by FIlmInk Staff
Australian production and distribution company Screenxcope has joined acclaimed Nepali filmmaker Deepak Rauniyar’s latest short film, Private Property, as an official co-production partner, with Melbourne-based producer Sakib Iftekhar serving as co-producer.
The 18-minute fiction short will celebrate its World Premiere in competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, where it has also been selected as one of only six films nominated for the prestigious Pardo for Change Award, recognising works that engage with pressing contemporary social issues.
A USA–Nepal–France–Australia co-production, Private Property is produced by Aadi Films in co-production with Salt for Sugar Films (France) and Screenxcope (Australia). The film is produced by Asha Magrati, Kiersten Houser, Kim Carr and Sheldon Chau, with Avantika Singh Desbouvries, Rajendra Thakurathi and Sakib Iftekhar serving as co-producers.
Set over one night at an American gas station, Private Property follows a Nepali immigrant and an unhoused military veteran whose encounter spirals into a tense examination of migration, race, identity and belonging in contemporary America.
“At a time when questions of migration, identity and belonging are shaping conversations around the world, Private Property is exactly the kind of bold, internationally relevant cinema we want to support. Its themes resonate far beyond borders, making it a particularly important and timely film in today’s geopolitical climate. We’re proud to support Deepak’s vision and to see this Australia-backed co-production premiere on one of world cinema’s most prestigious stages,” said Sakib Iftekhar from Screenxcope.
Founded by Sakib Iftekhar, Screenxcope is an Australian film production and distribution company working across international co-productions, film distribution and festival strategy, with a focus on cinema from South and Southeast Asia.
Named by The New York Times as one of the “9 New Directors You Need to Watch,” Deepak Rauniyar is among South Asia’s most internationally acclaimed filmmakers. His work has premiered at the Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Busan, Sydney and Locarno film festivals. His acclaimed feature White Sun represented Nepal at the Academy Awards, while his latest feature, Pooja, Sir, premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival and begins streaming on SBS On Demand from 1 August 2026.
Following its world premiere at Locarno, Private Property will continue its international festival campaign before pursuing worldwide festival strategy and international sales, represented by Parallax Films.
