Adrian Russell Wills

Directors, Writers

Adrian is a Wonnarua man originally from Bourke NSW who is committed to explore the outsider, the fringe dweller, the rebel.

Adrian comes from a strong line of ancient storytellers who maintained their culture, law and language through song, dance, and remarkable visual art which stands among the oldest in the world. Adrian sees his role as a writer / director purely as an extension of those ancestors before him. His point of distinction is that he explores stories that take an audience beyond what they would naturally seek out, confronting and challenging them to go beyond their own experience.

Adrian wrote and directed two episodes of Blackfella Films’ drama series REDFERN NOW for ABC-TV and co-wrote an episode of RFDS and directed two episodes of the upcoming series. Adrian’s other television directing credits include; RUSH; WONDERLAND; THE GODS OF WHEAT STREET; 8MMM ABORIGINAL RADIO; Emmy-nominated READY FOR THIS; WENTWORTH; THE WARRIORS and the upcoming RFDS.

Adrian has explored the documentary form throughout his career; he directed the critically acclaimed documentary OUR BUSH WEDDING in 2005; co-wrote and directed WHEN THE NATIVES GET RESTLESS in 2007; BOXING FOR PALM ISLAND in 2010, which was selected to open the Message Sticks Festival that year; 88, looking at the Bicentennial celebrations of the British colonisation of Australia; and most recently, BLACK DIVAZ, which was produced by Kalori Productions / Pursekey Productions. BLACK DIVAZ premiered at Queer Screen as part of the Sydney Mardi Gras 2018 Film Festival and screened on NITV – SBS.

Adrian’s short films include; JACKIE JACKIE, which screened at Melbourne International Film Festival, Flickerfest and at Santa Barbara Film Festival; BOURKE BOY, which was developed through the Screen Australia Indigenous Unit for ABC and was awarded Best Indigenous Film at St Kilda Film Festival in 2010; and DANIEL’S 21ST which opened the 2010 Message Stick Festival at the Sydney Opera House.

Adrian is currently developing a personal documentary, his original debut feature film and several television projects in Australia and internationally. Adrian often teams with creative producer Gillian Moody of Kalori Productions.

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