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Barrumbi Kids shines on the international stage with a CICFF Award

Barrumbi Kids has been recognised for its engaging storytelling with a first prize win at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.

The series was voted by the Children’s Jury as the top program in the Live-Action Television category.

Produced by Tamarind Tree Pictures and Ambience Entertainment for National Indigenous Television (NITV), Barrumbi Kids is the coming-of-age story of Tomias and Dahlia, two 11-year-old best friends growing up in a remote community in the Northern Territory. Through fishing, schooling, and exploring Country, the children learn about themselves, each other, and living in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures.

Set in the fictional town of Mandjakkorl, it was filmed amid the stunning outback scenery of the lands of the Jawoyn, Dagoman and Wardaman peoples around Katherine, Beswick and Barunga.

The series is based on the popular book by Leonie Norrington, who penned the novel based on her experience of growing up in a remote Aboriginal community. It was adapted for contemporary audiences by a talented team, including emerging First Nations writers, and in close consultation with Elders and members of the Beswick community.

Now in its 40^th year, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is the largest children’s film festival in the world, showcasing content from over 50 countries. The festival aims to set an internationally recognised standard of excellence in film and television production for children.

Barrumbi Kids has been exceptionally well received since its premiere in November 2022. It won the 2023 SPA Award for Children’s Production of the Year and was nominated for Most Outstanding Children’s Program at the 2023 Logie Awards.

Executive Producer, Bernadette O’Mahony said: “We love how the children’s jury in Chicago embraced such a distinctive Top End series, and how engaged they were in the adventures of Tomias and Dahlia and Barrumbi Kids.”

Barrumbi Kids is a Tamarind Tree Pictures and Ambience Entertainment production for NITV. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with NITV, Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), Screen Territory and Screen Queensland.