Mani Shanks in SHED.

by Matthew Eeles

Principal photography has wrapped on Steven J. Mihaljevich’s new survival horror film, SHED.

Filmed at prominent Western Australian locations including Beverley, Mundaring, Greenmount, and Swan View, SHED follows Mia (Mani Shanks), a courageous 10-year-old girl who is trapped in a garden shed and must survive inconceivable odds while trying to figure out what has happened to her family and why no one is coming for her.

SHED boasts an impressive supporting cast, including indie favourite, Jason Robert Lester, and veteran Australian acting legend, John Jarratt.

“Although I’m used to working with a much larger cast, I really enjoyed the opportunity to direct a film based almost entirely around just two characters who ultimately go head to head,” Mihaljevich tells Cinema Australia.

“Mani Shanks, who was just ten when we started filming, is incredible as the courageous and inquisitive Mia. I can’t wait for people to see how good Mani is in this. It’s inspiring! This is a small but vibrant cast, and although at times we were all tested physically and mentally due to the confronting subject matter, they put their full trust in me and what I was trying to achieve with this film.”

John Jarratt in SHED.

John Jarratt and Steven J. Mihaljevich on the set of SHED.

SHED is written and directed by Mihaljevich, an independent Perth-based filmmaker whose impressive filmography includes the coming-of-age drama The Xrossing, starring Kelton Pell and Luke J. Morgan, and the surreal and unsettling horror Violett, which also starred Mani Shanks.

SHED is co-produced by Nic McRobbie, Glen Strindberg, and Mihaljevich, with Shane Piggott on cinematography duties.

“I love working with crew I have worked with before. We know how to be one hundred percent honest with each other about our creative choices, and we know how to get the best out of each other. Shane and I have made three feature films together now, as well as our production designer, Helena Polley,” Mihaljevich says.

Mihaljevich will also re-team with the very talented Perth composer Ben Chase, who previously composed the music for Violett. Tait Brady of Label Distribution is on board as executive producer.

SHED is currently in post-production and is eyeing a release in 2025. Keep an eye on cinemaaustralia.com.au for updates.

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