Creative team: Thomas Carr & Louis Tanner Our team was selected as a finalist in the Cairns Hatchlings creative competition, a 48-hour live challenge that brings together top emerging creatives from across Australasia. We competed in the Video Brief category, where each team was tasked with producing an original 90 second short film in response to a real world non profit brief. This year’s partner was Mission Australia, and our assigned subject was Café One, a Cairns based initiative offering a 24-week paid barista training program for people facing/experiencing homelessness. We were also given access to a Café One staff member to interview and feature. Our objective was to humanise homelessness by telling a real story, not through pity, but through empowerment. The resulting video follows the experience of our subject on her first day at work, highlighting her strength, ambition, and the dignity that support services like Café One help restore. The film disrupts stereotypes, reframes homelessness as a circumstance rather than a flaw, and focuses on progress rather than despair. By using a blend of documentary realism and stylised storytelling, we created an emotionally resonant narrative that encourages empathy, action, and advocacy. Deliverables included multiple video formats, a written rationale, and a live pitch presentation to an industry judging panel. All produced within 48 hours. We are proud to win the competition and take home the Cairns Hatchlings Trophy. This project not only showcased the transformative impact of Mission Australia’s work but also aligned deeply with their brand values of inclusion, dignity, and second chances. Helping reinforce their identity in a meaningful, memorable way.