ABC TV arts documentary Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra has won a prestigious international prize for its portrayal of Australia’s leading First Nations dance company.
Firestarter, which is available to watch on ABC iview, was named best arts program at the Rose d’Or Awards, which honour excellence and achievement in international television and audio programs.
The documentary, produced by In Films and directed by Nel Minchin and Wayne Blair, and distributed internationally by ABC Commercial and theatrically by Icon Film Distribution, tells the story of how three young Aboriginal brothers – Stephen, David, and Russell Page – turned a new dance group into a First Nations cultural powerhouse. The program also won the 2020 AACTA Award for Best Documentary.
Jennifer Collins, ABC head of factual & culture, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in Firestarter at In Films and the ABC, particularly commissioning editor Kalita Corrigan, and our funding partners, for such an important story about First Nations culture and creativity.
“The ABC is the place that Australians come to for the best arts content and coverage and we are proud to share this remarkable documentary about the power of art as a force for inspiration, healing and resilience.”
See More: Jennifer Collins on how the ABC has put a twist on its content in 2022
The ABC received four nominations for the 60th annual Rose d’Ors, including Australia Talks for the Best Studio Entertainment Award and Love on the Spectrum and You Can’t Ask That, which were both nominated for the Best Reality and Factual Entertainment Award.
This year’s award for Firestarter continues a stellar run for the ABC at the Rose d’Ors, including wins in 2020 for ABC Children’s First Day and vertical-viewing drama Content.
The Full List of Rose d’Ors Nominees and Winners (winners in bold):
Drama
Bridgerton
Mare of Easttown
It’s A Sin
Help
Time by Jimmy McGovern
Squid Game
Comedy
Famalam
Motherland
Bo Burnham: Inside
Journey (Vegferd)
The New Black 2
Staged
Comedy Drama & Sitcom
The Chair
I Hate Suzie
JERK Series 2
Call My Agent
Love & Anarchy
We Are Lady Parts
Reality and Factual Entertainment
The Rap Game UK
Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace
Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back
Love On The Spectrum
Married at First Sight
You Can’t Ask That
Arts
Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra
My Rembrandt
The Dying Swans Project
Song Exploder
Masterpiece
The Carnival of the Animals – The Story of a Score
Studio Entertainment
Taskmaster
America’s Got Talent
Australia Talks
A League of Their Own
Strictly Come Dancing
The Masked Singer UK
Children and Youth
Like Me
Horrible Histories Black History Special
Talking Heads
Tekens van leven (Scars for life)
Our School
World’s Worst Diseases
Soap or Telenovela
Lisa
District 31
Our Love Songs
Star Hill
Two Lives
Casualty
Documentary
Strong Female Lead
Dying to Divorce
Schwarzer Adler
9/11: Inside the President’s War Room
The Reason I Jump
Surviving 9/11
News and Current Affairs
India’s Rape Scandal
Panorama: The Missing Princess
Myanmar Coup: Digital Resistance
The Return: Life After ISIS
Storming the Capitol: The Inside Story
Taliban – the Police, the Thief and the Runaway Wife
Multiplatform Series
Birchpunk
About Saturday
Heat
InterConnected: Fred Gets Feedback
Payday
It Takes Guts