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.
Sweet Milk Lake
Sweet Milk Lake
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 Zielinski, Philippa Campey & Molly O'Connor
Writer
Harvey Zielinski
Cinematographer
Michael Lincoln
Editor
Maria Papoutsis
Cast
Belinda McClory, David Howell, Harvey Zielinski, Hunter Page-Lochard, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Mia Morrissey, Ngaire Pigram & Nic Cassim
Music
Chiara Costanza
Genre
Drama, First Nations, LGBTQIA+ & Romance
Purchase Tickets
More to see...
Flesh and Fuel
Hit the road with hunky truckers whose hot and heavy hook-up in a roadside beat leads to unexpected depths. Pierre Le Gall’s haunting debut feature is a luminous insight into life, lust and love all played out in a cramped truck cabin. Winner of the inaugural Queer Palm Revelation award at Cannes.
Coward
All queer on the Western Front, Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne are electric in this sensuously shot, achingly tender World War 1 drama from Close (2022) director Lukas Dhont. Rightly sharing the Best Actor award at Cannes, you’ll fall in step with these beautiful, longing soldiers.
Lovers in the Blue Night
Married through pity, Karim and Ameena eke out a passionless life in Mumbai. She clings to anonymous letters, while he’s quietly gay. When Karim finds desire in a thief named Sukka, and Ameena mistakes a pimp for her letter-writer, four lonely lives collide in longing, illusion and survival.
The Fox
The Fox had its world premiere at AFF 2025 and we are delighted to present this encore screening in the lead up to its cinema release. A darkly comic folktale of an ordinary bloke and the fox who offers to solve all his problems.