Travis is a Waljen man from the Wongutha First Nation of the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia and was raised on Wirangu country on the Western Eyre Peninsula of South Australia.

Travis' interest in film was initially piqued when he spent his formative years immersed in all things action, from Jurassic Park and the Predator to the awe-inspiring martial arts films. During this period Travis was able to feel the thrill of the action and experience the build-up of tension that films can create.

Throughout Travis' life, he continued to build upon his film knowledge but also, as a First Nations man, interrogated the themes present in films and how they portray matters of life.

Travis' goal is to write genre films that feature diverse characters and storylines that are able to draw out honest conversations about racism, sexism, violence, colonisation and other real-life matters through the interrogation of people, place and events while also being entertaining.

Travis has been mentored in screenwriting by Hollywood-credited writer, Steph Lady and was selected for AFTRS 2019 State Talent Camp and AFTRS 2020 National Talent Camp.

In 2021 he was a finalist for Screen Australia's Writer's Incubator Initiative and worked with Fibonacci Films producer Victoria Hill (Oscar Nominated First Reformed) to complete The Holy Lance, an action-adventure feature script and a pilot episode for his own original series Containment, while completing several other programs through companies such as Matchbox Pictures, Epic Films and Hoodlum Productions.

In 2022 Travis was a finalist in the AACTA Regional Landscapes competition for his pitch The Track and also awarded a place in Australians in Film prestigious Untapped Initiative, which saw over 350 applications.

He was also accepted into South Australia Film Corporation's prestigious Film Lab 2 program in a 100% First Nations team, a first for that program and was awarded Documentary Australia's Centralized Fellowship, having produced two documentaries throughout 2021-2022.

Travis also completed an SAFC-supported Directors Attachment on Queensland shot feature film The Red, starring Tess Haubrich, Angie Milliken, Aaron Pederson and Sci-Fi Icon Michael Biehn, while Travis' first feature film Spithood, a low-budget horror film, entered production.

In early 2023 Travis has received funds to develop several projects, and produce several short films.

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Travis Akbar

Director

Writer

Producer

Cinematographer

Editor

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Additional Crew

Thanks