This Completely Touching First Nations Animation Drops In Cinemas On January 26

Looking for something a little more meaningful to do on January 26 this year? Head down to your local cinema and catch a special event screening of the one-of-a-kind First Nations animated film, IMAGINE. 

What’s The IMAGINE First Nations Movie About?

The story follows 15-year-old Kim and their alien canine companion Jeff as they travel through a vibrant and dreamlike world on the brink of collapse. And, as the two move across landscapes shaped by ancestors, animals, and stories and guided by culture and Country, they learn that imagination is not just about dreaming but about connection—to land, knowledge, and responsibility. 

Basically, if you’re after a movie that’s as deep and important as it is trippy, this is it.

Image credit: IMAGINE | Website

What Makes IMAGINE So Groundbreaking?

IMAGINE was dreamt up (pun intended) during the COVID pandemic on a live Google Doc with over 400 people contributing to the script. This included  150 young people, 18 partner schools and over 200 guests from across 17 countries. It blends innovative technology with Indigenous knowledge and storytelling like no other film has before.

The project was guided by Indigenous Australian changemakers Jack Manning (CEO of AIME, the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) and Tyson Yunkaporta (Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges at Deakin University). It also has an impressive cast, including Yolande Brown, Taika Waititi, Yael Stone, Wayne Blair, Ian Thorpe and Tai Hara.

All profits from IMAGINE go back to AIME’s work to reduce inequality in Australia and across the globe, so you can feel pretty darn good about spending your hard-earned dollars on this one.

Where To Watch IMAGINE On January 26

IMAGINE will be screening in cinemas all over Australia on January 26 (along with a few extra dates in select cinemas). You can find the full cinema listings on the IMAGINE film website.