# Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra

Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra is a 2020 Australian documentary film directed by Wayne Blair and Nel Minchin. It tells the story of the three Page brothers' – Stephen, David and Russell – and their role in the development of Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Firestarter was produced by In Films and premiered on 11 October 2020 at the Brisbane International Film Festival. It received critical and audience acclaim and won the AACTA Best Documentary Award (2021), the Rose d'Or Award for Best Arts Program (2021), the Most Outstanding Documentary Logie Award (2022) and the Walkley Documentary Award (2021).

## Production

The film documents the establishment and development of Bangarra Dance Theatre, tracing its origins in the late 1980s, through the politically difficult 1990s, and into the 21st century as it grew to become one of Australia's prominent cultural institutions. It includes archival footage and interviews with co-founders Carole Johnson, Cheryl Stone and former dancers and creatives.

## Release

The film had its world premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival on 11 October 2020 and was the closing night film. It was the opening night film at the Sydney Film Festival (2020), Byron Bay International Film Festival (2020), Revelation Perth International Film Festival (2020) and Birrarangga Film Festival (2021).
It won the Special Jury Commendation Prize at the Port Townsend Film Festival (2021), the Documentary Award and Inaugural Change Award at the Adelaide International Film Festival (2021), and Best Documentary Award at the Pan African Film + Arts Festival (2021).
The film premiered on ABC Television on 6 July 2021.

## Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 100% based on reviews from 12 critics.
Guardian critic Luke Buckmaster gave the film five stars, saying 'What an experience. What a joy. I've watched it twice, and on both occasions emerged deeply moved.'
The Sydney Morning Herald said 'That's a lot to pack into 90 minutes, a challenge which writer-directors Nel Minchin and Wayne Blair fluidly accomplish while fashioning a compelling, sometimes joyful and sometimes heart-breaking tale of resilience and fragility.'

## Accolades

| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| AACTA Awards | 2020 | Best Documentary | Firestarter | Won |
| AACTA Awards | 2020 | Best Editing in a Documentary | Nick Myers, Karen Johnson | Nominated |
| AACTA Awards | 2020 | Best Sound in a Documentary | Angus Robertson, Tara Webb, Leah Katz, Nick Meyers | Nominated |
| Rose d'Or Awards | 2021 | Best Arts Program | Firestarter | Won |
| Walkley Awards | 2021 | Documentary Award | Firestarter | Won |
| Logie Awards | 2022 | Most Outstanding Documentary | Wayne Blair, Nel Minchin | Won |
| Australian Directors Guild Awards | 2021 | Best Direction in a Documentary | Wayne Blair, Nel Minchin | Won |
| Screen Producers Australia Awards | 2021 | Feature Documentary Award | Firestarter | Nominated |
| Adelaide Film Festival | 2021 | Documentary Award | Firestarter | Won |
| Adelaide Film Festival | 2021 | Inaugural Change Award | Firestarter | Won |
| AIDC Awards | 2021 | Best Feature Documentary | Firestarter | Nominated |
| Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards | 2021 | Best Sound in a Documentary | Angus Robertson, Tara Webb, Leah Katz, Nick Meyers | Nominated |
| Australian Screen Writers Guild Awards | 2021 | Best Documentary | Wayne Blair, Nel Minchin | Nominated |
| TBI Content Innovation Award | 2021 | Best Representation on Screen | Firestarter | Nominated |