Tony Briggs, Australian playwright

Aboriginal actor, playwright and screenwriter Tony Briggs wrote the acclaimed play and film The Sapphires, based on the life of his mother and aunt. It tells the story of a singing group of four Koori women who tour Vietnam during the war. It was inspired by the true story of his mother, Laurel Robinson, and aunt, Lois Peeler. He has just been in New Zealand as a guest of the Tropfest short film festival, where he spoke to up-and-coming filmmakers about how to get their projects off the ground.