when we acknowledge the Stolen Generations and reflect on key moments that have shaped our national story – the 1997 Bringing Them Home report and its ongoing impact, the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, and the 1992 High Court decision in Mabo, which overturned the concept of terra nullius.

National Reconciliation Week also marks important milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey. It has been 30 years since the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation – highlighting a generational shift in our communities – and 25 years since the Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk for Reconciliation, a powerful moment of national unity.

Reflecting on the 2026 theme ‘All in’, the NFSA recognises the ongoing, long-term work required to deepen understanding of our history and to continue the work ahead.

While progress has been made over the past 30 years, First Nations communities are still working to close the gap, and the journey of healing continues. A vital part of this process is sharing stories and committing to learning together – to respectfully reckon with past injustices and engage with the complexities and truths of our shared history.

For National Reconciliation Week, the NFSA’s First Nations Engagement team has curated a selection of stories that reflect this journey – with something for all audiences.

For our jarjums (little children)

The Lost Tiger (2024)

Adopted and raised by a kangaroo family, Teo is drawn into a journey of discovery when questions about the past begin to surface – leading to a deeper exploration of identity while fighting to protect home.

Directed by Chantelle Murray, The Lost Tiger touches on themes of identity, connection to Country, the Stolen Generations and the impacts of mining, while also celebrating family, friendship and love. The team selected this film for its sense of imagination and its ability to hold these themes in a way that remains accessible for younger audiences.

The Lost Tiger is available to rent or buy at the Prime Video store, or stream on Binge and Foxtel.

 

For our tweens

Sweet As (2022)

A coming-of-age drama, Sweet As follows Murra, a troubled Aboriginal teenager who joins an at-risk youth photography trip through the Pilbara. Across the journey, Murra begins to build confidence, identity and a sense of belonging.

Directed by Jub Clerc, the film explores first love and the contemporary challenges young people face – particularly around identity and connection. It offers an honest coming-of-age story that does not shy away from the complexities of growing up.

Sweet As is free to stream on SBS On Demand.

Excerpt from Sweet As (Jub Clerc, 2022). Courtesy Liz Kearney.

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For our adults

Top End Wedding (2018)

Lauren and Ned’s wedding plans are thrown into chaos when Lauren’s mother unexpectedly disappears. With 10 days to go, the couple travel across the Northern Territory to locate her in a story of reconnection and finding a way home.

Top End Wedding shows how reconciliation begins with understanding, and reminds us that trust is essential to that process. With themes of identity, family and relationships, the team highlighted this film for its warmth and insight.

Top End Wedding is free to stream on ABC iview.

Excerpt from Top End Wedding (Wayne Blair, 2019). Courtesy Goalpost Pictures.

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Babakiueria (1986)

A drama presented as an ethnographic documentary, Babakiueria is a sharp satire that reimagines Australia’s colonial history. In this mockumentary, Aboriginal Australians colonise a fictional land called ‘Babakiueria’ – a play on the phrase ‘barbecue area’. Presenter Duranga Manika guides viewers through the customs of European ‘natives’, even spending time with a ‘typical’ white family.

Released two years before Australia’s bicentenary, the film uses role reversal, humour and allegory to critique the treatment of First Nations peoples and the biases of the documentary form. Its bold, thought-provoking approach continues to resonate today.

Excerpt from Babakiueria (Don Featherstone, 1986).

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Head of First Nations Engagement
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