Redfern Now


Redfern Now is an Australian television drama program screening on ABC1 in Australia and Vibrant TV Network and Netflix in the United States. It tells contemporary stories about Indigenous Australians in the Sydney suburb of Redfern. The first season received five AACTA award nominations for 2013. The series has received numerous additional AACTA nominations, winning 5 in total, including Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for Leah Purcell, Best Screenplay in Television, and Best Television Drama Series.
The series was produced by Blackfella Films, whose productions include First Australians and Mabo. It was developed by local indigenous writers with the support of UK screenwriter Jimmy McGovern. The project also has indigenous directors, producers and actors. It is directed by Rachel Perkins, Catriona McKenzie, Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell.
A second season was commissioned in late 2012 and went into production in May 2013, premiering 31 October 2013.
The series concluded with a telemovie titled Promise Me which aired on 9 April 2015.

Cast

Episodes

Series 1


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Series 2


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Telemovie


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Reception

The series has generally received critical praise. Of the first episode Melinda Houston of The Age said, "It makes for television that works on every level: as an important cultural contribution, as a vehicle for sensational actors, writers, directors and technicians, as a great conversation-starter and as a fabulous piece of drama." Based on the second episode, Bob Ellis writes, "It was very well done indeed, and the mixture, like Obama’s Dreams From My Father, of honesty, eloquence and hope, bids fair... for a series outcome that may well be seen, in sum, hereafter, as a classic." After viewing the third episode, the television writer for The Canberra Times writes, "Redfern Now is probably as important as any drama produced this year. This is really mature and clever storytelling with the strangest taste of an old O. Henry morality tale."

Awards and nominations