The Bowraville Murders New Farm Cinema

the screening

Keep up to date with this screening of The Bowraville Murders.

Q&A will be hosted by Maxine Williamson.

Maxine Williamson has worked in the local and international film industries for 26 years. A specialist in AP cinema, Maxine was influential as Associate Producer in establishing at ground level (2007), the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA, 70-country pan-regional film awards), rising to Film Director (2009 – 2017), finishing after its 10th edition. Director of the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival (2014-2016) and Co-Director of the 23rd Brisbane International Film Festival, 2018. Associate Producer, documentary series Scene by Scene: Films and Filmmakers of Asia Pacific broadcast globally on CNN International for four years. Asia Pacific Consultant for Turkey’s Antalya Film Forum for five years. Board Member of Turkey’s, Sabanci Foundation Short Film Competition; Advisory Board member, Crime and Punishment International Film Festival, Istanbul and Ambassador, Mongolian Film Academy. Worked in quality, arthouse exhibition/distribution sector for 10-years (1996-2007), rising to General Manager, Dendy Cinemas, Brisbane. Mid-career transitioned to international co-productions with a five-feature slate (India, Turkey, Afghanistan, Italy) With the support of Screen Qld, an feature Indian documentary is in post-production. Has been a Jury member on many international juries and delivered numerous Masterclasses at international festivals. A member of NETPAC – Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema, APN – Asia Producer’s Network and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy.

The Bowraville Murders investigates one of Australia’s worst unsolved murder cases that has been marred by systemic racism – the 1990-91 serial killings of three Aboriginal children, all from the same street in a rural town in NSW, all killed within five months of each other and all of their remains found off the same dirt track. There has always been only one suspect, a white man who was acquitted of two of the murders after a racially biased police investigation and who maintains his innocence to this day. For 30 years, the victims’ families have fought a courageous battle for justice that is now being passed to the next generation. Over three years, the filmmakers followed the families’ emotional journey through the courts along with the dogged cop who reinvestigated the murders and an activist MP who led a Parliamentary inquiry. As a result of their fight, Bowraville has become a rallying cry for Indigenous people everywhere who demand equal treatment under the law – an open wound haunting Australia until justice is done.