Sweet Milk Lake
2026

Sweet Milk Lake

When the recently transitioned Jake heads to the rural town Sweet Milk to reconnect with his dying father, he is mistaken for his cis twin brother, Sam (writer-director Harvey Zielinski). Both privileges and a chasm of doubt open, enveloping Jake and those he loves in this emotionally rich tribute to living your truth.

Director

Harvey Zielinski

Runtime

94 Minutes

Country

Australia

Classification

MA 15+

Star of stage and screen Harvey Zielinski turns in a remarkable performance as twin brothers, the cis Sam and trans Jake, in his astonishingly layered feature debut as writer, director, star and producer. Jake is spinning out in Melbourne clubs where his transness seems to take precedence over his humanity, so it’s a relief to jump on a bus and head back to Sweet Milk, the country town where he grew up, to mend bridges with his estranged and ailing dad, Lee (Kieran Darcy-Smith). But when Lee mistakes Jake for Sam, the newfound privileges offered by temporarily donning this mask are flanked by possible pitfalls. Sure, his dad’s suddenly much closer, as is joyously queer First Nations lad Toby (The Sapphires star Hunter Page-Lochard). But it also brings danger, in the unpredictable form of Sam’s vikings and archery-loving former schoolmate, Mark (David Howell). Nominated for the MIFF Bright Horizons Award and CinefestOZ Film Prize, Zielinski’s remarkable debut announces an exhilarating new Australian voice.

“Harvey Zielinski’s handsomely textured directorial debut … has the storytelling chops to shape that uncertainty into compelling, well-paced, rewarding drama.”

The Guardian

“A cracker of a set-up … Sweet Milk Lake is a timely reminder to hold onto you, no matter what, because the cost of transforming for someone else is never worth it.”

ScreenHub

“Raw, heartfelt and quietly humorous, Sweet Milk Lake explores the longing to be accepted, understood and the complexity of family relationships.”

FilmInk

Melbourne

CinefestOZ - Winner Film Prize

Film Credits

Director

Harvey Zielinski

Year

2026

Country

Australia

Language

English

Type

Feature Fiction

Program Strand

Australian Independents

Producer

Harvey ZielinskiPhilippa Campey & Molly O'Connor

Writer

Harvey Zielinski

Cinematographer

Michael Lincoln

Editor

Maria Papoutsis

Cast

Belinda McCloryDavid HowellHarvey ZielinskiHunter Page-LochardKieran Darcy-SmithMia MorrisseyNgaire Pigram & Nic Cassim

Music

Chiara Costanza

Genre

DramaFirst NationsLGBTQIA+ & Romance

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