Airdate: Who We Are

Foxtel will mark NAIDOC Week in July with a one-hour documentary Who We Are, celebrating indigenous artists, community and culture.

It profiles musicians Dan Sultan, The Medics and Buddy Knox, choreographer Gina Rings, composer David Page, visual artists Kamahi Djordon King and Rhoda Roberts.

Foxtel was a signatory to the Media Reconciliation Industry Network Group (RING) in 2008 and supports the National Indigenous Television (NITV) on its platform. It also sponsors The Dreaming Festival. A full version of Foxtel’s RAP can be viewed at www.reconciliation.org.au, or at www.foxtel.com.au/community.

A musician from Melbourne and a proud Indigenous Australian, Who We Are sees Dan Sultan exploring his roots; going beyond the music that has propelled him to fame to reveal a man compelled to share his stories through song – a passion he has never questioned.

The Medics are the next generation of Australian musicians making their mark with a unique blend of melodic rock music. Since taking out the major prize at the Time Out Battle of The Bands in March 2009, The Medics have gone on to feature as Triple J Unearthed Artists Of The Week, championed by Rhoda Roberts as “the future of Australian music”.

Bluesman Buddy Knox has centered his world around music, picking up his first guitar at just ten years old. After many years of touring the world, Buddy acted on a dream of his own and in 2006 formed the Buddy Knox Blues Band alongside his son and nephews, sharing their unique passion for blues with lovers of all music from all generations.

When Australian choreographer Gina Rings connected with Korean contemporary Soo Yeun You to develop the dance theatre production Reliquary, they unearthed boundless commonalities between traditional indigenous and Korean cultures.

Following in a long line of traditional artists, Kamahi Djordon King uses brushstrokes to share the stories of his heritage and his present; and then, in an abrupt about-face, turns the tables on traditional art with his outrageous onstage character ‘Constantina Bush’.

David Page is Bangarra Dance Theatre’s celebrated music composer; a former child star whose youthful turn on the stage sparked a love for music and performance that define him today.

Rhoda Roberts was born to share stories. As an artistic director, journalist and speaker, her reach has spanned the corners of the world. Now, Roberts nurtures our Indigenous artistic community and empowers them to share their own stories.

Who We Are documents each person’s unique, inspiring and deeply personal journeys. Following the documentary’s premiere screening on Bio., Foxtel’s channel partners will additionally broadcast the portraits throughout 2010, while the series website, www.whoweare.com.au will host the material as a wider resource for schools and communities.

The Who We Are series celebrates who we are, right here, right now and represents a very special time for Foxtel as the series premieres alongside a wealth of Indigenous programming this NAIDOC Week and beyond.

It airs on Bio., Monday, July 5 at 8.30pm,