Screen Queens: Motherhood on Film

Explore the nuances of on-screen depictions, and the real-life implications, of motherhood in Australia’s film and television industry with a panel of actors, writers and directors.

Maternal characters in popular culture often fail to reflect the rich, varied and often messy realities of the motherhood experience. Yet recently, Australia’s film and television industry has seen an upswing in these kinds of stories. In this M/OTHER panel event, hear from film creatives as they examine motherhood on screen and what impacts the decision to have children has for women forging careers in Australia’s film and TV industry. Stage and screen director Leticia Cáceres is passionate about depicting stories of teenage pregnancy and intergenerational maternal relationships honestly, as shown by her work on the award-winning TV series Bump. Jemmason Power recently made her screen debut on the hit series Black Snow, which offers an important depiction of South Sea Islander community and matriarchy. Join Cáceres and Power alongside their host, stage and screen actor Kate Box (Wentworth), as they share their personal and professional experiences, consider whether Australia is moving towards more accurate on-screen representations of the realities of motherhood and question how that might be reflected in the lives of mothers working in the industry. Please note that Alison Bell is no longer appearing at this event.  

Conversations in M/OTHER may include references to topics such as mental health, reproductive rights, and childbirth. If you need assistance with any of these issues, you can learn more and seek advice via the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), Perintal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) and Beyond Blue.

About M/OTHER

M/OTHER is a weekend of fearless conversation about the ways ‘motherhood’ is experienced, portrayed and labelled by those who mother, have been mothered, wish they were mothers, do not identify as mothers, cannot or do not want to mother, and by society at-large.