Cairns Crocodiles back for more First Nations Storytelling

Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest, returns this month with its inaugural Film and Screen track placing First Nations storytelling and representation at the heart of every conversation and in the middle of the business of screen.

In a first for an industry screen gathering, the track is set to feature First Nations creatives on the majority of panels, including industry heavyweights likes the legendary Aussie director, screenwriter and cinematographer Warwick Thornton,  filmmaker, actor, and creative executive Aaron Fa’aoso, media leader from NITV Rhanna Collins, emerging filmmakers Shontell Leah Ketchell and Caden Pearson, and NITV executive and presenter Nikyah Hutchings, who also won the B&T 30 under 30 Grand Prix this year.

Screenwriter and cinematographer Warwick Thornton.

The move signals a deliberate shift, embedding indigenous perspectives across the entire breadth of brand, screen and culture discussions, and the 2026 agenda positions First Nations creatives as central to how Australia will define its next era of commercial screen success.

Tanya Denning Orman, Director of First Nations content at SBS, NITV and World Indigenous Broadcaster has been pleased with how the Film & Screen track has shaped up.

“What Cairns Crocodiles is doing- creating a space for brands to think differently and engage in real, meaningful change – is exactly what our industry needs right now,’ Denning Orman,” said.

Warwick Thornton will be speaking with Rhanna Collins alongside the world- class cinematographer Toby Oliver, bringing together two of Australia’s most respected screen voices for an in-depth conversation, The Vision behind the Visionaries, centred around culture, craft and the future of storytelling.

Aaron Fa’aoso, Founder and Executive Director of Lone Star Production Group, said he saw the conference as a quiet engine room, and the place where ideas will begin to connect – a space for smarter, more integrated thinking.

“The Film and Screen track is a fantastic opportunity, not only for Lone Star, but for placing attention on the whole First Nations screen community, not least because of the participation of screen identity Warwick Thornton,” Fa’aoso said.

“Warwick, who’s new film Wolfram is just out, is a fantastic advocate for First Nations storytelling and an incredible practitioner.

Creative executive Aaron Fa’aoso.

“His journey through the industry continues to inspire with its authenticity. Cairns Crocodiles presents a wonderful opportunity for practitioners to have access to big brands and decision makers without the middlemen, and the brands are getting access to traditional storytellers. It’s a seat at the table. And the table just got bigger.”

As the industry builds towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, the Film and Screen track positions the Australian creative sector as a unified, visible, and culturally grounded presence on a global stage.

Across the broader agenda, the panels will examine the ways in which First Nations leadership intersects with emerging production models and finance.

Founder of Pandamonium Films Shontell Leah Ketchell.

Shontell Leah Ketchell, Founder of Pandamonium Films is excited to discuss the positioning of the panels around hope, shared experience and the role screen plays in shaping what’s possible, as well as how emerging creators are navigating both cultural responsibility and commercial viability in the current landscape. 

“It feels very timely,” Ms Ketchell said.  “And its aligned with where audiences are at right now. Storytelling is a tool for identity, belonging and aspiration, and culturally grounded stories can connect with broad audiences in a meaningful way.”

The Film and Screen track is powered by Irresistible Magazine and was curated alongside a cross-sector advisory group spanning television, film, production, media and marketing.

• Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest, is set to take place from Tuesday May 12 to Thursday May 14.