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NAIDOC Week Spotlight: Marcellus Enalanga

07 July 2022

Marcellus Enalanga is a Western Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara, and Warlpiri filmmaker, TV presenter and public speaker from Mparntwe, Alice Springs, now based in Adelaide.

We spoke to Marcellus as a part of our NAIDOC Week series profiling and celebrating First Nations screen creatives working in South Australia to discuss his latest project Mob Talks, his other projects in the works and what he’s looking forward to in the future.

Your most recent project is hosting Mob Talks with Channel 44 – tell us a bit about the show?

Mob Talks is a First Nations focused talk show, an initiative with the South Australian Film Corporation and Channel 44. It was written and produced by First Nations Interns, centred around First Nations peoples, aimed at bringing attention to the complex issues that we face and to help non-Indigenous Australians better understand our mob.

What has been the most interesting project you’ve worked on?

Earlier this year I worked as a Cultural Producer on Dipped in Black, a multi-disciplinary film and photographic art project created by Yankunytjatjara artist Derik Lynch & Australian artist Matthew Thorne that explores (in dream and memory) Derik’s childhood growing up in the heart of central Australia. Supported by the SAFC, this story follows Derik’s road trip from the oppression of white city life in Adelaide back to Aputula on country to perform drag on sacred Inma ground, while memories from his youth – and of the land – return.

What are your career aspirations for the future? 

My aspirations are to be on mainstream TV either as a TV presenter or acting. As a storyteller, the best thing about working in the screen industry is that I get to share my stories and educate the mainstream audience on First Nations peoples. I also get to learn new skills and make amazing memories.

What’s your favourite Australian film/TV series of all time? 

My favourite Australian film or TV series has to be Priscilla Queen of the Desert, because not only does it show elements of First Nations culture, it was an LGBTQIA+ film which is something that I can relate to being a person of that community – and from the desert.

Catch Marcellus in Mob Talks later this year on Channel 44 – keep up to date via the Channel 44 Facebook or Instagram channels. Marungka Tjalantananyi / Dipped in Black will premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival 2022 Opening Night alongside the SAFC-supported World Premiere of ­­­The Angels: Kickin’ Down The Door. Tickets are on sale now.