Screen Queensland (SQ) is
delighted to welcome Dean Gibson to the Board of Directors.
Dean Gibson is an Aboriginal
filmmaker with over 10 years’ experience in creating, writing, directing,
editing and producing content. His work
has screened on ABC3, ABC1, SBS and NITV and includes children’s television,
documentary and drama.
SQ Chair Linda Lavarch said that
Gibson’s expertise and passion for local industry made him an ideal addition to
the board.
“Dean is a strong advocate for
screen in Queensland, and a consummate professional in our industry,” said
Lavarch.
“On behalf of the board, I look
forward to working alongside Dean and am confident that we will greatly benefit
from his experience and perspective.”
Gibson’s onscreen highlights in
the children’s television space include directing a Sesame Street film Five Kangaroos, featuring Jessica
Mauboy, which has screened to audiences all over the world. He also created and
co-directed the TV series Handball Heroes,
which screened on ABC3.
In the documentary space, Gibson
recently was the writer and director of Wik vs Queensland that world
premiered at the 2018 Sydney International Film Festival. The documentary has since gone onto win the 2018 ATOM Award for Best
History Documentary & Best Long Documentary at the 2018 First Nations Media
Awards in Alice Springs.
He co-directed the 50-minute
feature documentary A War of Hope,
which screened on NITV on ANZAC Day this year. He also created and directed the
50-minute ABC documentary, From the Ashes,
following the Australian Indigenous cricket team as they toured the UK and
discovered the history of Aboriginal cricket in Australia.
In 2014 in collaboration with
Screen Queensland and Screen Australia, Gibson also designed and oversaw a
program for emerging Indigenous filmmakers, called The Production Line, as part of his passion for helping others;
particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals to gain
opportunities in the industry.
Gibson’s own full-service production
company, Bacon Factory Films established in 2013, sees
him traveling the world to create films, helping to tell the story of
Indigenous peoples – past, present and future.
“It’s great to see local production
currently looking strong with so many different types of production formats and
genres coming out of Queensland,” said Gibson.
“Our local talent production pool of
professionals and small production businesses are leading the way across the
Australia.
“I look forward to continuing to be a voice
for local content creation, emerging professionals and small production
businesses to the Board of Screen Queensland.”
Gibson also spoke further about his passion
for diversity and inclusivity in the screen industry.
“Queensland is full of diverse stories to
share, covering our remote, regional and urban footprint,” said Gibson.
“I specifically look forward to making
sure our first nations stories have their pride and place in Screen
Queensland’s production slate and investment in the future.”
