Coming off the back of its World Premiere announcement at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the Adelaide Film Festival (ADLFF) has announced that Australians will get their first look at EMU RUNNER when it makes its local debut on 14 October 2018.
EMU RUNNER tells the story of nine-year-old Indigenous girl, Gem Daniels (newcomer Rhae-Kye Waites), who lives in a remote Australian town. As she copes with her mother’s unexpected death, Gem finds solace in the company of a wild emu, unwittingly connecting her with her mother’s traditional totem animal.
The film marks the feature debut of director Imogen Thomas, who also wrote the film in consultation with Aboriginal Ngemba woman Frayne Barker, who is from Brewarrina, NSW – where the film is set and shot. Thomas and Barker had previously collaborated on the award-winning short film Mixed Bag (2008).
EMU RUNNER also stars actor/director Wayne Blair, Maurial Spearim, Georgia Blizzard, Rob Carton (Chandon Pictures) and introduces a stunning cast of newcomers in Mary Waites, Letisha Boney, Lindsay Waites, Rodney McHughesand Stella Carter.
ADLFF has previously announced that Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai will open the festival, coming straight from TIFF to our South Australian shores.
