Special Guests Thursday 14 September, The Darwin International Film Festival

Special Guests Thursday 14 September

Osamah Sami | Shayda

TICKETS & INFO Osamah Sami — The Australian Film & Television Academy

Osamah Sami is an award-winning actor, writer, and comedian, born in war-torn Iran to Iraqi parents. His critically acclaimed memoir Good Muslim Boy was the winner of the NSW Premier's Literary Award and Highly Commended at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. It was also adapted for the stage in 2018 for Malthouse Theatre Co and Queensland Theatre, selling out both seasons.

Osamah recently starred opposite Zar Amir Ebrahimi (winner Best Actress at Cannes) in Shayda (written and directed by Noora Niasari, producer Vincent Sheehan and EP'd by Cate Blanchett). Shayda was the winner of the Audience Award for Best Film following its premiere as the 2023 Opening Night film at Sundance. Shayda was also selected as the Opening Night film at Melbourne International Film Festival.

His other feature for the year, which he wrote and played the lead, the psychological drama Tennessine, was selected to have its world premiere at the 70th edition of Sydney Film Festival.

Osamah also co-wrote and starred in the hit Australian film Ali's Wedding, which was the winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at Sydney Film Festival, as well as The Age Critics Prize for Best Australian Film, and the Cinéfest Oz Prize for Best Film. His screenplay earned him an Australian Academy (AACTA) Award, an Australian Writers Guild (AWGIE) Award, and a Film Critics Circle of Australia (FCCA) Award for Best Screenplay. He also received AACTA Award, FCCA Award, and Australian Critics Choice Award nominations for Best Lead Actor. In 2016, his work in Melbourne Theatre Company's I Call My Brothers earned him a Green Room Award nomination for Best Lead Actor on a Main Stage production.

Osamah was winner of Creative Artist of the Year at the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards (2019). He is also recognized as a 'Notable Australian Muslim' by the Commonwealth of Australia.

His highly anticipated TV Series House of Gods, for which is the Co-Creator, Writer, and lead, produced by Matchbox Pictures for the ABC, is scheduled to air for late 2023.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Agent A.A.M

Derik Lynch | Dipped in Black

TICKETS & INFO

Derik Lynch is an initiated Yankunytjatjara man born in Alice Springs in1986. Derik grew up in community in Old Timers Camp in Alice Springs. He spent his childhood living between many communities in the Northern Territory and South Australia, including Umoona/Coober Pedy, Aputula/Finke, and Santa Teresa.

As a young man, Derik studied in the Northern Territory at Yirara College, where he was selected to sing as a soloist on the Qantas Spirit of Australia Album (2000). He then moved to Adelaide at 16 and joined the Wiltja program at Woodville High. He began his artistic practice in High School with Port Youth Theatre (now Kurruru), as a work experience placement. After school, Derik joined Carclew Youth Arts as workshop assistant working underneath Lee-Ann Buckskin on a Drug and Alcohol assistance arts outreach program.

Following this work, Derik studied with the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) at Adelaide University. Following his study, Derik’s first major role in a public work Of The Future (2008) took place at Tandanya Theatre in the Adelaide Fringe Festival with Kurruru as a soloist dancer. Derik then returned to Carlew Youth Arts and became a Arts Administration Trainee.

Major works Derik has been involved with as a performer and/or Cultural Advisor include Thalu (2020), Black Comedy (2018, 2015), Deadline Gallipoli (2014), Namatjira (2013), Hipbone Sticking Out (2013), Pinicchio (2012), and Nyuntu Ngali (2010).

Derik has performed around Australia and the world including at the Southbank Theatre, London, Belvoir Street Theatre (Sydney Theatre Company), and most recently at the Sydney Opera House with DANCERITES (2019). During the London run of Namatjira, Derik was also invited for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II.

Derik’s is currently living in Adelaide, South Australia and working as an Artist and Education worker.

- Format Festival

Duncan Graham | Dipped in Black

TICKETS & INFO

Film & Television | Switch Productions

I am a playwright, screenwriter, director and producer with over 20 years experience working across theatre, film and television. I am also a copywriter and medical writer. I have written, directed and produced works for theatre independent and major companies across Australia including: Belvoir, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of SA, Griffin Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company and Queensland Theatre. My work has won and been shortlisted for many awards: The NSW Premier's Award, Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature and Sydney Film Festival. I have written articles that appear in a range of publications about culture, theatre and rock climbing. I also works as a copywriter with experience writing across film and TV, advertising, website design, medicine and health. I am also a director of a new company, SWITCH, set up to produce new independent cinema. Our first film, Dipped In Black will open at the Adelaide Film Festival in October, 2022.

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