by FilmInk Staff
A heartfelt Western Australian documentary about a rowdy women’s swim-group has been selected to screen at CinefestOZ 2026.
Wild Mermaids, directed by emerging Western Australian filmmaker Catherine Young and produced by fellow Western Australian Grace Stevenson, follows a fearless community of women, the Mermaids, whose ocean swims reveal how cold water, courage and connection can transform lives and forge an unbreakable bond. Filmed against the breathtaking backdrop of Gnarabup Beach in Western Australia’s South West, the intimate short documentary explores the bi-weekly ritual of a group of women who meet at the edge of the Indian Ocean, embracing the sea in all its moods.
The story centres on the bittersweet farewell of one of the group’s beloved members, Nikol, as she prepares to leave town. Through her final swims, shared memories and quiet moments of reflection, Wild Mermaids reveals the extraordinary friendships that have grown from a simple act of entering the water together. For these women, the ocean has become far more than a place to swim, it is a source of resilience, belonging and joy.
Director Catherine Young said the film is a celebration of community and the profound ways people can find healing through nature and one another. “Wild Mermaids is a story about finding connection in unexpected places. While the ocean is the setting, the heart of the film is the remarkable friendships these women have built and the strength they give each other every single day.”
Cate, a long standing Mermaid describes the experience as life changing.
“Having a shared experience with the Mermaids is definitely one of the greatest joys of my life… It’s that excuse to play, to be like a child and to be embraced by the ocean and the natural world.”
At a time when so much of life happens through screens, finding genuine connection can be harder than ever. Wild Mermaids shows how something as simple as a regular swim twice a week can become much more than exercise. Over time, shared routines create structure, familiarity and a place where friendships can grow naturally. It’s a reminder that strong communities aren’t built through grand gestures, but through people showing up for each other, again and again.
As an Official Selection of CinefestOZ 2026, the film also celebrates the strength of Western Australian storytelling and the beauty of the state’s South West coastline.
