Overview
Transmission Films is one of Australia's leading independent film distributors, founded in 2008 by Joint Managing Directors Andrew Mackie and Richard Payten. The company is headquartered in Paddington, Sydney. Transmission distributes 15 to 25 films per year theatrically across Australia and New Zealand, focusing on arthouse, prestige drama, documentary, and international cinema. The company operates in partnership with Paramount Pictures Australia, which provides theatrical and home entertainment infrastructure while Transmission oversees creative marketing and acquisitions.
Over their 23-year partnership (including their prior tenure at Dendy Films), Mackie and Payten have released more than 180 films. These titles have generated over $340 million at the Australian and New Zealand box office. Films they have acquired and distributed have won 9 Palme d'Ors, received 51 Academy Award nominations, and earned over 220 AACTA nominations. They have handled the release and marketing campaigns for more than 100 Australian films.
Transmission's annual revenue is approximately $4.7 million. The company is privately held and active. Its sister company, See-Saw Films (founded by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman), has a first-look arrangement with Transmission, meaning all See-Saw titles receive Australian distribution through Transmission. See-Saw produced The King's Speech (which grossed over $28 million in Australia alone), Shame, and Slow West, among others.
Paramount Partnership
The distribution partnership between Transmission and Paramount Pictures Australia has been in place since the company's founding in 2008 and has been renewed multiple times. The structure combines Transmission's independent acquisition focus and hands-on marketing with Paramount's theatrical and home entertainment infrastructure. Paramount handles theatrical bookings for jointly acquired titles, while Transmission manages creative marketing and acquisition decisions.
The partnership typically covers films released on more than 40 screens. Transmission also distributes films independently of the Paramount deal, handling 16 or more theatrical releases on its own. This applies when all rights are not available through Paramount or where the film targets a narrower arthouse audience. This dual structure allows Transmission to operate at both the crossover commercial level (with Paramount) and the specialty arthouse level (independently).
For filmmakers, the Paramount partnership means that a Transmission acquisition can access Paramount's theatrical booking infrastructure and home entertainment distribution network across Australia and New Zealand. This provides wider reach than a purely independent distributor could achieve alone.
Recent Slate / Acquisition Activity
Transmission's recent and upcoming theatrical releases include:
- Nouvelle Vague (2025) - Richard Linklater's French-language black-and-white film about the making of Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless, entirely in French. Transmission acquired Australian rights.
- Spit (2025) - Australian theatrical release across all media.
- A Private Life (2025) - Theatrical release.
- Last Meals (2025) - Theatrical and all-media release for Australia.
- The Salt Path (2025) - Theatrical release. Supported by the UK Global Screen Fund.
- I Swear (2025, theatrical release 2026) - Based on the true story of John Davidson, a Tourette Syndrome campaigner. Starring Robert Aramayo, Peter Mullan, and Shirley Henderson.
- Ka Whawhai Tonu (2026) - In Aotearoa New Zealand cinemas June 27, Australian cinemas August 1.
- Fing! (2026) - Theatrical release.
- &Sons (August 27, 2026) - Directed by Pablo Trapero, written by Sarah Polley and Trapero. Stars Bill Nighy, Noah Jupe, George MacKay, Johnny Flynn, Anna Geislerova, Dominic West, and Imelda Staunton. World premiered at TIFF.
- Tommy's Honour (September 7, 2026) - Historical drama, theatrical release.
- Untitled 2025 Mike Leigh Project (2026) - All-media release for Australia.
Example Titles They've Released
Transmission's catalog tracks the major arthouse and prestige releases in Australia over the past 18 years. Key titles include The King's Speech (2010, over $28 million Australian box office), Parasite (2019), Moonlight (2016), and Nomadland (2021). Other major releases include Roma (2018), Birdman (2014), Spotlight (2015), Lady Bird (2017), Belfast (2021), Aftersun (2022), and Tar (2022).
Additional catalog highlights include A Separation (2011), Ida (2013), The Great Beauty (2013), Amour (2012), Shame (2011), and Tracks (2013). Australian and New Zealand titles include Holding the Man (2015), Lion (2016), Samson and Delilah (2009), Boy (2010), and The Railway Man (2013). The catalog also spans Carol (2015), Brooklyn (2015), Calvary (2014), Mr Turner (2014), Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013), and 20 Feet From Stardom (2013). Earlier releases include The World's Fastest Indian (2005), Good Night and Good Luck (2005), Control (2007), The White Ribbon (2009), and Rabbit Proof Fence (2002).
Distribution Model
Transmission acquires films both as finished projects (from international sales agents at markets and festivals) and through pre-sale agreements prior to production. Pre-sales to Transmission are a realistic financing mechanism for Australian and international co-productions targeting the Australian market. The company attends Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Berlin, and Venice for acquisitions.
Transmission distributes theatrically through its own distribution infrastructure (with Paramount's booking support for jointly acquired titles), placing films in arthouse cinemas, independent venues, and multiplex screens for crossover titles. The company handles its own marketing and publicity for theatrical releases and manages the home entertainment and digital release window through partnerships with major VOD platforms in the Australian market.
A Transmission acquisition for an international film typically covers theatrical rights in Australia and New Zealand, with home entertainment and digital following the theatrical window. The minimum guarantee (MG) structure reflects the scale of the Australian theatrical market, which is smaller than North America or the UK but commercially meaningful for prestige titles. MGs for Australian and New Zealand rights to a mid-profile arthouse title typically range from $10,000 to $75,000 depending on festival pedigree, cast, and genre.
Deal Structure Reputation
Transmission operates on an MG-based acquisition model, paying minimum guarantees to sales agents for Australian and New Zealand rights. The Paramount partnership covers all-rights acquisitions for jointly acquired titles, combining Transmission's acquisition budget with Paramount's theatrical and home entertainment infrastructure. For independently distributed titles outside the Paramount deal, Transmission funds acquisitions from its own balance sheet.
The See-Saw Films first-look arrangement functions as a hybrid deal. See-Saw productions receive automatic Australian distribution through Transmission without a competitive MG process. This structure gives See-Saw projects guaranteed ANZ distribution while providing Transmission with a pipeline of prestige titles. For outside acquisitions, Transmission competes with Madman Entertainment, Palace Films, and Umbrella Entertainment at festival markets.
Pre-sales to Transmission are a realistic financing mechanism for productions targeting the Australian market. The company boards projects prior to production through pre-sale agreements, guaranteeing an MG against ANZ theatrical revenue. This structure appears in co-production deals involving Screen Australia financing and the Producer Offset program.
Typical Acquisition Profile
Transmission acquires prestige drama, arthouse fiction, documentary, and international cinema with clear theatrical potential. The company targets films with festival credentials from Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Berlin, and Venice. Palme d'Or winners, Academy Award nominees, and Berlinale competition titles form the core of Transmission's acquisition slate.
For Australian films, Transmission handles both finished projects and pre-sale arrangements. Australian productions with Screen Australia financing, state screen agency support, or Producer Offset involvement are regular acquisition targets. The company has distributed more than 100 Australian films, including Samson and Delilah (2009), Boy (2010), Lion (2016), and Tracks (2013).
Transmission does not operate a public open-submission portal. The company acquires through relationships with international sales agents at major festivals and markets. Filmmakers or their representatives should approach Transmission through a sales agent, entertainment lawyer, or producer representative. The most reliable pathway is through a film's international sales agent pitching at a festival or market where the film premieres.
Watch: Trailers and Interviews
What Filmmakers Should Know
Transmission is an active acquisition target for international filmmakers seeking Australian and New Zealand distribution. The company acquires through relationships with international sales agents at Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Berlin, and Venice. Prestige drama, documentary, international arthouse, and genre titles are the most common acquisitions.
For Australian filmmakers, Transmission is one of the primary domestic distribution options alongside Madman Entertainment and Palace Films. The company has strong relationships with Screen Australia, state screen agencies, and the Producer Offset program. Transmission's partnership with See-Saw Films gives it first-look access to all See-Saw productions. Filmmakers attached to See-Saw automatically receive Australian distribution through Transmission.
The company does not operate a public open-submission portal. Filmmakers should approach Transmission through a sales agent, entertainment lawyer, or producer representative. The key trade-off is that Transmission offers Paramount-backed theatrical reach for crossover titles but requires festival pedigree or See-Saw attachment for the strongest acquisition terms.
See Also
For how Australian co-production financing structures interact with distribution deals, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model the revenue from an Australian theatrical release as part of a broader international distribution strategy, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For understanding how distribution fees and P&A recoupment affect filmmaker receipts in the Australian market, see What Does a Distributor Keep?. For comparison with other Australian distributors, see Madman Entertainment in this directory.
