More doco work for Broome filmmaker

A passion for storytelling and filmmaking has driven an emerging Kimberley talent to chase her dreams, but she may have just received her biggest break yet.

Nevanka McKeon was recently given approval to produce three more documentaries for National Indigenous Television shedding light on positive Aboriginal stories and achievements around the country.

It won’t be the first time the Broome born and bred filmmaker has seen her projects on the small screen, having had her previous work appear on SBS, ABC and NITV in the past.

McKeon’s most recent work includes a trio of documentaries that screened on NITV last month, focusing on a young Perth athlete who lost her legs at 16; a six-time Australian boxing champion from over east; and two single dads raising their daughters in the Kimberley.

And while her range of topics has been quite vast, McKeon often has one simple goal with her short films — keep it positive.

“I really like producing positive stories about my people,” she said. “It is a good feeling to be able to give a voice to those who otherwise might not have one, and it is a huge factor behind why I do what I do.”

McKeon is working in a communications role in Canberra and committed to filmmaking on her days off, but it was her home town of Broome that sparked her passion for media.

She picked up an internship at Goolarri Media in her last year of high school and ended up working with the company for five years.

And despite making a name for herself with her impressive productions, McKeon said she still had a long way to go.

“I’m definitely still learning — a lot of it is kind of just learning as I go along,” she said.

“It can get very busy trying to balance it with my other work, but when you are passionate and interested in something, you just do what you have to do.”

McKeon still visits family and friends in Broome and hopes to drop by in the dry season.