Overview
Hi Gloss Entertainment is a Melbourne-based film and television distributor founded in 2012. The company employs approximately 2 people and is headquartered in Fitzroy, Victoria (PO Box 2765, Fitzroy 3065 VIC). Hi Gloss distributes quality cinema and television content across Australia and New Zealand, sourcing titles from major international festivals including Berlin, Cannes, Locarno, Venice, and Toronto. The company is privately held and active as of 2026.
Hi Gloss has built a reputation for releasing a curated selection of arthouse cinema, ranging from festival discoveries to Oscar winners. The company's catalog spans French, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Belgian, Austrian, Greek, Iranian, Australian, New Zealand, and US films. Beyond feature films, Hi Gloss also distributes television series, including Inspector Montalbano and Call My Agent.
The company operates a DVD shop through its website and distributes across theatrical, home entertainment, and digital platforms. Hi Gloss can be contacted at info@higlossentertainment.com.au or +61 438 563 783.
Recent and Upcoming Releases
Hi Gloss's recent distribution activity demonstrates its commitment to festival-proven arthouse cinema:
Recent highlights:
- No Other Land (2024, Oscar-winning documentary, acquired from international festival circuit)
- EO (2022, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, Cannes Jury Prize winner, nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards)
- Black Dog (directed by Guan Hu, Cannes Un Certain Regard Prize winner, neo-western)
- Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (directed by Laura Piani, starring Camille Rutherford and Charlie Anson, box office success in Australia)
- Benedetta (2021, directed by Paul Verhoeven, Cannes Film Festival selection, Queer Palm nominee)
- Charli XCX: Alone Together (SXSW Opening Night Film, LGBTQIA+ fanbase documentary)
- Evil Does Not Exist (directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Berlinale Silver Bear winner)
- Trifole (2024, Italian truffle hunting documentary/drama set in Piedmont)
Upcoming releases:
- Silent Friend (quadruple Venice prize-winning film)
- Put Your Hand on Your Soul and Walk (Sepideh Farsi, Cannes favorite)
- Michel Legrand documentary (about the legendary French composer)
- Trifole (theatrical release, Italian truffle hunting saga set in Piedmont)
2025 releases:
- The Cats of the Gokogu Shrine (Kazuhiro Soda's observational documentary, Berlinale Panorama 2024, sold-out runs at Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival)
- Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (Laura Piani's debut feature, opened mid-2025)
Distribution Model and Market Position
Hi Gloss operates a theatrical-first distribution model for arthouse cinema in the Australian and New Zealand markets. The company acquires titles from international festivals and sales agents, then releases them theatrically in Australian cinemas before transitioning to home entertainment and digital platforms. The DVD catalog represents an ongoing revenue stream, particularly for European cinema and television series with dedicated audiences.
The Australian arthouse distribution market is small but viable. Australia has approximately 26 million people, with concentrated arthouse audiences in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Theatrical releases for arthouse titles typically open on 5 to 20 screens in major cities, expanding based on performance. Hi Gloss competes with other Australian arthouse distributors including Madman Entertainment, Palace Films, and Transmission Films.
Hi Gloss differentiates through highly curated programming. The company releases fewer titles than larger distributors but maintains a reputation for quality. Its selection criteria favor films with major festival pedigree (Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno), critical acclaim, and established arthouse audience appeal. The company's DVD catalog and television series distribution (including Inspector Montalbano and Call My Agent) provide revenue stability between theatrical releases.
LGBTQ Content in the Hi Gloss Catalog
Hi Gloss's catalog includes several LGBTQ-themed titles, reflecting the company's commitment to diverse arthouse programming. Benedetta (Paul Verhoeven, 2021) was a Queer Palm nominee at Cannes and screened at the Mardi Gras Film Festival and Melbourne Queer Film Festival. Charli XCX: Alone Together documents the pop star's LGBTQIA+ fanbase. Hort Auf Zu Lugen (Stop Lying, 2022) is a French adaptation about a gay author reconnecting with his first love. You and I (2014) is another LGBTQ title in the catalog.
The company's LGBTQ content is integrated into its broader arthouse programming rather than positioned as a separate niche. This approach reflects the Australian arthouse market, where LGBTQ films with festival credentials attract general arthouse audiences alongside dedicated LGBTQ viewers. Hi Gloss benefits from Australia's active queer film festival circuit, including the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and Mardi Gras Film Festival, which provide marketing platforms for LGBTQ titles.
What Filmmakers Should Know
For international filmmakers seeking Australian and New Zealand distribution for arthouse or festival-proven titles, Hi Gloss is a viable acquisition target. The company acquires from sales agents at major markets (Cannes, Berlin, AFM, Toronto) and directly from filmmakers with festival premieres.
For LGBTQ filmmakers, Hi Gloss offers a distribution pathway in the Australian market that integrates LGBTQ content into mainstream arthouse programming. The company's track record with Benedetta, Charli XCX: Alone Together, and other LGBTQ titles demonstrates willingness to acquire queer cinema with festival credentials. Submit through a sales agent or contact Hi Gloss directly at info@higlossentertainment.com.au.
Example Titles They've Released
Hi Gloss Entertainment's catalog spans festival award winners and curated arthouse titles across multiple territories:
- No Other Land (2024) - Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature; Berlinale Panorama 2024; Palestinian-Israeli documentary directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor
- EO (2022, dir. Jerzy Skolimowski) - Cannes Jury Prize winner; Academy Award nominee for Best International Feature Film; Polish-Italian donkey drama
- Black Dog (dir. Guan Hu) - Cannes Un Certain Regard Prize winner; Chinese neo-western
- Evil Does Not Exist (dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi) - Berlinale Silver Bear winner; Japanese ecological drama from the director of Drive My Car
- Benedetta (2021, dir. Paul Verhoeven) - Cannes Film Festival selection; Queer Palm nominee; French-Italian historical drama starring Virginie Efira
- Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2025, dir. Laura Piani) - French romantic comedy starring Camille Rutherford; box office success in Australia
- The Cats of the Gokogu Shrine (2025, dir. Kazuhiro Soda) - Berlinale Panorama 2024; observational documentary; sold-out runs at Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival
- Charli XCX: Alone Together - SXSW Opening Night Film; documentary about the pop star's LGBTQIA+ fanbase
- Trifole (2024) - Italian truffle hunting documentary/drama set in Piedmont
Television series in the catalog include Inspector Montalbano and Call My Agent.
Deal Structure Reputation
Hi Gloss operates a theatrical-first distribution model with MG-against-revenue-split deal structures typical of Australian arthouse distributors:
- MG range: $5,000 to $50,000 for Australian and New Zealand all-media rights, depending on festival pedigree, cast, and perceived audience size. Oscar winners and Cannes Jury Prize recipients command the higher end.
- P&A commitment: $20,000 to $80,000 for a 5-to-15 screen theatrical run in major cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane).
- Revenue split: standard 50/50 after deductions, with the distributor recouping MG and P&A before the filmmaker participates in revenue.
- Rights scope: Hi Gloss typically acquires all-media rights for Australia and New Zealand, covering theatrical, home entertainment (DVD/Blu-ray), and digital (VOD, SVOD).
- Box office benchmarks: a successful arthouse theatrical release in Australia might gross $200,000 to $800,000. Digital and home entertainment revenue can match or exceed theatrical for arthouse titles with strong critical reception and awards pedigree.
The company's DVD catalog and television series distribution (including Inspector Montalbano and Call My Agent) provide revenue stability between theatrical releases, allowing Hi Gloss to maintain operations with a small team (approximately 2 employees).
Typical Acquisition Profile
Hi Gloss acquires:
- Genre: arthouse cinema, festival-proven drama, documentary, LGBTQ-themed films with festival credentials, European art film, and curated television series.
- Budget tier: no specific budget requirement, but films must have festival pedigree or critical acclaim. Hi Gloss does not acquire commercial mainstream films.
- Festival premiere status: primary criterion. Films from Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno, and Toronto are prioritized. Awards at major festivals (Cannes Jury Prize, Berlinale Silver Bear, Un Certain Regard Prize) significantly increase acquisition likelihood.
- Director track record: established arthouse directors (Paul Verhoeven, Jerzy Skolimowski, Ryusuke Hamaguchi) are preferred. First-time filmmakers with major festival premieres are considered.
- Submissions: Hi Gloss acquires from sales agents at major markets (Cannes, Berlin, AFM, Toronto). Direct filmmaker submissions are possible for films with festival premieres; contact info@higlossentertainment.com.au or +61 438 563 783.
Recent Slate / Acquisition Activity
Hi Gloss's 2025-2026 distribution activity includes:
- Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2025, dir. Laura Piani) - opened mid-2025; French romantic comedy with strong Australian box office performance
- The Cats of the Gokogu Shrine (2025, dir. Kazuhiro Soda) - Berlinale Panorama 2024; sold-out festival screenings at Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival
- No Other Land (2024) - Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature; acquired from international festival circuit
- Silent Friend - upcoming; quadruple Venice prize-winning film
- Put Your Hand on Your Soul and Walk (dir. Sepideh Farsi) - upcoming; Cannes favorite
- Michel Legrand documentary - upcoming; about the French composer
The company continues to maintain its DVD catalog and television series distribution as stable revenue streams alongside new theatrical acquisitions.
What Filmmakers Should Know
For international filmmakers seeking Australian and New Zealand distribution for arthouse or festival-proven titles, Hi Gloss is a viable acquisition target. The company acquires from sales agents at major markets (Cannes, Berlin, AFM, Toronto) and directly from filmmakers with festival premieres.
For LGBTQ filmmakers, Hi Gloss offers a distribution pathway in the Australian market that integrates LGBTQ content into mainstream arthouse programming. The company's track record with Benedetta, Charli XCX: Alone Together, and other LGBTQ titles demonstrates willingness to acquire queer cinema with festival credentials. Submit through a sales agent or contact Hi Gloss directly at info@higlossentertainment.com.au.
Watch: Trailers and Interviews
See Also
For how arthouse distributors structure MG and revenue split deals in smaller territories, see Distribution Deals Explained. For LGBTQ-focused US distributors, see Breaking Glass Pictures and Strand Releasing in this directory. To model revenue from a theatrical-first arthouse release in a smaller territory, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For how international sales agents connect filmmakers with territorial distributors like Hi Gloss, see Streaming vs Theatrical Revenue.
