by FilmInk Staff
South Australian Psychological Horror Feature THE ROLE Launches Public Fundraising Campaigns!
Independent South Australian production companies Nyawa Pictures, Mount Lofty Studios, and Cabana Productions have officially launched fundraising campaigns for their upcoming psychological horror feature film, THE ROLE.
Currently casting support roles, The Role is a psychological horror feature exploring obsession, identity, ambition, and psychological collapse within the world of filmmaking and performance.
Designed as a contained but cinematic horror experience, the film combines grounded emotional drama with escalating psychological terror.
The project marks the feature directorial debut of South Australian filmmaker Adam Gerard, founder of Cabana Productions. Gerard has been working across South Australia’s independent film sector through producing and directing narrative films, documentaries, and socially driven projects focused on authentic storytelling and representation. His previous work includes frequent collaborations with Nyawa Pictures’ Travis Akbar.
Gerard’s filmmaking journey has also been shaped by significant personal adversity, including surviving childhood bullying, leading to multiple spinal injuries and Complex PTSD, experiences that have influenced his commitment to emotionally honest storytelling and psychologically intense material. Gerard was one of South Australia’s 40 under 40 in 2022.
The film stars emerging South Australian actor Murray Curtis, recognised for his intense dramatic performances and grounded screen presence. Curtis has steadily built a reputation within the South Australian screen industry through emotionally demanding and character-driven work, in particular as Jeff Reed in The Speedway Murders.
Producing the film is award-winning South Australian filmmaker Yogi Devgan, founder of Mount Lofty Studios. Devgan is widely recognised for his work championing diversity, inclusion, and multicultural storytelling within the Australian screen industry. A graduate of the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Film and Television, Devgan has produced and directed numerous acclaimed projects across narrative and documentary filmmaking.
His acclaimed film A Silent Escape earned multiple international awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress, while his documentary UNBREAKABLE STRIDE received the South Australian Award at the Focus on Ability Film Festival.
Beyond filmmaking, Devgan founded both the Port Adelaide Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival and the Australian Film Diversity and Inclusion Foundation, advocating for underrepresented voices across the screen industry.
Producing alongside Yogi is screenwriter Travis Akbar through his company Nyawa Pictures, a First Nations-owned South Australian production company focused on creating authentic, commercially accessible stories across genres and dramatic filmmaking.
Travis’ priority is creating projects that focus on First Nations and Diverse voices and explore identity.
The filmmakers say The Role aims to showcase how ambitious genre filmmaking can continue to emerge from South Australia through collaboration, independent financing, and grassroots audience support.
Funding raised through the campaigns will support cast and crew wages, equipment hires, locations, cinematography, practical effects, production design and post-production.
Supporters can contribute through the official Kickstarter campaign, which includes supporter rewards and behind-the-scenes incentives.
Australian supporters can also make tax-deductible donations of over $2 through the Australian Cultural Fund campaign.
