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Toni Collette will make her feature-length directing debut with “The Best Of,” the screen adaptation of Graeme Simsion’s best-selling novel. The film is one of 75 projects sharing more than A$16.9 million ($11.7 million) in production and development funding from Screen Australia.
Emmy and Golden Globe winner Colette produces with Christopher Simon. The story centers around two ex-lovers who return to each other’s lives after decades apart, but old feelings become mixed up, with messy and mixed results. Screen Australia has made a major production investment in partnership with Screen NSW. Kismet handles local distribution and Cornerstone handles international sales.
The round announced Tuesday includes features, series and shorts.
“Australian storytellers continue to captivate audiences with their creativity, originality and unique perspectives. This funding supports a diverse range of projects, from emerging creators blazing new trails to established voices exploring new creative territories. Screen Current 2026 found that local stories are vital to Australians, and this project will deliver the authenticity and ambition our audiences expect,” said Louise Gough, Director of Narrative Content at Screen Australia.
Brouhaha Entertainment, creator of the “Boy Swallows Universe,” is producing “The Dark Lake,” a series based on the award-winning novels by Sarah Bailey. Tonkin plays a rural town detective who is forced to confront her own hidden secrets while investigating the murder of a former high school classmate. Troy Lum and Andrew Mason produce, and Becca Johnstone writes and executive produces. Giorgia Stawaruk, Tonkin and Katarina Mandic also serve as executive producers. Screenwest is partnering on a major production investment with additional funding from Screen NSW.
Jeffrey Walker (“The Artful Dodger,” “Fing!”) directs the feature film “Bull” (working title) from Infin8 Studios and Total Fiction Films. Based on a true story, it follows a smooth-talking convict who joins the debate team in Tasmania’s harshest prison, hoping to change course and finally give his mother a reason to be proud. It stars George Pullar, co-wrote the screenplay with Taylor Danworth, and produced with Michael Lawrence, John Molloy, and Suzanne Walker. Richard Roxburgh, Robyn Malcolm, Teresa Palmer, Thomas M Wright and Harrison Gilbertson round out the cast. Screen Queensland is involved, with Kismet handling local distribution and Cornerstone handling international sales.
Susi Mango’s untitled feature-length debut follows the story of three stubborn Italian immigrants who mobilize their multicultural neighborhood when a mysterious wellness club puts their cherished social club in jeopardy. Nick Kozakis (“Kick On”) directs from a script by the group’s Joe Salanitri, Carlo Salanitri and Andrew Manfre, and Declan Fay. Produced by Paul Dainty and Cathy Rodda, with Timothy Whiting serving as co-producer. VicScreen Partners and Roadshow provide local distribution.
Rodd Rathjen directed “No Friends But the Mountains,” adapted from Behrouz Boochani’s acclaimed memoir and a screenplay he co-wrote with Boochani. A Kurdish journalist fleeing persecution is captured at sea and sent to Manus Island, where he documents the gradual breakdown of those detained there. Produced by Gal Greenspan, Sharlene George, Amy Parry, Arkos Armont, Katy Roberts, Boochani and Antony Waddington. The New Zealand Film Commission, Screen Queensland and VicScreen are Madman’s distribution partners in Australia.
On the development front, Mithila Gupta’s “Desi Down Under” will transform her coming-of-age Indo-Australian audio series into a romantic comedy feature about three misfits who head to Coogee Beach from Kerala. While there, they hope to learn surf lifesaving skills they can use to help their compatriots. Gupta writes and produces alongside Nina Aujla, Smriti Mundhra and Maya Gnyp.
Goalpost Pictures’ series “The Caretaker,” an adaptation of Gabriel Bergmoser’s best-selling novel by Screen Australia’s 2026 Talent Gateway cohort members Alexei Mizin and Ryan van Dijk, also received development support. The thriller centers on a woman who goes into hiding as a ski resort manager after the season, and goes to ever more extreme lengths to maintain the life she has built.
“Solastalgia,” written and directed by BAFTA-nominated Rosie Westhoff (“The Main Part”), follows a young girl attempting to reconstruct her scattered memories of the forest fire that destroyed her home while finding connections in a changed place. Produced by Chloe Brennan (“We Used to Own Houses”), Amanda Browne and Ashlee Russell (both “Mothmama”), with Kitty Green (“The Royal Hotel”) serving as mentor.
Green is also a mentor to the team at Pasifika-led Mana Film Productions producing the family short “My Life as a 12-Year-Old Demon Hunter… With Cool Hair!,” a blend of live action and animation. It follows 12-year-old Tala over the course of a day as she defeats a demon to steal her powers, a bigger headache than her homework. Written, directed and co-produced by AWGIE winner and bestselling author Maria Lewis, co-produced by Shonee Samia and animated by Herbert Leota. Animator Jake Duczynski (“Magic Beach”) joins Green as a mentor. Both shorts received major production funding.
A full list of production, development and short film approvals can be found on the Screen Australia website. The agency will unveil its recently funded projects with an ABC Media Showcase on October 21.