Trent from Cowboy Hat Films is a visual ethnographer and experienced documentary filmmaker.
Senator David Pocock presents “The Western Edge”, a vision to return land in Canberra to local First Nations people.
“NAMIB” is a ritual worship to an ancient desert, celebrating the vibrant rhythms of Namibian wildlife and Himba culture.
Join indigenous Topnaar guide Rudolf Dausab to discover the dunes of Hottentots Bay, north of Lüderitz, Namibia
Meet “Miles From The Location”, a musical street hustler from Swakopmund on a mission to look after his town.
“Relish in the Ransom of Loneliness” is an abstract meditation on the Icelandic landscape.
“Men of Ice” is a tale of exploration, teamwork, and the enduring human spirit, told from the most hostile continent on Earth.
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"Trent embodies the essence of what defines a documentary filmmaker. With a deep academic curiosity, Trent’s talent shines as he crafts visually compelling stories that distill complex material into narratives accessible to a wide audience. His work ethic is unmatched; he is on set before sunrise and remains fully committed until late at night. Whether enduring extreme desert conditions or working with local communities, Trent’s approachable personality and collaborative spirit enable him to connect easily with everyone he meets. His work is already making a significant impact, and we are confident this influence will only grow as he continues to create in this field." Jens Schneider, CFF
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"I loved working with Trent. He was easy to work with, understood our vision for The Western Edge, and brought it to life. The final product exceeded my expectations, and I look forward to working with him again." Senator David Pocock
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"We are very grateful to Trent for joining this Year's Rising Tide People's Blockade and for his help in capturing the amazing spirit of the event. Trent has an incredible talent to capture the authentic stories and energies of people and his spontaneity and calm focus make it a pleasure to work with him. Looking at his images you can tell that Trent is not only a great film maker but also a great listener. Thank you, Trent, for all you have contributed to the 2025 People's Blockade!" Alexa Stuart, RT Organiser
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"Trent was a great fella to work with. A valuable member of any team. It was an absolute pleasure to have him on Wave 6 of flood recovery with Disaster Relief Australia in Taree, NSW. He was as willing to pick up a broom and help muck out as he was to pick up his camera and film others." Ian Pope, DRA
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“When we needed someone to capture a deeply personal story, we knew it had to be handled with care. Trent’s approach wasn’t just professional—it was human. He listened and honoured the emotions behind every moment. On the many days of filming, Trent always created an atmosphere of trust and respect. The team loved working with him. His commitment to each project goes far beyond just filming—it’s about truly understanding the heart of the story and bringing it to life with authenticity and care.” Carrie Ann-Leeson, Lifeline Canberra CEO
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"Trent has incredible maturity way beyond his years as a videographer, and a natural ability and internal rhythm to interpret and capture movement and dance through the camera and crucially in the edit" Dr. Cathy Adamek, Director
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"I was blown away by the authenticity of Trent's approach, not just with videography, but also how he carries himself through life. The entire process was easeful and filled with mutual respect, talent and appreciation. Trent glowed in his ability to spontaneously adapt to various unpredictable situations. I was delighted by Trent’s natural storytelling ability and well crafted composition. I felt included during the editing phase and Trent was able to fill my often quite particular requests as if there was nothing to it. Trent is an incredibly talented young man who is clearly doing what he loves! I’d count anyone lucky who has Trent support them with their project. Marenn Sagar
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"Trent perfectly captures our events. Sidestage engages Trent because he reliably delivers high end videography, causing us to consistently say "wow" everytime we see the end product." Beau Campbell, Operations Manager
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"Trent's skills and ideas and efforts have come so far, we are so lucky to have someone like him to capture the sights and sounds of Speed Week. His videos have become a very popular part of the coverage of the event, all credit to you for the great job he does." Greg Wapling, DLRA President
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"Trent, just amazing - it has been an absolute delight working with him! The fastest turn around and smoothest delivery for the video on YDF record!" Emma Dykes, Marketing Manager
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"Trent, immediate reaction - you are the Spielberg of formal videography! What I love over our time together is that every year is different - love the student interviews this year." Lancelot Yu, TPS
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“Our deepest gratitude goes to Trent Houssenloge and Chris Curran from Cowboy Hat Films, whose creative vision brought the short films and animations of 'The Fold' to life with such artistry. Collaborating with you continues to be an absolute joy!" Bonnie & Suzy, TTG
The human behind the camera
“Over the last decade, I’ve fallen in love with filmmaking over and over again. My career so far has gifted me many glorious opportunities to listen and learn from a diverse range of people spread across different corners of our world, each with fresh ideas and provocative perspectives. As a storyteller, my duty is to amplify these stories to audiences everywhere.
All of this has been pivotal in establishing and evolving the Cowboy Hat Films brand - building a deep sense of empathy for those I work with.”
Trent Houssenloge
