The City of Fremantle’s annual Truth-Telling screen and cultural festival, FOCUS First Nation Films, returns on 26 January 2027.

Presented as a part of the City’s dedicated Truth-Telling program, FOCUS brings our community together with First Nations filmmakers, artists and cultural leaders to share stories and create space for reflection, cultural exchange and honest dialogue about Australia’s history, the ongoing impacts of colonisation, and to acknowledge the enduring strength, wisdom, practices and resilience of First Nations communities.

Through film, storytelling, music, art, literature and cultural exchange, FOCUS brings our community together in solidarity to deepen understanding, foster respect and empathy, and build stronger connections through shared stories and collective experience.

What’s on in 2027

Alongside the film program, FOCUS welcomes back the Walyalup Oration – a centrepiece of the festival where leading voices in Indigenous / colonial relations share insights on creating a fairer, (re)conciled, and more prosperous future for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Presented live and broadcasted on ABC Big Ideas, you can listen to our 2026 inaugural speaker Thomas Mayo here.

In 2027, FOCUS moves into a one-day program, with a new family-focused afternoon featuring short films produced in local communities, alongside music, food, cultural activities, stalls and more.

Community Short Film submissions now open. More information here: fremantle.wa.gov.au/focus-first-nation-films