A striking new voice in Australian cinema, Harvey Zielinski, makes his feature film debut with Sweet Milk Lake. The tender story of family, masculinity and belonging, will have its World Premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) this August, where it has been selected to compete for the prestigious Bright Horizons Award. The film will continue its festival journey at CinefestOZ, where it will be in contention for the coveted CinefestOZ Film Prize, before opening in cinemas nationally.
Written, directed and starring Zielinski, who delivers a nuanced dual performance as twin brothers Jake and Sam, and joined by an exceptional Australian cast including Hunter Page-Lochard (Reckless, Harrow), Kieran Darcy-Smith (How to Make Gravy, Mr Inbetween), Nic Cassim (Plum, The Twelve), Ngaire Pigram (Sweet As, Mystery Road) and Dave Howell (Jimpa, One Night).
Raw, heartfelt and quietly humorous, Sweet Milk Lake explores the longing to be accepted, understood and the complexity of family relationships. After being mistaken for his twin brother by his estranged and dying dad, a soft-spoken trans man relishes the opportunity to be one of the boys until the weight of the lie becomes heavier than his need for the truth.
Selected as one of MIFF’s Bright Horizons competition titles, Sweet Milk Lake joins a select slate of exceptional new international cinema, with the award recognising bold and distinctive filmmaking from first and second-time directors. Following its World Premiere, the film will travel to CinefestOZ for its WA Premiere, where it will compete for Australia’s richest film prize before its national theatrical release.
Writer, director and actor Harvey Zielinski said, “Making Sweet Milk Lake has been such an incredible ride. I wanted to craft something romantic, funny and moving – exploring masculinity, family and the concessions we make to feel like we belong, from a transmasculine perspective. I’m really proud of what our cast and crew have created, and I can’t wait to share it with audiences.”
Sweet Milk Lake will have its World Premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Saturday 8 August before screening at CinefestOZ in September and releasing in cinemas nationally later this year.
An Originate Feature, Sweet Milk Lake is financed by VicScreen, Screen Australia, WeirAnderson Productions, Minderoo Pictures and the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund, in association with SBS Australia and Arenamedia. Distribution by CinemaPlus.
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