As the new year begins, a significant milestone has been reached in Australia’s screen industry, with Wirra Distribution, Australia’s first Aboriginal-owned feature film distribution company, announcing the acquisition of Australia and New Zealand distribution rights for The Shadows of Trust, a psychological thriller from First Nations filmmaker Thibul Nettle, from Firestick Films.
Wirra Distribution is aiming to build new pathways for First Nations, diverse and mainstream filmmakers to bring their stories to wide audiences. This early announcement marks Wirra’s second new release, following its acquisition of Josh Trigg’s SATU: Year of the Rabbit, a Laos-shot, Lao-language film set to hit cinemas in April 2026. It reflects a growing slate grounded in self-determination, cultural leadership and industry equity.
Written, directed and produced by Nettle, The Shadows of Trust is a gripping psychological thriller that explores love, loyalty and the emotional cost of trust within intimate relationships. Nettle also stars in the film alongside Sarah Jeavons (Ruby, Ruby), Georgia Williams (Ladies in Black) and Trung Le (With or Without You).
Described as a tense and psychologically charged narrative, the film has been compared to contemporary thrillers such as Gone Girl, while remaining deeply personal in its storytelling. For Nettle, the project is closely connected to lived experience and the power of shared storytelling.
“The Shadows of Trust was inspired by my own experiences, delving into love, loyalty, and the emotional cost of trust within a relationship,” he said.
“It’s an honour to be working with Wirra Distribution on the release of The Shadows of Trust across Australia and New Zealand. Our aim at Firestick Films, and as filmmakers, is to build a lasting relationship that brings First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians together to experience our stories side by side.”
The Shadows of Trust is scheduled for release in 2026, with festival screenings planned ahead of a strategic rollout across Australian cinemas, streaming platforms and international markets.
The partnership between Wirra Distribution and Firestick Films represents reconciliation in action: First Nations leadership across the full filmmaking pipeline, strengthened cultural and commercial pathways, and stories that invite audiences to engage, reflect and connect together.
As Wirra Distribution’s slate continues to grow, so too does the opportunity for a more inclusive screen sector, one where First Nations stories are not only told, but seen, valued and shared widely.
