KARLA HART SAYS “COMMUNITY COMES FIRST IN STORY TELLING.”

BY BROEDY SMITH

Karla Hart has been named a joint winner of the 2026 AIDC Southern Light Award, recognising her outstanding contribution to documentary and non-fiction storytelling in Australia. A Noongar filmmaker, producer and cultural leader, Hart’s work has reshaped how First Nations stories are told on screen, blending community-led perspectives with national reach. The award, presented by the Australian International Documentary Conference, honours her decades of work in television, film and media, and acknowledges her role in building pathways for First Nations creatives. Hart will share the accolade with fellow industry figure Simon Nasht and will speak at the AIDC Awards Presentation in Melbourne later this year.

Award-winning Noongar filmmaker Karla Hart says community responsibility will always come before story in her on-screen work.

Hart, who has built a career across documentary, drama, sport and live cultural production, says her passion for storytelling began simply with a love of the arts.

Hart describes storytelling as one of the oldest forms of activism and a powerful tool for creating understanding and change.

Her work spans multiple formats, but she says the choice between documentary, drama or lifestyle programming often depends on both creative direction and broadcaster needs.

Hart said being Noongar shapes how she approaches every production, particularly when working with Aboriginal communities.

She makes a conscious effort to bring First Nations crew members onto productions, particularly from local communities where filming takes place.