Journey Home, David Gulpilil. Photo by Allan Collins.

The NT premiere of the powerful new documentary, Journey Home, David Gulpilil will open the Darwin International Film Festival (DIFF) on Thursday 11 September with filmmakers, family and special guests in attendance at Darwin’s spectacular Deckchair Cinema to celebrate an extraordinary homecoming.

The 11-day Darwin International Film Festival is presented by the Darwin Film Society, NT Government Community Benefit Fund, NT Major Events and Screen Territory. DIFF gratefully acknowledges the support of its Major Government Partner, Screen Australia, alongside City of Palmerston and Randazzo Properties.

The late David Gulpilil AM loved to share his culture and wanted the world to see his funeral, his Bäpurru. In recognition of this, David’s family invited a film crew to record the intimate yet profound ceremony that laid David’s spirit to rest on his Homeland, bearing witness to Yolŋu cultural practices that stretch back tens of thousands of years.

Narrated by Hugh Jackman with cultural storytelling by Danzal Baker aka ‘Baker Boy’, the film is by turns deeply moving, funny, action-packed and culturally rich, offering unique insight into a side of David Gulpilil’s life that was rarely in the spotlight.

In continuance of David’s legacy, representatives from the next generation of Indigenous actors, dancers, singers, artists and teachers join David Gulpilil’s family and the film team to share stories of his impact on them as part of the evening’s events.

Directed by Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas, the film is produced by Rachel Clements, eldest son Jida Gulpilil and eldest grandson Lloyd Garrawurra, alongside Trisha Morton-Thomas and Maggie Miles who will all be at the screening.  Other special guests in attendance are eldest niece Joyce Malakuya Malibirr, Peter Murrkiltja Guyula, Alfred Yangipuy Wanambi and Witiyana Marika – all Executive Producers and intimately involved with the film’s production.

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Journey Home, David Gulpilil is a Savage Films & Brindle Films production with principal investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen Territory, VicScreen, Madman Entertainment & National Indigenous Television, and with the support of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA).

The full 2025 DIFF Program will be unveiled at a special launch event on Thursday 31 July, followed by the NT Premiere screening of the breakthrough hit of this year’s Sundance Film Festival DJ Ahmet.

During the program launch DIFF Festival Manager Erin Lucas is set to reveal the special guests, feature films, documentaries, shorts and special events spread across the 11 days, five venues and 35 sessions of the festival.

Screen Territory Director Jennie Hughes will outline some of the industry heavyweights converging in Darwin for the Territory’s premier screen industry networking event, the NT Screen Summit, to take place on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 September.

The 2025 NT Screen Summit celebrates an incredible year in NT screen production including DIFF’s 2025 opening night gala, Journey Home, David Gulpilil, with a session dedicated to the incredible logistical challenges of bringing this unique story to the screen, with cultural authenticity and authority.

Darwin International Film Festival runs 11-21 September 2025. Details here. https://www.diff.net.au 

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