Entertainment
19 June, 2026
Take a trip on the wild side
ONE of the world’s leading documentary cinematographers will give Cairns audiences a behind-the-scenes look at filming wildlife and natural history stories around the globe later this month.
Sydney filmmaker Pieter de Vries will present ‘On the Wild Side’ for ArtsNational Cairns at the Stratford Library Meeting Room on Sunday 21 June.
The presentation will feature stories and filming techniques Mr de Vries has used to capture wildlife for productions, involving Sir David Attenborough and National Geographic.
He will illustrate the talk with segments from his nature documentaries, showcasing footage, ranging from playful Macaque monkeys in China to cassowaries in Northern Australia.
Mr de Vries spends up to six months of the year travelling to locations around the world filming documentaries.
During his career, he has filmed subjects as diverse as the Red Army in China, rats in the sewers of New York and the wreck of the Titanic alongside director James Cameron.
His work has featured on ABC Television, NBC, BBC, History, Discovery and National Geographic channels. He has also contributed to programs hosted by Sir David Attenborough and was director of photography for Darwin’s Lost Paradise.
Mr de Vries’ work has earned numerous industry honours, including cinematographer of the year and an Emmy nomination.
Organisers say the event will offer a rare opportunity to hear directly from an internationally recognised cinematographer about the challenges and techniques involved in capturing extraordinary wildlife and documentary footage worldwide.
The event will begin at 2pm, with attendees asked to be seated by 1.45pm. The venue is the Stratford Library Meeting Room at 11 Kamerunga Road, Stratford. Entry is free for ArtsNational members, while visitors can attend for $25, which includes afternoon tea.
The presentation is part of ArtsNational Cairns’ program of lectures and events designed to connect local audiences with experts.
