EMU RUNNER

Emu Runner is about the impact a mother’s death has on an Indigenous family living in the remote and isolated community of Brewarrina in northwest New South Wales. The story is seen through the eyes of Gem, a spirited nine-year-old girl, who is at a loss with how to deal with the unexpected death of her mother. At the moment of her greatest need for comfort, Gem encounters a wild emu, a mythical bird of her ancestors. The two of them forge a bond and she will do anything to keep but one that puts her at odds with a young and inexperienced social worker. The film has been presented at the Toronto International Film Festival 2018, Sydney Film Festival 2019 and Hawaii International Film Festival 2018.

Imogen Thomas has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Tisch School of Arts graduate film program at New York University. She also holds a First-Class Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Drama, from Flinders University in South Australia. It was here that Imogen began making short films, many of which have been screened at festivals and have received awards, including Best Narrative Drama at the 11th Adelaide Film Festival for “Departure”. In 1998 Imogen was awarded the prestigious South Australian Premier’s Award for Emerging Artist of Year. This award afforded her the opportunity to undertake her Master’s degree at NYU. Imogen’s graduating film, “Mixed Bag”, premiered at the Montreal Film Festival in 2008 and went on to be screened at both national and international festivals and received the Gold Award at the Australian Cinematographer’s Society Awards 2008.