Toomelah (2011)

A young boy from a blighted home turns to a life of crime in this gritty drama from Australian filmmaker Ivan Sen. Ten-year-old Daniel (Daniel Connors) was born and raised in Toomelah, an aboriginal community in New South Wales. Daniel's father is an alcoholic and his mother is addicted to drugs; with little guidance from his parents, Daniel's principle role models are the members of a neighborhood gang, who earn respect for their lawless ways. After being expelled from school, Daniel spends most of his time with Linden (Christopher Edwards), a fast-talking gang banger who makes his living dealing drugs. As Daniel becomes the gang's mascot, he's drawn into their daily rounds, and when Bruce (Dean Daley-Jones), the leader of a rival gang, is released from jail, Daniel is given the job of following Bruce and keeping tabs on his activities. However, the rivalry between Linden and Bruce is a bitter one, and when the tensions explode into violence, Daniel is caught in the crossfire. Daniel Connors' performance in Toomelah earned him the award for Best Young Actor at the 2012 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards.