Yaara Bou Melhem
Writer, Director & Producer

Yaara Bou Melhem is an Australian writer, director and producer specialising in social justice films that often tackle the most pressing issues of our time. Her debut feature, Unseen Skies (2021), interrogates the inner workings of surveillance and artificial intelligence and was produced with Participant (USA).

She recently wrote, directed and co-produced The Whiteley Art Scandal (2023), a 2 x 1hr series about one of Australia’s biggest art fraud trials for the ABC. Her award-winning shorts range from following the creation of a secular democracy in war-torn Syria to profiling disinformation campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa. Yaara’s films have earned multiple accolades including two UN Media Peace Awards and five Walkley Awards. Yurlu | Country is her second feature film.

Maitland Parker
Co-Writer & Executive Producer

Maitland Parker was one of Banjima’s most recognised and senior Elders. He was a past chair and director of the Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and gave primary evidence in its Native Title determination proceedings. In 1985, Maitland was one of the first Banjima rangers to be employed in the Karijini National Park.

Despite having never worked in the Wittenoom mines, he was diagnosed in 2016 with mesothelioma, an aggressive and terminal lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. While most succumb within two years of diagnosis, Maitland survived for another eight, attributing his strength to the guidance of his ancestors, who he believed walked beside him as he campaigned to heal both Country and community. Maitland passed away in January 2024, leaving behind a powerful legacy of advocacy and strength.

Tom Bannigan ACS
Co-Producer & DOP

Tom Bannigan ACS is an award-winning cinematographer who has worked in documentary for theatrical and broadcast as well as art installations. He has won a number of cinematography accolades including a Golden Tripod for his documentary work from the Australian Cinematography Society.

Two of his most recent films, “Unseen Skies” and “Delikado” played at some of the most prestigious film festivals in the world including CPH:DOCS, Hot Docs, Full Frame, SFF, MIFF, Sheffield, Doc Edge, Millennium Docs and more. He won an award for best cinematography at SIMA and was a finalist at Millennium Docs against gravity.

Chris Kamen
Executive Producer

Chris has a broad skillset spanning film and TV production, distribution, marketing, impact, business affairs and legals. He heads up business affairs at leading Australian production company Media Stockade. Outside of this role he works as a lawyer, a producer, and executive producer on premium documentary films.

His most recent project’s include IRON WINTER (2025) which follows Mongolian herders and FRANKLIN (2022). Previously, Chris has pioneered crowdfunding and self-distribution methods on several feature-length documentaries, including Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (2011), Small is Beautiful (2015) and Vitamania (2018).

James Saunders
Co-Producer

James Saunders is a Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri storyteller, presenter, actor, and media and communications specialist with over 14 years of experience working with First Nations communities across Australia. He has a strong background in media, marketing, and communications.

James combines his passion for new media storytelling with his dedication to sharing the often untold stories of his people.

Matisse Walkden-Brown
Impact Coordinator

Matisse is an impact campaigner, specialising in storytelling and strategy. She headed up Greenpeace in the Pacific for four years, worked in mainstream television and radio, and has managed the communications team of a diplomatic agency.

From television commercials, to economic development programs, to workshop series for budding activists, her focus is on telling stories that drive positive real-world change. In 2025, she participated in Documentary Australia’s Impact Producer Program.

Francisco Forbes
Editor

Francisco Forbes is an award-winning documentary editor and filmmaker. His films include SIT AND WATCH (Winner Best Mid-Length Film – Visions du Reel), SCIENCE FICTION (Sundance Sandbox Production Grantee), UNSEEN SKIES (Participant Media), MARIA RESSA: WAR ON TRUTH (Al Jazeera Witness).

His work has been showcased at international film festivals including Visions du Réel, CPH:DOX, Rotterdam Film Festival, San Francisco IFF, Warsaw Film Festival, Docs Barcelona, Edinburgh Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand, Docs MX, among many others.

Helena Czajka
Composer

ARIA Award-winning film composer Helena Czajka blends her classical training from Australia and her work as an orchestrator in Tokyo, with a passion for sound design and electronic textures. Helena has composed the music for acclaimed productions including sci-fi thriller feature film IN VITRO, and BLIND AMBITION. 

Helena has written music for the Emmy-winning children’s show BLUEY, the ABC political documentary series NEMESIS, the SBS drama series SAFE HOME, and the ABC series REVELATION. Helena received a 2023 ARIA Award nomination for Best Original Soundtrack Album for UNSEEN SKIES. Helena crafted the music for this feature documentary by manipulating NASA-recorded sounds from space to create a distinctive and experimental score. YURLU | COUNTRY is her third collaboration with Yaara Bou Melhem.

Sam Hayward MPSE
Supervising Sound Editor

Sam Hayward is an award-winning sound designer, having won an AACTA award for his work on BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE, an Emmy for BEAT BUGS and nine Australian Screen Sound Guild awards for work on films including ELVIS, THE KING, and THE GREAT GATSBY. He also won a Hollywood professional Association award for his work on the Oscar nominated documentary PORCELAIN WAR.

Sam has a portfolio spanning over 100 titles across all genres. He is an outstanding collaborator whose craft is instrumental in shaping the soundscape of screen content from the outset.