Cairns Hatchlings is a competitive awards program recognising emerging creative talent across Asia-Pacific, presented in partnership with Pinterest and Yahoo. Creative team: Thomas Carr & Louis Tanner Our team was selected as a finalist in a 48-hour live challenge briefed by Mission Australia. Each team was tasked with producing an original 90 second short film responding to a real world non-profit issue. Our assigned subject was Café One, a Cairns based initiative offering a 24-week paid barista training program for people experiencing homelessness. We were given direct 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 dignity and empowerment. The film follows our subject on her first day at work, highlighting her strength, ambition and the opportunity support services like Café One can create. The film disrupts stereotypes, reframes homelessness as a circumstance rather than a flaw, and focuses on progress rather than despair. Through documentary realism and stylised storytelling, we aimed to create an emotionally resonant narrative that drives 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 have won 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 values of inclusion, dignity and second chances, helping reinforce their identity in a meaningful and memorable way