The Arakwal BoBBAC, Flickerfest & iQ Inc are thrilled to present their annual evening of inspiring First Nations storytelling celebrating NAIDOC Week 2026 and this year's theme ‘50 Years of Deadly’.

This year’s First Nations Spotlight programme of Flickerfest favourites is curated from the recent Flickerfest Academy® qualifying Australian competition and will take you on a special journey with some incredibly strong and powerful stories, whose compelling voices will inspire, move and delight.

The filmmakers and film creatives featured in the 19th Arakwal NAIDOC week screening are some of the leading lights in First Nations film today, blazing brightly on Australian screens.

The programme showcases seven remarkable short films, including: Bringing His Spirit Home by alumni Dylan Nicholls who attended Kingcliff High School, his film received an Honourable Mention by the Jury at Flickerfest, is a moving journey as Peter travels to France to perform ceremony for his great-uncle, an Aboriginal WWI soldier, to finally bring his spirit home; The Truth About The Telegraph, A powerful reframing of colonial history, revealing the Overland Telegraph Line’s impact on Kaytetye and Warumungu peoples through testimony of resilience and unbroken connection to Country; La Pa Legends: A First For Mardi Gras, a fun and colourful insight into the La Perouse communities  journey to participation in their first Mardi Gras Parade; the moving drama Faceless about an indigenous man who must navigate 3 realities to find his place on his land and sweet romance Second Chance about two people who meet up decades later for a second chance at love;  Lilla Berry’s moving and personal The Secret; and the sweet family drama Catchin’ Mumoo.

Come along & enjoy these unique stories from incredible First Nations filmmakers championing First Nations voices and this year's NAIDOC theme ‘50 Years of Deadly’ & support the celebration of First Nations culture during NAIDOC Week, meet filmmaker Dylan Nicholls who will be in attendance to introduce his award-winning documentary, 'Bringing His Spirit Home'.

A fundraiser for the Arakwal Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation, presented by Flickerfest & iQ Inc - supported by the Byron Theatre.

Programme detail: flickerfest.com.au/programme/first-nations-spotlight-shorts-2026-tour/

Event Details:

‍5:30 pm - Venue doors and bar open

6:10 pm - Theatre doors open

6:30 pm - Screening begins

8:30 pm - Event ends