WA’s Sweet Milk Lake wins Australia’s richest film prize at CinefestOZ in historic moment for trans filmmaker

The richest film prize of its kind in Australia has been won by WA film Sweet Milk Lake, the first time a West Aussie movie has taken home the top gong at CinefestOZ since H is for Happiness did it in 2019.

Transmasculine filmmaker Harvey Zielinski, a two-time Heath Ledger Scholarship finalist, was awarded the $100,000 for the comedy-drama he wrote, directed and starred in.

“This is such an incredible, overwhelming honour,” Zielinksi said.

“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.”

This is the first time a trans filmmaker has won the film prize at CinefestOZ.

Sweet Milk Lake follows Jake, an introverted young trans man, who returns to his regional hometown, only to have his terminally ill father mistake him for his hyper-masculine, cisgender twin brother.

When Jake decides to lean into the ruse, it sets a train of events in motion that examines issues of identity and self-acceptance.

Zielinski’s film faced stiff competition from the surreal comedy, The Fox, which starred Jai Courtney, Olivia Colman, Damon Herriman and the late Sam Neill.

Other contenders included Wilderness, an inspiring drama starring Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black), and the time-loop comedy, Yesterday Island.

But Sweet Milk Lake’s emotional depth and courageous storytelling won over the esteemed film prize jury, which was chaired by producer Greer Simpkin and featured Kiwi legend Rachel House, Mark Coles Smith, Gregor Jordan and Katie Milwright.

Simpkin said all four films generated “rigorous discussion” during the jury’s deliberations.

“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,” Simpkin said.

“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.”

Herriman was also recognised at the festival’s closing gala on Saturday night for his outstanding contribution to the Australian film industry, and was named this year’s CinefestOZ Screen Legend.

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