2024 Short | Tambo

9:45pm, Friday 13th September

Screening before We Were Dangerous  

TICKETS & INFO

2023 | Travis Akbar | Australia | UC15+

A First Nations soldier returning to Australia from the unsuccessful campaign begins to question his choices, identity, and future under the scrutiny of others.

Director Statement
Tambo is the visual representation of history, perspectives and memories that Travis has read, heard and listened to from First Nations Elders and war veterans. From race-based exclusion upon returning home from war, to towns that don’t allow ‘blacks’, every moment has a meaning and is an extension of the truth. Travis was inspired by the resilience of the First Nations service people who fought for ‘Australia’ despite the country not wanting them.

Director Biography 
Travis is a Wongutha man who was raised on Wirangu country on the Western Eyre Peninsula of South Australia and is now based on Peramangk country in the Adelaide Hills.

Throughout 2019 – 2023 Travis has been mentored in screenwriting by Hollywood credited writer, Steph Lady and selected for AFTRS 2019 State Talent Camp and AFTRS 2020 National Talent Camp.

He was a finalist for Screen Australia's Writer’s Incubator while completing several other programs through companies such as Matchbox Pictures, Epic Films and Hoodlum Productions and was a finalist in the AACTA Regional Landscapes competition.

He was awarded a place in Australians in Film prestigious Untapped Initiative and was accepted into South Australia Film Corporation's prestigious Film Lab 2 program and awarded Documentary Australia’s Centralized Fellowship.

Travis also completed an SAFC supported Directors Attachment on feature film THE RED, starring Aaron Pederson and Sci-Fi Icon Michael Biehn.

Travis has produced several short documentaries, with ESKATOLOGY: BEING ME due for release in 2023.

He has written for producers in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the USA, including Victoria Hill, producer of Paul Schrader’s Oscar nominated First Reformed.