Experiencing Interruptions?

Allira

A famous Aboriginal actress must make a decision. Leave her unfaithful husband or stay with him and maintain their rare position as positive representatives of Aboriginal people in the mainstream media.

  • Tyeli Hannah
    Director
    The Melburnian Reclamation
  • Tyeli Hannah
    Writer
    The Melburnian Reclamation
  • Trevor Bryan Cotton
    Producer
  • Kiara Rule
    Key Cast
    "Allira Willow"
  • Joshua Doble
    Key Cast
    "Jason Willow"
  • Rachael Maza
    Key Cast
    "Aunty Tracy"
  • Maurial Spearim
    Key Cast
    "Cousin Leena"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 16, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The Victorian College of the Arts
  • CinefestOZ Film Festival
    Busselton
    Australia
    August 29, 2023
    World
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Tyeli Hannah

Born and raised on Boonwurrung country, Tyeli Hannah is an Aboriginal Australian filmmaker. He has recently graduated from a Master of Film & Television at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), where he also works as a screenwriting teacher. With a background in graphic design, painting and creative writing, he uses his previously acquired skill-sets in his work as a writer-director.

The long road to becoming a filmmaker has given him a wealth of experience on how to tackle the complex project that is making a film. Most importantly for Tyeli, filmmaking has made good use of a lifetime of daydreaming he has lived.

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Director Statement

As our city of Melbourne endured the longest COVID lockdown in the world, we managed to find a small window of time in which we were allowed to film. With a meagre student budget and COVID restrictions weighing us down, the cast and crew of 'Allira' managed to create a film that punches above its weight.

'Allira' explores the idea of being a representative of your minority group and the dilemmas it can bring. This particular issue stems from the realisation I had as a child. The idea that, whether I like it or not, as an Aboriginal person, I am a representative of my people. If I screw up and get into trouble, that doesn’t just reflect on me, it reflects on all Aboriginal people, in the minds of those who see me.

'Allira' explores this idea in a heightened scenario. Representing your people is a beautiful honour, but it can also be an unbearable burden. In an extreme case, it can even dictate your life decisions.

This is an issue that affects millions of people across the globe, but no-one ever talks about it. I have personally spent much of my life trying to be a good representative for my people. Now, through film, I can articulate the pressure that comes with that honour.

The script for 'Allira' won the University of Melbourne Scriptwriting Award and after all the COVID delays, we are excited to finally show it to the world.