Zhou is the curator of a free exhibition in the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, called The Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia. It’s on now until January 27, 2026.
Namatjira Project
Sunday, 25 May at 8.30pm
In one of Australia’s most potent stories, Namatjira Project traces the life and works of Albert Namatjira, a renowned Arrernte painter from the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia. He gave many Australians their first glimpses into the outback heart of the country and was widely celebrated, exhibited globally, and introduced to Queen Elizabeth.
However, in 1957 he was imprisoned for something he didn’t do, and in 1959 he died. By 1983 the Government sold the copyright to his artworks to an art dealer, and today, Namatjira’s family fight for survival, justice and to regain their grandfather’s copyright. Namatjira Project illuminates the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people today, in Australia and globally.
Art From the Heart
Monday, 26 May at 9.00pm
Art From the Heart is a confronting examination of the contemporary Indigenous painting business today - asking whether Indigenous paintings are still being painted from the heart, or if market forces have altered its spirit irrevocably.
The answers are varied and provided by a cast of Australia’s leading Indigenous painters, including Queenie Mckenzie, Gloria Petyarre, and Freddie Timms.
National Reconciliation Week with Patrick Dodson
Tuesday, 27 May at 11.30am
Live from Fremantle Passenger Terminal, WA, Yawuru elder, Patrick Dodson, also known as the ‘Father of Reconciliation’, along with next-generation leader Tremane Baxter-Edwards, deliver a National Reconciliation Week keynote from Reconciliation WA’s event.
At a time when Australia faces uncertainty in its reconciliation journey, this keynote calls on all Australians to step forward together to build a more united and respectful nation. Together, Dodson and Baxter-Edwards embody cross-generational First Nations leadership, with their voices reflecting the strength, wisdom and hope to carry the reconciliation movement forward, following the National Reconciliation Week theme ‘Bridging Now to Next’.
Sydney Opera House Presents: Generations and Dynasties - Season 2 - Episode 2
Saturday, 31 May at 10.10pm
Bunna Lawrie (Coloured Stone) and Family
Bunna Lawrie is a proud Mirning Elder from the Nullarbor and founding member of Coloured Stone, carving a path as a groundbreaking First Nations band with their rock and reggae influenced sound. Bunna’s 1984 hit song ‘Black Boy’, which remains an anthem for First Nations peoples to this day, launched a highly influential career which has taken them all over the country and the world.
Join Bunna Lawrie and his extraordinary family - Jason Lee Scott, Jhindu-Pedro Lawrie, Yirgjhilya Lawrie and Catherine Satour as they share the stage for an evening of music, culture, conversation and storytelling.
Voices of the future: Digital Originals ushers in the next wave of unique Australian storytellers
This year’s Digital Originals, Moni, Moonbird and Warm Props, are first of their kind, and a bold take on culture and belonging.
L-R: Warm Props, Moonbird and Moni.
Premiering weekly from Thursday 19 June on National Indigenous Television (NITV) and SBS On Demand, SBS’s award-winning Digital Originals initiative returns with three daring new scripted series from emerging screen creatives.
From boundary-pushing First Nations storytelling to a genre-bending queer Pasifika led series, this year’s Digital Originals showcase real, restless and innovative stories from creatives making waves in the industry with their fresh takes on identity, culture, and community.
A trailblazing partnership between SBS, NITV, and Screen Australia, Digital Originals is central to SBS’s commitment to championing diverse storytellers both in front and behind the camera. The initiative supports the development of rising talent who are under-represented in the sector including those who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), First Nations, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTIQ+, and creatives based in regional and remote areas.
Digital Originals has proven itself as an effective pathway for creators to advance their skills and generate interest from local and international markets. It also encapsulates how SBS is unafraid to go there when it comes to amplifying new voices in the screen landscape, with the initiative serving as a launchpad for the careers of trailblazers like Dylan River (Thou Shalt Not Steal, Mystery Road: Origin), Stevie Cruz Martin (Safe Home), Corrie Chen (New Gold Mountain, Bad Behaviour), Mohini Herse (Four Years Later) and more.
SBS’s phenomenal, brand-new, 2025 Digital Originals line-up features two cutting-edge First Nations productions, co-commissioned by NITV, and a distinctive queer Pasifika-Australian story:
Moonbird
Sonny (Lennox Monaghan) and Cracka (Kyle Morrison) in Moonbird episode 6. Credit: Jillian Mundy
Moonbird was one of only eight projects worldwide to be featured in the Short Forms Competition at Series Mania in 2025.
It is a co-production between the first-ever Tasmanian Aboriginal screen production company, Kutikina Productions, and Sheoak Films. Produced by Catherine Pettman and Adam Thompson, the series explores the relationship between a recently sober father (Kyle Morrison) and his son (Lennox Monaghan; Deadloch , Windcatcher ) who attempt to reconnect through a traditional muttonbirding season on a remote Tasmanian island.
It is co-created, and co-written by Nathan Maynard, and co-created and co-written by Adam Thompson. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with support from Screen Tasmania. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia, SBS and Screen Tasmania.
Moonbird premieres Thursday 19 June at 8.30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand.
Warm Props
Ilijah (Nelson Baker), Charlie (Tehya Makani), Jilby (Rarriwuy Hick) in Warm Props episode 6. Credit: Michael Jalaru Torres.
Warm Props takes audiences behind the scenes with Charlie (Tehya Makani), who returns to a chaotic film shoot in her hometown in Western Australia and must then face her past as her narcissistic boss threatens the stability of her career and personal life.
The heartening series is brought to life by acclaimed creator and writer Jub Clerc (Mystery Road: Origin , Sweet As), co-writer Kimberly Benjamin (Our Medicine, Big Backyard Quiz), directed by Clerc and Benjamin, and produced by Jodie Bell for Ramu Productions. It also stars Rarriwuy Hick (True Colours, Erotic Stories, Wentworth, Redfern Now ) and Jillian Nguyen (Apple Cider Vinegar, Hungry Ghosts ). Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia and SBS.
Warm Props premieres Thursday 26 June at 8:30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand.
Moni
Chris Alosio (Moni) & Tina Leaitua (Tina) in ‘Moni’ episode 3.
In Moni, a gay Samoan man must reluctantly work out why his dead mother has unexpectedly plummeted from the heavens, and in doing so, learn to embrace his own truth. Led by creator, writer, and showrunner Taofia Pelesasa, director Alana Hicks, producer Nicole Coventry and executive producer Eliorah Malifa with Pelesasa Pics, the series stars Chris Alosio (Talk To Me ). Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with support from Screen NSW. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia and SBS.
Moni premieres Thursday 3 July at 8:30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand. Episodes air weekly at NITV starting Thursday 3 July at 8:30pm.
SBS Head of Scripted, Nakul Legha, said: “Digital Originals is the only initiative of its kind globally and remains unmatched in its ambition, impact, and proven track-record as a launch-pad for the careers of emerging Australian storytellers from under-represented communities.
“As SBS celebrates its 50th anniversary, these bold new series embody our ‘We Go There’ ethos: delivering unapologetically authentic and entertaining stories from across Australia . Each production is a testament to the essential role SBS plays in Australia’s cultural landscape, and we’re thrilled to share them with our audiences.”
Recent Digital Originals successes include 2023’s Night Bloomers with creator Andrew Undi Lee winning an Australian Writers’ Guild Award for Best Web Series, and Appetite which was selected as one of 10 series in the Short Form Competition at Canneseries 2023, and was also nominated for a Rose d’Or. In 2022, Latecomers won the 2024 AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy and was also featured in the Short Forms Competition at Series Mania in 2023.
Alumni of Digital Originals have gone on to secure key creative roles across SBS Original drama series and elsewhere in the industry, including Mohini Herse (Appetite ) who became set-up Director for SBS Original Four Years Later, producer Liam Heyen (Latecomers, Erotic Stories ), director Madeleine Gottlieb (Latecomers, Erotic Stories ), actress and activist Hannah Diviney (Latecomers ), Stevie Cruz-Martin (The Tailings, Safe Home), as well as Corrie Chen and Michelle Law (Homecoming Queens ), and Dylan River (Robbie Hood) .
Digital Originals is one of many initiatives delivered by SBS designed to improve inclusion in the screen industry. Read more about this work here.
All three Digital Originals series will be subtitled on SBS On Demand in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
Check out the Digital Originals collection at SBS On Demand’s We Go There Hub a variety of curated collections that embody the bold spirit of SBS’s cheeky new brand campaign.
Each of the three Digital Originals series will premiere in full weekly from Thursday 19 June at 8.30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand
The Grey Line
Monday, 2 June at 9.30pm
This is the story of Helen’s struggle to find her place in the world.
Taken from her parents during a time when Aboriginal children were removed from their families through Government mandated policy, Helen was raised by a middle-class family in the suburbs of Perth and believed she was their biological daughter until the age of 14. Despite being raised by a very loving foster family, Helen has never felt like she truly belonged. Not white, not black, she walks a very lonely grey line. This is her story of hurt, a longing to find her true self and to finally be accepted for who she is.
The Grey Line will be available to stream free on the on Muy Ngulayg SBS On Demand Hub.
Piri’s Tiki Tour (Season 4)
Wednesday, 4 June at 7.30pm
Much loved ex-All Black Piri Weepu is hitting the road again, but this time with a new twist. Piri’s returning with more fishing, diving and other food-gathering activities alongside hardcase Kiwi characters – as well as Piri’s other major passion, rugby! Getting amongst it with the locals, Piri uncovers the heart of these communities.
Season Four, Episode One: Te Kaha
Piri’s in the Bay of Plenty – Te Kaha, hosted by ex-rugby players Reuben and Matua Parkinson. He’s targeting kingfish and gets a surprise at a local rugby match.Season Four, Episode Two: Ōtepoti
Piri heads south to Ōtepoti Dunedin. He’s out eeling with his mate from high school Tihema, trains with Tongan rugby legend Hale T Pole, and even attempts to surf.