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Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) is an Australian docu-fiction film, voiced entirely in Yankunytjatjara, an Aboriginal Australian language that is the first language of South Australian artist and performer Derik Lynch.
| Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Yankunytjatjara | Marungka tjalatjunu |
| Directed by | Matthew Thorne Derik Lynch |
| Written by | Matthew Thorne Derik Lynch |
| Produced by | Matthew Thorne |
| Starring | Derik Lynch |
| Cinematography | Andrew Gough |
| Edited by | Nicola Powell |
| Music by | Jed Silver and Derik Lynch |
Production company | Other Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 23 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Languages | English Yankunytjatjara |
The film centres on Lynch, a queer Yankunytjatjara theatre artist, as he returns to his hometown of Aputula in the Northern Territory to perform an inma.[1]
Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) is co-written and co-directed by Matthew Thorne and artist and performer Derik Lynch.[2] It was co-produced by Patrick Graham of Switch Productions and Thorne, of Other Pictures.[3]
It was partly funded by the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund[1] and the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC).[3][4]
A series of photos taken during filming by Thorne was published online.[5]
The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival at the opening night gala on 19 October 2022.[1]
It was then screened at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2023,[6]
It was screened at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2023, and opened the Darwin Film Festival. Internationally, it also screened at International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Doc NYC, and AFI Fest,[7] and in total was officially selected for over 40 international film festivals.[8]
A special screening was held by the SAFC at the Piccadilly Cinema in North Adelaide in May 2024, at its inaugural Screen Circle event. A Q&A was held afterwards with Lynch and composer Jed Silver, hosted by playwright Verity Laughton. The event is attended by a group of influential screen sector advocates who have promised to support the SAFC in its efforts to develop and expand the film industry in the state. The guests included politicians Kyam Maher, Sarah Hanson-Young, Tammy Franks, as well as filmmakers and industry executives and administrators such as Kate Croser, Kirsty Stark, and Peter Hanlon.[8]
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Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) won the Silver Bear for Best Short Film[9] and the Teddy Award for best LGBTQ-themed short film at the Berlinale[10] It was the first film to ever have won both awards.[8]
It also won the Documentary Australia Award at the 2023 Sydney Film Festival,[2] and Best Short Documentary at 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival.[3]
In March 2024 it was announced as the winner of the annual SDIN Award, at the 22nd Annual SPA Awards. This award is a joint initiative between the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network and Screen Producers Australia.[3]
Other awards include Best Short Documentary at the 2024 Australian International Documentary Conference and the 2023 Ruby Award for Outstanding Regional Event or Project, with its total wins numbering around 12.[8]
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