As preparations ramp up for Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest 2027, we’re taking a look behind the scenes at one of the festival’s newest additions, the Film & Screen track, and the story of how it came to life.
First launched in 2022 as Cannes in Cairns, before being renamed Cairns Crocodiles in 2025, the three-day festival brings together the advertising, marketing, media and creative industries for a packed program spanning its Mainstage, Building Brands and Rewilding Creativity tracks, alongside afternoon sessions at Hemingway’s Brewery.
In 2026, the festival expanded into new territory with the introduction of Film & Screen, its first dedicated spin-off track, bringing filmmakers, actors, producers and screen executives together with brands and marketers.
“As we head into our sixth year of Cairns Crocodiles, it’s exciting to see how much the festival has evolved,” said Pippa Chambers, content director of Cairns Crocodiles.
“Film & Screen was our first dedicated spin-off track, and the response this year was phenomenal. We’re thrilled to be bringing it back for 2027, and it’s opened our eyes to the potential for even more specialist tracks in the years ahead.”
Fresh from a Melbourne launch party this month, Film & Screen will return on Wednesday 26 May, day two of Cairns Crocodiles 2027.
Curated by Nancy Hromin (above centre) and Catherine de Clare (left), co-founders of Irresistible Magazine, the inaugural 2026 program featured an impressive lineup of talent, including acclaimed filmmaker Warwick Thornton, Hollywood cinematographer Toby Oliver, producer Cody Greenwood, Jaguar Land Rover’s Gavin Merriman, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Stephanie Taylor-Carrillo, HOYTS’ Stephanie Mills and leading First Nations voices including Anusha Duray, Rhanna Collins, Shontell Leah Ketchell and more.
For 2027, the track returns with a refreshed advisory board, welcoming new additions including acclaimed actor Daniel MacPherson, Thinkerbell founder Adam Ferrier, Annabelle Gigliotti of Organic and Georgia Woodward of The Post Lounge, among others.
See past Film & Screen speakers and the advisory board here.
Hromin, director and owner of The Misfits Media Company and editor-at-large of Travel Weekly, has spent years attending international film festivals alongside de Clare, building relationships across the screen industry and exploring the growing opportunities for collaboration between entertainment and brands.
Cairns Crocodiles content director Pippa Chambers sat down with Hromin to find out how a chance encounter at Sundance helped spark the idea, why legendary filmmaker George Miller encouraged the pair to bring the industry together and what’s in store for 2027.
PC: What sparked the idea for a dedicated Film & Screen track at Cairns Crocodiles, and how did it come to life?
NH: Catherine and I had been going to film festivals for the last few years as media for our magazine, Irresistible. Catherine also contributes as B&T’s entertainment editor, and in my role at The Misfits as editor-at-large of Travel Weekly, we naturally noticed all the brand presence at the festivals. It was really at Sundance, when the executive team we met there had heard of Cairns Crocodiles / Cannes in Cairns and were keen to be involved and attend, that the idea took shape.
PC: How would you describe Film & Screen in a nutshell, and what sets it apart?
NH: We like to describe it as the business of TV and screen/film. Three things set it apart. Firstly, it’s the only event that is for all film and screen professionals (all the conferences in Australia tend to be in silos based on profession, so producers at SPA, cinematographers have their thing and so on). Director George Miller told us at a function that there’s nothing in Australia that brings everyone together. He then sent us a Japanese festival that he goes to and told us to do something like that!
Secondly, we already have brands and TV networks / streamers that attend Cairns, and with our database of filmmakers from Irresistible, thought it made sense to put them together.
Lastly, we also have Travel Weekly here, so the tourism boards and screen tourism leaders that are interested in this space are also invited. We think that makes it unique to the region, if not globally.
PC: The inaugural track featured an incredible lineup of talent. Which three speakers or sessions best capture the breadth and ambition of Film & Screen, and why?
NH: The Marriage of Screen and Marketing session was a big hit, with Gavin Merriman from Jaguar Land Rover sharing the long history the brand has had in film and screen.
Secondly, all the First Nations talent we had across the track (Anusha Duray, Caden Pearson, Rhanna Collins, Nikyah Hutchings, Aaron Fa’aoso and Warwick Thornton) was, we were told, something that had never really been done like that before.
Finally, we showcased micro-dramas with Timothy Oh from COL Group in China before most people had heard of it.
PC: What was the reaction to Film & Screen in its first year? Any standout feedback, conversations or surprises?
NH: Warwick Thornton’s quote was that there was nothing like this in Australia in terms of how we represented First Nations talent and that was the benchmark now for him to attend festivals. He also stayed all week!
Toby Oliver, who had spent a decade in Hollywood and attended every ceremony, said he thought it better than Hollywood. We think he was just being kind as we don’t have US$500k goodie bags like they do at the Oscars. Not yet.
PC: Why is it important to bring the film, screen, advertising and creative industries together? What happens when these worlds collide?
NH: In Australia, most film funding is government dollars or philanthropy, and it’s a shrinking pool. We think there’s an opportunity for marketers to find more innovative ways to promote their brands, tourism boards to capitalise on “The White Lotus” effect of screen and filmmakers to find new sources of gap funding and actual funding. Secondly, filmmakers are often also doing ads and short form and vice versa, and it’s a great opportunity for them to find new work.
PC: What were the biggest learnings from 2026, and how are they shaping the track for 2027?
NH: We have been seen as a bit of a disruptor to the status quo by the people who don’t want the status quo to be disrupted. But encouragingly, there are a lot more people enthusiastic about what we are trying to achieve, and that’s what matters. Based on what we have seen from our travels globally, we really believe the festival is world-class and have created an environment where the right people attend that can connect and form meaningful professional associations. The track is shaping up to be even more groundbreaking, with topics like private financing, verticals and impact films some of the topics we are planning on showcasing.
PC: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of film and screen?
NH: I’m excited to see Catherine with her dark glasses and fabulous outfits and whatever Prime Minister she has managed to secure for 2027.
Don’t miss out! Snap up your tickets for Cairns Crocodiles Presented by Pinterest 2027 HERE. And if you’ve got a brilliant session idea for the Film & Screen track, pitch it through Topics in the Tropics HERE before Friday 13 November.
