Acclaimed filmmaker Warwick Thornton has become the latest major name to join the new Cairns Crocodiles Film & Screen track.
The Australian director, screenwriter and cinematographer will arrive fresh from debuting his latest film, Wolfram, at the 2026 Berlinale, a powerful follow-up to his 2017 multi award-winning and festival darling, Sweet Country.
The film continues his exploration of identity, history and the enduring impact of colonialism, reinforcing his reputation as one of Australia’s most important and distinctive cinematic voices.
A proud Kaytetye man, Thornton first rose to global prominence with his debut feature Samson and Delilah, which won the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009.
He went on to receive the Special Jury Prize at Venice and the Platform Prize at Toronto for Sweet Country, while his feature The New Boy picked up the ACS Spotlight Award and the Camerimage Golden Frog for Best Cinematography.
His body of work spans film, documentary and television, including the acclaimed documentary We Don’t Need a Map and the TV series The Beach, showcasing a career defined by bold, visually striking storytelling.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled that the legend that is Warwick Thornton has agreed to speak at the inaugural Film & Screen day at Cairns Crocodiles,” said Catherine de Clare, editorial director of Irresistible Magazine and co-curator of the Film & Screen track.
“He is a giant on the world stage and an inspiration back home, not only for having picked up over 40 awards worldwide across directing, cinematography and writing, but for being one of Australia’s most important contemporary filmmakers who has transformed Indigenous storytelling on screen.”
Beyond his acclaimed feature films, de Clare explained how Thornton has brought his singular visual voice to his broader work — especially in commercials, campaign films and PSAs — using the language of cinema, powerful visuals and deep emotional storytelling to engage national conversations.
“More than a leading voice, Warwick stands as a defining force of the cinematic vanguard, and as the worlds of screen and brand continue to collide we couldn’t think of anyone we want to hear from more.”
Nancy Hromin, co-founder of Irresistible Magazine and director at The Misfits Media Company, recently travelled to Berlin for the Berlinale Film Festival, where she saw Wolfram first-hand.
Hromin, who is also co-curator of the Film & Screen track, said after seeing Wolfram at Berlinale, they knew they had to have Warwick.
Adding that Thornton’s filmmaking has always been ahead of its time, with his latest no exception,” Hromin said what’s equally remarkable is how effortlessly he moves between long-form cinema and short-form work.
“His PSA campaigns — including ‘Change Direction’ and ‘Yes: You’re The Voice with Photoplay’ — are incredibly powerful, proving that storytelling at any length can drive real impact when it’s done with this level of craft and conviction,” Hromin said.
Described and reviewed as being both visually arresting and emotionally confronting, Wolfram continued Thornton’s signature approach of blending beauty with brutality while refusing easy resolution.
Thornton’s addition to the Cairns Crocodiles slate marks a significant moment for the Film & Screen track, which is bringing together leading voices from across film, television and streaming to explore the future of storytelling and its growing intersection with brands and culture.
Just last month HOYTS officially signed on as a partner of the newly launched Film & Screen track at Cairns Crocodile, presented by Pinterest, marking a major milestone for the fast-growing Asia-Pacific festival.
See all speakers HERE.
See full agenda HERE.
