Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and safeguarding, sharing and celebrating First Nations’ living cultures.
Deadly documentary film to premiere at Adelaide Film Festival
Country Arts SA is proud to announce our film Kumarangk: Sacred Women’s Business will premiere as part of Adelaide Film Festival 2026.
The feature-length documentary unravels the historically sidelined story of the Ngarrindjeri women protestors who resisted the building of the bridge from Goolwa to Hindmarsh Island (Kumarangk) in the 1990s.
Through media frenzy, political attacks and court cases, the women remained steadfast that its construction would damage sacred sites on Kumarangk.
Written and directed by Ngarrindjeri woman Tracey Rigney and co-produced by Ngarrindjeri man and Country Arts SA First Nations Arts and Cultural Manager Josh Trevorrow alongside experienced producer Carolyn Johnson, this film has been a labour of love.
“The Kumarangk film is an incredible way to platform and immortalise the voices of the Ngarrindjeri mi:minar (women) decades on from their resistance to the building of the bridge to Hindmarsh Island,” the team said.
“This film is Ngarrindjeri directed and co-produced, maintaining authenticity of voice, cultural integrity and cultural safety.
“We have prioritised First Nations capacity-building across all elements – and where there is a skills shortage in the industry, we have paired First Nations creatives and crew with experienced heads of department to support development.”
You can watch Kumarangk: Sacred Women’s Business as part of Adelaide Film Festival 2026, held from October 14 to 25.
It will be screened at The Piccadilly in North Adelaide on October 17 and Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre in Mount Gambier on October 25.
The film will also tour regional South Australia in 2027.
To learn more about the Kumarangk project, which also includes a visual arts exhibition, theatre work and community archive, visit www.countryarts.org.au/kumarangk.
Kumarangk: Sacred Women’s Business was made possible thanks to ABC, Screen Australia, Country Arts SA, SA Film Corporation and Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund.
Image: Ngarrindjeri women Ellen Trevorrow and Sandra Saunders, photographed by Colleen Strangways.