by FilmInk Staff
2026 SCREEN LEGEND: DAMON HERRIMAN
Sweet Milk Lake – created by Western Australian writer, director, producer and actor Harvey Zielinski – was announced last night as the 2026 CinefestOZ Film Prize Winner – the richest $100,000 Film Prize in the country for an Australian production.
The filmmaking team behind Sweet Milk Lake – including Harvey Zielinski, actor Ngaire Pigram and producer Philippa Campey – were presented the Award by the 2026 Film Prize Jury at the prestigious Film Prize Celebration, as part of Western Australia’s CinefestOZ Film Festival in Busselton.
CinefestOZ Chair Margaret Buswell said the CinefestOZ Film Prize Award was created to celebrate excellence in Australian filmmaking. “On behalf of CinefestOZ, I would like to congratulate all our exceptional finalists – The Fox, Wilderness, Yesterday Island and our 2026 winner Sweet Milk Lake. Each film represents the extraordinary talent, creativity and storytelling that continues to define Australian cinema.”
“I would also like to sincerely thank our incredible Film Prize Jury – Chair Greer Simpkin, Rachel House, Gregor Jordan, Katie Milwright and Mark Coles Smith – for generously sharing their time, knowledge and expertise, and for their genuine passion and commitment to celebrating and supporting Australian filmmaking.”
Greer Simpkin spoke about the decision on behalf of the Jury saying:
“It has been an honour to be on this jury, we have all become fast friends as we were sequestered away to spend hours watching films and then talking about them. It has been wonderful.
“Each film was wonderfully unique and all four films generated a rigorous discussion between us. On behalf of the jury, I would like to congratulate all of the filmmaking teams on the creativity and passion they have brought to this year’s CinefestOZ Film Prize.
“As a jury we were asked to assess each film against the broad criteria ‘excellence in Australian filmmaking’. There are many ways we could look at this, and in the end we came to the conclusion that we wanted to choose a film that had the strongest point of view, that clearly had something to say and share, and that possessed an emotional resonance that could bridge understanding between audiences and our communities as a whole.
“Our final choice – Sweet Milk Lake – is a film that is assured, technically impressive, and delivers a unique and transformative perspective to Australian cinema. A film bolstered by its courage and nuance, and in the end, offers a true sense of hope.”
Harvey Zielinski, who accepted the award on behalf of the Sweet Milk Lake team said: “This is such an incredible, overwhelming honour.
“We’re very, very grateful. Thank you to CinefestOZ, the jury, our incredible cast and crew, and everyone who brought Sweet Milk Lake to life and believed in it from the beginning.
“This film is such a labour of love from so many people, and we’re so thankful it’s resonating. This means more to us than we can really put into words. Thank you CinefestOZ!”
Previous year’s Film Prize winners include Songs Inside (2025); The Moogai (2024); Shayda (2023); Of An Age (2022); Nitram (2021), H is for Happiness (2019), Jirga (2018), Ali’s Wedding (2017), Girl Asleep (2016), Putuparri and the Rainmakers (2015), and Paper Planes (2014).
Damon Herriman was also celebrated at the Film Prize Celebration for his outstanding contribution to the Australian film industry and named the CinefestOZ 2026 Screen Legend.
The CinefestOZ Screen Legend Award honours an Australian actor or filmmaker of international repute that has played a valuable role in supporting CinefestOZ’ celebration of excellence in Australian filmmaking.
Previous Screen Legends have included Francis O’Connor, Rachel Griffiths, Myles Pollard, Richard Roxburgh, Isla Fisher, Kelton Pell, Sigrid Thornton, Scott Hicks, Jacqueline McKenzie, Gillian Armstrong, Hugo Weaving, Joel Edgerton, Bruce Beresford, Jack Thompson, Bryan Brown, Fred Schepisi, David Wenham and Steve Bisley.
INFORMATION ON THE CINEFESTOZ 2026 FILM PRIZE WINNER
Sweet Milk Lake is a heartfelt drama and MIFF@CinefestOZ selection, directed, written by and starring Western Australian filmmaker Harvey Zielinski (White Fever) alongside Hunter Page-Lochard (Reckless), Kieran Darcy Smith (Apple Cider Vinegar) and Ngaire Pigram (Sweet As). The film is produced by Harvey Zielinski, Philippa Campey and Molly O’Connor.
Synopsis: When soft-spoken, introverted trans man Jake discovers his estranged father Lee is dying, he returns to Sweet Milk, spurred by a desire to reconnect with his dad and a need to escape the identity politics and familial dynamics suffocating him in the city. When Jake arrives, Lee mistakes him for his hyper-masculine twin brother Sam, not knowing of Jake’s transition. Finally, Jake has his dad’s approval and community acceptance as one of the boys. This privilege proves intoxicating. Emboldened by new confidence, Jake excavates his father’s secrets, and explores a new romance. But, when Lee suddenly dies before Jake can come clean, Jake is left to face the fallout.
Harvey Zielinski’s debut feature as Writer/Director/Actor and Producer, the Sweet Milk Lake script was nominated for an AWGIE in 2026, and was a finalist in the MIFF Bright Horizons Award.
As a writer, Harvey is a two-time AWGIE nominee and a Betty Rowland Prize finalist. He’s developing his second feature, THUGS, with support from Screen Australia, alongside a wider slate.
As an actor, Harvey is a two-time Heath Ledger Scholarship finalist and a CGA Rising Star Award Winner. His screen credits include DEADLOCH, WHITE FEVER, LOVE ME and DON’T LOOK DEEPER, directed by Catherine Hardwicke (TWILIGHT). Stage credits include WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (Sydney Theatre Company).
INFORMATION ON THE CINEFESTOZ 2026 SCREEN LEGEND
Damon Herriman won the 2025 AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, following a Best Lead Actor win for Judy & Punch in 2020.
Damon’s U.S. credits include playing Charles Manson in both Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Netflix’s Mindhunter. Other international credits include J. Edgar, The Bikeriders, Breaking Bad, The Underground Railroad, Quarry, and Justified.
In Australia, his television credits include Mr Inbetween, The Tourist, The Artful Dodger, Riot, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart and Love My Way. Notable Australian film work includes Together, How to Make Gravy, Nude Tuesday, The Little Death, The Nightingale, 100 Bloody Acres and The Big Steal.
Damon is currently starring in the CinefestOZ Film Prize Finalist film The Fox, as well as the award winning short film The Candy Bar, which he wrote and for which he received the CinefestOZ Best Short Film Screenwriter Award
ABOUT THE FILM PRIZE JURY PANEL
Greer Simpkin – CHAIR
Greer Simpkin is Co-Managing Director of Bunya Productions. Greer has produced the feature films Limbo, Sweet Country, Goldstone, High Ground, Loveland, The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, The Deb, Kangaroo and Wolfram. She is currently in production on the Australian/UK co-production Prima Facie, starring Cynthia Erivo.
Greer has produced all four series of award-winning television drama series Mystery Road as well as True Colours, In Limbo, The Office and Ladies in Black. In 2026, Greer was awarded the individual FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film in the Asia Pacific Region.
Prior to joining Bunya, Greer held various roles including Deputy Head of Fiction at ABC Television, Head of Finance and Distribution at Screen NSW, Programme Finance Executive for Channel 4, Head of Production for Mentorn Films and Producer for acclaimed filmmaker Brian Duffy.
Rachel House
Rachel House (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga) is one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded actors. She has had a long and celebrated career, both locally and internationally, which has traversed stage, television and film. Rachel is renowned for her work in Netflix’s Heartbreak High, HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death, Apple TV’s Foundation and Time Bandits and in film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok, Godzilla X Kong, Kangaroo, as well as voice work in Moana, Zootopia and A Minecraft Movie. Last year saw the release of her directorial debut feature film The Mountain to critical acclaim.
Gregor Jordan
Gregor Jordan is an Australian film and television writer, director and producer. His first short film Swinger’ won the Jury Prize at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. His debut feature film Two Hands starring Heath Ledger, Bryan Brown and Rose Byrne won Australian Film Institute awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Film. His second film Buffalo Soldiers, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Anna Paquin and Ed Harris won a British Independent Film award for best screenplay. His other films include Ned Kelly starring Heath Ledger, Naomi Watts and Geoffrey Rush; The Informers with Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Winona Ryder and Mickey Rourke, and Unthinkable starring Samuel L Jackson, Michael Sheen and Carrie Anne-Moss. His most recent film Dirt Music stars Kelly MacDonald, Garrett Hedlund and David Wenham. Gregor’s TV work includes the Channel 7/ Roadshow Rough Diamond series Australian Gangster, the ABCTV Australia documentary Ian Thorpe-The Swimmer, the ABC TV Australia series OLD SCHOOL starring Bryan Brown and Sam Neill as well as North Shore for Paramount Plus and ITV.
Katie Milwright
Katie Milwright is a three-time AACTA-nominated DP, working across TV, film, commercials, and documentaries. She has set up series for Disney, Netflix, Amazon, and Sky/Fox. Her many feature credits include: Sweet As—Crystal Bear award winner at the Berlin Film Festival and Looking For Grace — ‘in Competition’ at the Venice Film Festival. Katie set up TV series The Clearing for Disney, Deadloch for Amazon and Upright for Fox/Sky. Also shooting series of The Artful Dodger, Black Snow S02, High Country S02 and recently setting up the new Wentworth Halfway Home series. Beyond AACTA nods, Katie has received nominations at CameraImage, as well as the Film Critics Circle Awards. In addition to her numerous ACS awards, she won a Golden Tripod for her work on the dramatized documentary Guilty. Beginning her career in the Camera Department after graduating VCA Film School, Katie learnt from some of Australia’s best DPs before charting her own journey. Katie loves what she does, cinematography is a passion that allows her to work with amazing people and help bring incredible stories to life.
Mark Coles Smith
Star of ABC drama Mystery Road: Origin series, Mark is Nyikina man who grew up on the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) and began working at a young age as an actor in Broome. In the time since he has gone on to forge an incredible career in film, television, music and stage. With numerous awards and nominations under his belt and an incredible body of work already behind him, Mark has continued to grow and challenge himself as an artist and creative, earning industry attention as the wild card from the west. Mark’s recent film credits include: We Bury The Dead, Beast of War and Sweet As, and in television - Apple Cider Vinegar, The Clearing and Savage River.
Film Prize Finalist Films
Wilderness – an uplifting and emotional drama directed and written by Martin McKenna, produced by Mat Govani and starring Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black) and Mirrah Foulkes (Mr Inbetween).
The Fox - a dark, fantastical comedy directed and written by Dario Russo and starring Jai Courtney (Dutton Ranch) Emily Browning (One More Shot), Miranda Otto (Lord of the Rings), Olivia Coleman (The Roses) and Sam Neill (The Twelve).
Yesterday Island - a quirky, time-loop comedy directed and written by Sam Voutas and starring comedian Ivan Aristeguieta (Aftertaste), Florence Noble (The Paragon), Francis Greenslade (High Country).
CinefestOZ would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land we live and work on and pay our respect to the Elders past, present and future.
CinefestOZ is supported by the WA Government through the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program. Premium Festival Partners are City of Busselton and Screenwest, and we acknowledge strong support from Screen Australia, and Lotterywest.
