AACTA Events Move Online with MYSTERY ROAD SEASON 2

9 APRIL, 2020

Growing concerns over the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) led to AACTA’s announcement last month that all live events and initiatives would move online for the foreseeable future.

So for the first time, AACTA are presenting an exclusive preview screening of a major television event online to its members, with the advance screening of MYSTERY ROAD Season 2 this weekend, ahead of its public premiere on Sunday 19 April on ABC and iview.

An extended panel discussion featuring the series’ directors Warwick Thornton and Wayne Blair, with producers Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey will follow on Monday, also hosted on the AACTA website.

MYSTERY ROAD 2 stars Indigenous actors Aaron Pedersen and Jada Alberts who lead an ensemble cast including Callan Mulvey, Tasma Walton, Rob Collins, Ngaire Pigram, Sofia Helin, Mark Mitchinson, Ursula Yovich, Rhimi Johnson, Gary Sweet and Tasia Zalar.

The production was shot in Broome and Lombadina in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and is directed by AACTA award-winners Warwick Thornton (SWEET COUNTRY, SAMSON & DELILAH) and Wayne Blair (THE SAPPHIRES, TOP END WEDDING). The writers for the series are AACTA award-winner Steven McGregor (SWEET COUNTRY), Blake Ayshford, Kodie Bedford, Danielle MacLean and Timothy Lee.

In addition to AACTA members, the advance screening has been made available to the remote community of Lombadina in northern Western Australia, where some of the series was shot.

“We always love to take our shows back to the community in which we filmed to say thank you for allowing us to film there,” said Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey from Bunya Productions.

“We had intended to be in the community of Lombadina on the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley on this very day to show the first two episodes of Mystery Road. Clearly with COVID-19 restrictions in place we cannot do that so we are delighted that the Lombadina community will be able to see the episodes via the AACTA portal this weekend. It is great that AACTA has been able to adapt to the unprecedented situation we are all facing in this way.”

Both episodes will be available to members online from Friday 10 April 18:00 until Sunday 12 April 23:00 AEST via the AACTA website. With the panel discussion available from Monday 13 April 18:30 AEST.

MYSTERY ROAD is produced by Bunya Productions for the ABC, with funding support from Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, Screenwest, the Western Australian Regional Film Fund, supported by Royalties for Regions and Screen NSW, in association with all3media International.

The AACTA Awards are supported by the New South Wales Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

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