Opera House tribute to David Gulpilil

The Sydney Opera House last night paid tribute to the late David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM with a special projection, created by AACTA on the eastern Bennelong sails.

Yesterday marked 50 years since his screen debut in Walkabout. The film was one of the first times an Aboriginal person was seen in a leading role that wasn’t derogatory or degrading, and it marked an end to non-Aboriginal actors playing Indigenous roles – which they had often done in black face.

At the 2021 AACTA Awards last week, Gulpilil was honoured with the Longford Lyell Award for his outstanding contributions to Australian cinema. The Eastern Bennelong Sails projection was first shown during the AACTA Awards.