Language Group: Kamilaroi

Kara Rose is a 17 year old Indigenous filmmaker based in Sydney, Australia. She is inspired by the stories of her people and communities.
Kara Rose was only 8 years old when she became involved in the film industry. "I grew up on film sets because my mum is also a filmmaker," Kara said. "So, I always got little acting parts in her films, which was fun." Kara edited her first award winning short film when she was just 11 years old.

Motivated by a strong sense of social justice, Kara's latest film 'Eight Minutes Forty Six Seconds' has scored two important awards, which were The First Nations Award and The Best Female Creative (WIFT), in the latest SF3 Film Festival. The film has been included in a social justice series on SBS/NITV. It is also being used to educate law students at the Australian National University (ANU) and was shown throughout the NSW justice department. Kara wants her film to promote awareness and action.

The now 17-year-old NIDA and AFTRS student is an all-rounder, having acted in, directed and edited films, she already has 12 film credits to her name. All of her films have been shot on her iphone, it has given her an opportunity to not only shoot her own films on a budget but to make films that can win awards and have an impact on society. The issues that she has covered have been; racism, discrimination, gender equality, environmental issues, Aboriginal deaths in custody and the importance of inclusion.

With a strong sense of social justice, Ms Rose believes making films is the best way to put out one’s voice. “It is very important for me as a young Indigenous woman, to tell the stories of my own people and spread a message through my films,” Ms Rose is currently working on a documentary regarding the importance of how music has influenced politics and various forms of cultural revolution within Aboriginal society.

Inspired by other Indgienous filmmakers, she has her sights set on a career of making films that matter.

All of my films have a message, I believe that films are an important and powerful arena for Indigenous people to tell their own stories.