Cook Shire Council invites you to join us for a special week of cinema celebrating National Reconciliation Week 2025, with a series of free evening screenings at Cooktown Shire Hall.
This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, “Bridging Now to Next,” is a powerful reminder that the work of reconciliation must continue with urgency, strength and unity. Film is a powerful way to connect, understand, and honour the lived experiences and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The festival features three landmark Indigenous films, alongside a selection of local cinematic surprises that showcase voices and stories from our own region.
Film Schedule
Monday 26 May – Araatika! Rise Up (2023)
Follow NRL great Dean Widders and a group of Indigenous players as they campaign to bring cultural celebration to the game through a unique pre-match performance. This inspiring documentary is especially timely, screening just two days before the 2025 State of Origin opener in Brisbane.
Thursday 29 May – Servant or Slave (2016)
This confronting and essential documentary shares the stories of five Aboriginal women taken from their families and placed into government-sanctioned domestic servitude. A powerful act of truth-telling and recognition.
Saturday 31 May – The Sapphires (2012)
Enjoy a fun, family-friendly screening of this beloved Australian hit, based on the true story of four young Aboriginal women whose singing talents took them from a remote mission to the stages of Vietnam in the late 1960s.
Event Details
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Location: Cooktown Shire Hall
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Time: Doors open at 6:00 pm, screenings begin at 6:30 pm
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Tickets: Free but strictly limited so booking are essential. BOOK NOW HERE
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Attendees are welcome to bring their own snacks, drinks, cushions, pillows or beanbags. The atmosphere will be relaxed and informal, with floor seating available for those who wish to get comfortable.
Why This Matters
National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared histories, celebrate culture, and recommit to the journey of reconciliation. Hosting a film screening in your community or workplace is a meaningful way to bring people together, ignite conversation and inspire change.
Cook Shire and Cape York are home to a rich and diverse blend of cultures, histories and peoples. Our reconciliation journey is unique – grounded in truth, respect and a deep commitment to walking forward together. This film festival honours that journey by sharing stories that matter, voices that must be heard, and moments that move us forward.