Last night RMIT University was proud to present a special screening of Balibo (2009), to open the 14th Australian Media Traditions Conference. A political thriller based on the true story of the 'Balibo Five' - the five journalists killed during Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East Timor - the film was directed by RMIT Adjunct Professor Robert Connolly and starred #Anthony_LaPaglia and #Oscar_Isaac. The screening was introduced by a riveting conversation between RMIT Information Integrity Hub Lecturer Sushi Das; Associate Professor in the School of Media & Communication Stephen Gaunson; and musician, activist and RMIT alum Paulie Stewart, brother of Tony Stewart (one of the 'Balibo Five'). They collectively explored the story's enduring legacy, dramatic truth, and how archival material helped bring this story to the screen. 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of these events. Protecting the safety of journalists reporting on the front line of war zones remains as critical today as in 1975. #BaliboFive #AustralianMediaTraditionsConference Lisa French Image 1: Sushi Das, Paulie Stewart, Stephen Gaunson (photo credit: Archie McGill) Image 2: film still, Balibo (2009), courtesy Arenamedia Image 2: Sushi Das, Paulie Stewart, Stephen Gaunson (photo credit: Archie McGill)
Learn more about the 14th Australian Media Traditions Conference, taking place at RMIT from 4-5 September, and its theme 'Archives and Archetypes: Recovery and Renewal' here: https://ausmediatraditions2025.com/