Sweet Milk Lake (2026)

Sweet Milk Lake is an Australian drama about Jake, a soft-spoken trans man who unexpectedly has the chance to reconnect with his estranged and terminally ill father after being mistaken for his twin brother. In a rural town where he is treated as someone he is not, Jake experiences both a renewed sense of belonging and the growing pressure of maintaining a secret.

The film combines family drama, romance, masculinity, and questions of identity without reducing its characters to a single issue. Its rural setting creates a strong contrast between Jake's desire for acceptance and the expectations surrounding him, while his relationship with Toby adds another layer of emotional possibility.

• Written and directed by Harvey Zielinski, who also stars as Jake.
• Hunter Page-Lochard and Kieran Darcy-Smith are among the principal cast.
• The film premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2026 and later screened at CinefestOZ and other major festivals.
• Sweet Milk Lake won the 2026 CinefestOZ Film Prize, carrying a A$100,000 award for the production.
• The film was developed with support from VicScreen and financed with support from Screen Australia and other Australian industry partners.