Like My Brother: Four Young Tiwi Women Dare to Dream

Like My Brother is an inspiring film about four young Tiwi women who dare to dream. This is a story of sport as a force for change and a bridge between worlds as the girls encounter triumphs and disappointments before defining success on their own terms.

Cast of the documentary: Rina, Jess, Julianna and Freda, with their children. Like My Brother is a coming-of-age story following Rina, Freda, Julianna and Jess on their journey from the Community of the Tiwi Islands to Melbourne to follow their dream of becoming AFL stars.

The film challenges systemic problems within the Australian sporting industry, and shows the incredible resilience and skills of these players. 

Watch the trailer here!

Like My Brother premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival in July and was met with overwhelming positive feedback from viewers. 

Moving away from home to Melbourne, the girls face environmental and psychological challenges. Those in power in the AFL consistently fail to understand just how far the girls must travel from the remoteness of their normal lives, and the ways in which they must adapt in order to be there. For some the daily grind of homesickness and the pressures of family prove too hard to overcome. 

Throughout this journey the girls start to battle with what their perception of success truly is, and what they want for their futures. 

Where will their dream take them?

This incredible documentary was filmed over six years, and women who are very close to the hearts of everyone at ILF because they have all been through our wonderful Create Program.

Co-Producer is ILF Programs Manager, Tictac Moore, who plays a major role in the film as a teacher, mentor, mum, aunty, grandmother to the girls. 

“I'm proud of what we have achieved as a group. I love talking to the girls about it and hearing them say they are proud of what they did and they can't wait to share it with the world. I'm proud to be part of this,” says Tictac.

Co Director & Producer, Sal Balharrie, is extremely proud of the film. “Like My Brother charts the power and impact of raw, sporting talent upon the lives of four, young Tiwi women and their remote Community.”

Like My Brother is showing at cinemas nationally from October 17th, and is now showing on SBS on Demand and other streaming services.