A Storyteller Championing First Nations Truth on Screen
Few storytellers in Australia’s screen landscape move as effortlessly between performance, producing, and cultural advocacy as Trisha Morton-Thomas. A proud Anmatjere and Kaytetye woman from the Northern Territory, Morton-Thomas has built a career dedicated to elevating First Nations storytelling, ensuring Indigenous perspectives are not only represented on screen but embedded throughout the creative process.
Across more than two decades in the industry, Morton-Thomas has become one of Australia’s most respected First Nations screen practitioners – a filmmaker, writer, actor, and producer whose work consistently centres around community, truth-telling, and cultural resilience.
A recent major milestone in her career came with the STUDIOCANAL feature film Kangaroo, the heart-warming Australian family film directed by Kate Woods and inspired by the true story of Kangaroo Sanctuary founder Chris “Brolga” Barnes. Morton-Thomas, through her production company Brindle Films, both co-produced the film (alongside Bunya Productions and Cultivator Films) and appeared on screen, contributing to a production that has resonated strongly with audiences across Australia and internationally.
Released in cinemas in September 2025, Kangaroo became the highest-grossing Australian film of the year and attracted audiences around the world.
Filmed largely in Central Australia and supported by Screen Territory, the production also delivered significant economic and employment benefits to the Northern Territory screen sector, creating local jobs and engaging businesses across the region. For Morton-Thomas, the film represents the growing scale and ambition of stories emerging from the Territory – stories grounded in place, culture and community but capable of travelling globally.
That philosophy has guided Morton-Thomas throughout her career. While having an active career behind the camera, she has become known to Australian audiences as an actor, appearing in landmark feature film Radiance (directed by Rachel Perkins) and acclaimed television series including Redfern Now, Total Control, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Ten Pound Poms, True Colours and MaveriX (which she also produced for Netflix) as well as numerous stage productions that have helped bring contemporary Indigenous storytelling into the national conversation.
But it is as perhaps a creator and cultural storyteller that Morton-Thomas has truly shaped the industry. Through her production work alongside producing partner Rachel Clements at her company Brindle Films, Trisha has actively fostered a new generation of First Nations stories to audiences across Australia and internationally.
Her impressive resume spans documentary, factual entertainment, and scripted storytelling, often exploring themes of identity, history, and cultural continuity.
“Storytelling has always been central to our culture… What’s exciting now is that we’re seeing more opportunities for First Nations people to control how those stories are shared – and who gets to tell them.
Trisha Morton-Thomas
Most recently, Morton-Thomas co-directed and co-produced the acclaimed documentary Journey Home, David Gulpilil, a deeply personal film chronicling the final journey of one of Australia’s most celebrated Indigenous actors as he returns to Country in Arnhem Land. The documentary offers an intimate portrait of legacy, culture and connection and won the Best Documentary award at the 2026 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards (AACTAs).
For Morton-Thomas, projects like these carry deep responsibility.
“Stories like these carry weight. They belong to family, to community, and to Country. Our job as filmmakers is to champion them with care and respect, and to make sure they are told the right way.”
Trisha Morton-Thomas
Beyond her own creative work, Morton-Thomas has become a powerful mentor and advocate for Indigenous participation across the screen industry. She has mentored emerging filmmakers, supported community-based storytelling initiatives, and helped open pathways for new voices from across the Northern Territory and beyond.
Her influence can also be felt in the increasing visibility of First Nations practitioners across Australia’s film and television sector, from writers and directors to producers, performers and crew.
For Morton-Thomas, that progress is both encouraging and essential.
“We’re seeing more First Nations filmmakers stepping into these spaces and owning their stories. That’s the future of the industry, a screen culture where Indigenous storytellers aren’t just contributing but leading the way.”
Trisha Morton-Thomas
Looking ahead, Morton-Thomas continues to develop projects that celebrate culture while challenging audiences to engage with deeper truths about Australia’s history and identity. Her work stands as a powerful reminder that storytelling is not simply about entertainment, it is about connection, understanding, and legacy.
As global audiences increasingly seek authentic voices and perspectives, practitioners like Trisha Morton-Thomas are shaping a new chapter for Australian screen storytelling.
And in doing so, they are ensuring that the stories of the world’s oldest living cultures continue to be shared, with strength, integrity, and influence.
Learn more about partnering with talented Northern Territory filmmakers like Trisha.
Contact Jennie Hughes from Screen Territory.
