Sally Riley (producer) facts for kids

Sally Riley is an Australian filmmaker, writer, and producer. As of 2021, she is in charge of making all the drama and comedy shows at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). She is known for helping Indigenous Australians get more involved in the film and TV world.

Early Life and Learning

Sally Riley is a Wiradjuri woman. She grew up in a town called Narromine in New South Wales. When she was 16, her father passed away, and she finished high school in Narromine.

After school, Sally worked in a metal factory until she was 19. Then, she went on a three-year trip around Australia with her boyfriend. They traveled in a special vehicle called a troop carrier. During their trip, they looked at ancient Indigenous rock and cave paintings. After that, she worked for a while helping Aboriginal land councils. Later, she decided to study at the University of Wollongong (UOW) because she wanted to become an actor.

She finished her degree in Creative Arts (Theatre) in 1991. But then she changed her mind and decided to study directing. She went to the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney and graduated in 1993. Around 1994, she started a training program at Film Australia.

Sally Riley's Career Journey

Starting Out in Film

Sally Riley began her career as an independent filmmaker. She worked as a director and a freelance writer.

She spent some time as a special writer at CAAMA Television in Alice Springs. She also directed plays for the Melbourne Theatre Company and Urban Theatre Projects in Bankstown, Sydney.

Working at Screen Australia

In 2000, Sally Riley became the head of the Indigenous Branch of the Australian Film Commission. This group later became the Indigenous Department of Screen Australia in 2008. In this important role, she helped create many amazing films.

One famous film she helped produce was Samson and Delilah in 2009. It was directed by Warwick Thornton and won many awards. Sally also helped start the careers of other Indigenous filmmakers like Wayne Blair, Beck Cole, and Darlene Johnson. Under her leadership, they also supported the creation of the well-known series First Australians (2008). Sally was very focused on helping Indigenous producers and film crews grow. She especially wanted to support assistant directors and designers.

She also helped create a guide for the industry. It was called Pathways & Protocols – a filmmaker's guide to working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts.

Leading at the ABC

In 2010, Sally Riley became the first head of the Indigenous department at ABC Television. While in this role, she was an executive producer for the film Mabo (2012). She also worked on the TV series Redfern Now (2012–). Redfern Now was very special because it was the first TV drama that was "commissioned, written, acted and produced by Indigenous Australians." This show created many jobs for Indigenous artists and won a Silver Logie award in 2013 for Most Outstanding Drama Series. She also helped bring other shows like The Gods of Wheat Street, Cleverman, 8MMM, and The Warriors to TV screens.

In May 2016, Sally got a new job as the Head of Scripted Production at the ABC. In this role, she is responsible for all drama, comedy, and Indigenous-related shows on ABC Television. Some of the popular series she has helped bring to life include Stateless, Mystery Road, Total Control, Aftertaste, Rosehaven, Wakefield, and The Newsreader.

Sally wants to find projects that will attract new viewers to the ABC. She also focuses on making sure that there is more diversity on screen and behind the scenes. This means showing people of different ages, races, genders, and abilities.

Sally Riley's Short Films

Sally Riley wrote and directed several short films early in her career:

• Fly Peewee, Fly! (1995): This film was about a young boy teaching his white grandmother and Aboriginal father about perspective. It was nominated for an AWGIE Award in 1996.
• In Search of Archie (c.1998): This was a 30-minute documentary about a writer named Archie Weller. He was trying to find proof of his Aboriginality.
• Confessions of a Headhunter (2000): This film was based on a short story by Archie Weller, who also helped Sally write the script. It explored the differences between the Noongar people around Perth and colonial culture. This film won several awards, including the AFI Award for Best Short Film in 2000.

Awards and Recognition

Sally Riley has received many awards and honors for her important work.

In 2008, she was given the Public Service Medal. This was for her efforts in helping more Indigenous Australians get involved in the film and television industries.

She also won the Australian Directors Guild's 2011 Cecil Holmes Award with Erica Glynn.

In 2016, she was named one of the FP Top 100 Global Thinkers.

In 2017, her old university, the University of Wollongong, gave her the Alumni Award for Social Impact. They said she had "used her voice and talent as a filmmaker to advance representation of Indigenous culture globally." This means she helped change how people around the world see and understand Indigenous life in Australia.

In 2020, Sally Riley was invited to join the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. This is the group that gives out the Oscars. She was invited because of her "outstanding contribution," especially for her work in supporting diverse storytelling in Australia and around the world. Being a member means she can vote for the Oscars.

Sally Riley is known for being very influential and good at bringing great TV series to the screen. Her shows Stateless and Mystery Road were chosen for the Berlin Film Festival in 2020. She is highly respected for her work in helping Aboriginal people tell their own stories in the industry. She also creates programs to help more Indigenous artists participate.

In 2023, Sally Riley received the Adelaide Film Festival's Don Dunstan Award. Larissa Behrendt wrote that Sally Riley's work goes beyond just the shows she has made. It also helps build the skills of First Nations artists in film and TV. It also makes First Nations stories a central part of Australia's national story.

Personal Life

Sally Riley has a son named Eli. Eli is also a filmmaker.