An Ancient Story Takes Flight: The Making of Wintjiri Wiru

Behind the Scenes of a World-First Cultural Storytelling Experience

A captivating new short film titled 'An Ancient Story Takes Flight' takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the multi-award-winning Wintjiri Wiru - Uluru's cultural storytelling, drone, light and sound experience.

'An Ancient Story Takes Flight' provides an exclusive look at how modern technology and traditional Indigenous storytelling came together to create the award-winning show – and most importantly, how Uluru’s Traditional Owners, the Anangu, guided every step of the process – including oversight of this documentary.

About Wintjiri Wiru:

Following three years of deep consultation with senior Traditional Owners – known as the Wintjiri Wiru Working Group - the immersive experience tells a chapter of the Mala creation story using cutting-edge technology, including 1200 drones, lasers, lights and immersive soundscapes.

When it launched in May 2023, Wintjiri Wiru set the tourism industry benchmark for respecting and remunerating Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP), created with expert guidance from Terri Janke & Company, Arts Law Centre and the Copyright Agency. This commitment to respecting and remunerating ICIP is enduring, with a long-term moneyline in place to ensure Anangu continue to benefit from sharing their story with the world, and quarterly Working Group meetings to ensure cultural protocols are always maintained.

The world's largest daily drone show marks the first time an Indigenous cultural story has been told at this size and scale. Wintjiri Wiru has been recognised with numerous international accolades, including 'Oceania's Leading Tourist Attraction' at the 2024 World Travel Awards; 'Industry Innovator' at the 2024 Skift Idea Awards; and silver at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in March 2025, in the category of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourist Experiences.

The drone, laser, light and sound show itself is 23 minutes long, featuring Inma (traditional ceremonial song), sung and performed by Anangu just as it would be at a traditional ceremony (with no editing or additional music production). Guests hear narration by senior Anangu in Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara languages first, then the English translation. The projected images in the sky and on the desert landscape depict ancient Uluru cave paintings of the Mala Story. The narration invites visitors to connect, understand and share their experience with the world, so that others might come to celebrate and understand Anangu culture.