Samantha Alexis Laughton

I am an Eastern Arrernte filmmaker from Mparntwe, a region rich in First Nations history, art and culture. Growing up I listened to my grandfather’s stories about the two cultural worlds we lived in and got involved in local theatre as a way to express myself and explore these topics. Early exposure to politics and family connections to prominent Aboriginal leaders was a big influence on me. I recognised the power of media driven public perceptions, the privilege of holding family histories and my growing purpose to tell stories.

Brought up by a single mother dedicated to First Nations advancement, I learnt the value of self determination and helping others create their own narrative in life. This crystalised the decision to give back to the community through story and truthtelling. I began my screen career in 2006, working in various roles at: WIN, SBS, NITV, Toombak Indigenous Productions, No Coincidence Media, Stage23, Netflix, Ronde Media and most recently, Honey Ant Productions. 

The idea for Honey Ant sprouted in 2022, as an assistant director on ‘True Colours’. Further opportunities followed on: ‘The Moogai’, ‘The New Boy’, ‘The Royal Hotel’, ‘Monkey Man’ and ‘Territory’. It became apparent - First Nations stories required creative sovereignty, community oriented support and a cultural bridge, genre - to contribute to authentic and richer Australian screen narratives that cross global borders. Following this realisation, I gained a masters in arts screen business from AFTRS, shot two short films for major festivals, received recognition from the Australian Academy and Screen Australia support for a debut feature film.

Through the Churchill Fellowship, I would like to connect with First Nations filmmakers who have overcome marginalisation and successfully created genre films for global audiences. I would like to explore our collective experiences as First Nations storytellers; whose history, traditions and communities often reflect one another. I hope these insights contribute to a future where authentically authored and empowered screen stories broaden how Australia sees itself and global perspectives of our shared history.