Director at AFIN

Biography

Rhianna Malezer is a proudly queer Butchulla and Kamilaroi writer, filmmaker and artist. She began her film career in the art department, working across many productions including 'Goldstone', 'Thor: Ragnarok' and 'Mortal Engines'. In 2019, Rhianna was a writer on season 4 of ABC's 'Black Comedy' - an experience that empowered her to contribute to authentic representations of First Nations stories on-screen.

Rhianna's screenwriting highlights include being mentored by Leah Purcell on development of her drama series 'Suburban Beats', winning the Australian Writer's Guild's Monte Miller Award with short film script 'The Stockman', and writing for NITV's children's series 'Eddie's Liil' Homies'. In 2024, Rhianna was the Queensland recipient of the SBS Emerging Writer's Incubator, while her online series 'Mangrove Mansion' was shortlisted for SBS's Digital Originals program.

Recently Rhianna began her journey as a director, participating in BLACKapple and Common Ground's She Directs program and receiving a Grounded Story Grant to produce video art piece 'wului: pink smoke'. Rhianna recently collaborated with First Nations musician GLVES to direct a music video for the lead single on their debut EP.

Rhianna believes in the power of story as a tool for truth-telling, survival and healing. Through her work, she hopes to honour those who have come before, while empowering the communities she belongs to by celebrating stories of Blak joy.