Filmmaker and UTS graduate Maya Newell is dedicated to highlighting the voices of children in her documentaries.
When the 2015 documentary Gayby Baby was banned from being screened during class time in NSW schools, it ignited a national conversation about LGBTI families. Directed by Maya, the film records children’s experiences in such families – a subject close to Maya’s heart as she grew up with two mums.
Her second feature, In My Blood It Runs, follows 10-year-old Arrernte boy Dujuan. Despite the different subjects, Maya’s goal was the same: to give kids their say.
“I'm very interested in the concept of children’s agency and what they have to teach us. Growing up, politicians and public figures were constantly speaking about how children like me were being harmed by our parents, but not one of them sat down and asked me what I thought.”
“With the guidance of those on-screen and Arrernte advisers, it’s my intent to show what it’s like to be a child navigating a complex bi-cultural world.”
Maya Newell
Filmmaker and UTS graduate
Creating educational resources
Maya’s work in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, creating films with Arrernte families and Elders, has continued to make a lasting impact. While not intended for public release, the films serve as educational resources used to pass on language and culture. Through this work, Maya has witnessed incredible moments of cultural transmission.
In the process, Maya met Dujuan, the star of her documentary In My Blood It Runs. This film is a powerful narrative that presents the perspective of Aboriginal children on their terms.
“Everyone has an opinion about how to ‘save’ Aboriginal kids, but this film is an opportunity to listen to those children. Dujuan is an intelligent, outspoken young person who’s supported by a strong family. With the guidance of those on-screen and Arrernte advisers, it’s my intent to show what it’s like to be a child navigating a complex bi-cultural world.”
Advocacy and education
Maya spent time at the Sundance Institute’s Film Music and Sound Design Lab in the US, where In My Blood It Runs was selected for workshopping. She has conducted family-diversity workshops for teachers, designed to support the lesson plans developed to supplement Gayby Baby. The NSW government has since lifted the documentary ban.
Maya’s journey from UTS to becoming a respected filmmaker is marked by her unwavering commitment to social change. Her work continues to challenge societal norms and give a platform to voices that are often unheard. Through her documentaries, Maya not only educates but also inspires others to see the world through the eyes of children.
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