Umbrella

Overview

Umbrella is an Australian independent film distributor founded on 4 August 2001 by Jeff Harrison, who continues as Managing Director. The company is headquartered in Abbotsford, Victoria, and operates across theatrical distribution, home entertainment, digital distribution, streaming, and international sales in Australia and New Zealand. In June 2025, the company rebranded from "Umbrella Entertainment" to "Umbrella," unveiling a new logo, website, and on-screen ident developed with Studio Brave and strategy consultant Jemma Thomas. The rebrand was announced publicly at the 2025 Sydney Film Festival.

The company employs 23 people (a 197% year-over-year increase) and generates approximately $27 million in annual revenue. General Manager Ari Harrison, Jeff Harrison's son, leads the company's expansion into production, international sales, and streaming alongside the core distribution business. The company has moved beyond its roots in cult and genre home entertainment into theatrical-first distribution, original content production, and a broader slate that includes kids and family films, adventure, and comedies.

Umbrella represents approximately 500 classic films across Australia and New Zealand. The company works with the National Film and Sound Archive to restore content and locate original materials for its archival releases. Recent restoration projects include a 4K re-release of Wake in Fright (1971) and ongoing restoration of Looking for Alibrandi (2000) and BMX Bandits (1983).

Theatrical Distribution and Key Releases

Umbrella distributes films theatrically across Australia and New Zealand, working with both local productions and international acquisitions. The company has collaborated with Australian production company Causeway Films since 2014, including releases of The Babadook (2014), Cargo (2017), and Buoyancy (2019).

Umbrella's most commercially significant theatrical releases have been horror and genre titles distributed in partnership with Maslow Entertainment and Ahi Films:

• Talk to Me (2022, dirs. Danny and Michael Philippou): Released in Australia on 27 July 2023 by Maslow Entertainment, Umbrella, and Ahi Films. The film grossed $92 million worldwide against a $4.5 million production budget and won eight AACTA Awards including Best Film. A24 handled US distribution. The film was executive produced by Julie Ryan, who subsequently formed Sanctuary Pictures in partnership with Umbrella.
• Late Night with the Devil (2023, dirs. Colin and Cameron Cairnes): Premiered at SXSW in March 2023. Released theatrically in Australia on 11 April 2024 by Umbrella, Maslow, and Ahi. Grossed $16.8 million worldwide. IFC Films and Shudder handled North American, UK, and Ireland distribution.
• Every Little Thing (dir. Sally Aitken): Sundance-selected documentary about a woman in Hollywood who cares for injured hummingbirds.
• Birdeater (dirs. Jim Weir and Jack Clark): Won the Audience Award at the Sydney Film Festival.

Additional recent and upcoming titles include Redux Redux, The Surrender, Angel's Egg, Black Sheep 2, Stake-Out, Bone Lake, and When Darkness Loves Us.

2025 to 2026 Release Slate

Umbrella's upcoming theatrical slate includes:

• Lesbian Space Princess: Berlinale Teddy Award winner, sci-fi comedy
• We Bury The Dead: Directed by Zac Hilditch, starring Daisy Ridley, action-thriller
• Sweat It Out!: Australian music documentary
• I, Object: New Zealand feature
• Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant: New Zealand feature
• Penny Lane Is Dead: Sanctuary Pictures' debut production, an '80s-set punk horror directed by Mia'Kate Russell, supported by the SAFC and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund. Red carpet screening at the Adelaide Film Festival on 18 October 2025.

Sanctuary Pictures and Production Expansion

In March 2023, Ari Harrison launched Sanctuary Pictures as a film production company under the Umbrella umbrella, in partnership with producer Julie Ryan of Cyan Films. Harrison had previously executive produced and co-produced Talk to Me and The Survival of Kindness (2022). Sanctuary Pictures focuses on independent feature films first, with plans to expand into premium TV series.

Sanctuary Pictures' debut feature, Penny Lane Is Dead, is in production in Adelaide with post-production by KOJO Studios. The company is also developing a drag queen comedy directed by John Sheedy, starring Essie Davis, produced with KW Films' Kate Whitebread. Additional development projects include co-productions with Ireland and Canada.

In May 2025, Umbrella launched the Wake in Fright Development Initiative jointly with the Wake in Fright Trust, Sanctuary Pictures, and AACTA. The national film development program offers A$30,000 in funding plus development support from Sanctuary Pictures, focused on thriller and horror films that amplify underrepresented voices.

Brollie Streaming and Digital Operations

On 24 November 2023, Umbrella launched Brollie, a free ad-supported streaming platform dedicated to classic Australian movies and TV shows. The service has been described as an "Aussie content focused" streaming platform and gives Umbrella's archival catalog a dedicated streaming home. Brollie recently added 18 surviving episodes of the landmark 1970s series Number 96.

Umbrella also operates the Aussie Classics channel on Foxtel, further extending the reach of its Australian cinema library. The company has moved into international sales for its archival catalog, working on deals across the US, UK, and Europe at Cannes in 2025.

Physical media remains a core business. Umbrella releases premium Blu-ray and DVD editions with restored transfers, audio commentaries, and archival supplements. The company plans physical collectors' box sets for restored titles and continues to seek out and interview original performers, filmmakers, cast, and crew for each release.

New Zealand Expansion

Umbrella has deepened its commitment to the New Zealand market with two key hires. In February 2024, producer Jasmin McSweeney joined as head of sales and acquisitions, based in Wellington. Luke Murray was subsequently appointed as senior theatrical manager. The company has launched a restoration and re-release programme for classic New Zealand films from the New Zealand Film Commission archive, alongside distributing new NZ features like I, Object and Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Umbrella is one of the most active and committed independent distributors in the Australia-New Zealand market. The company acquires through direct outreach from filmmakers and rights holders, agent submissions, and at film markets including Cannes, Berlin, AFM, and TIFF. For genre and cult filmmakers seeking ANZ distribution, Umbrella's expertise in marketing to genre audiences and its established retail relationships make it an effective partner.

The company is less suited to prestige arthouse films targeting a wide theatrical-first release on the scale of a Transmission or Madman campaign. Its value is strongest in the genre, cult, and Australian classic categories, where its collector-oriented releases and deep audience relationships generate results. However, the Talk to Me and Late Night with the Devil releases demonstrate that Umbrella can handle wider theatrical releases for the right genre titles.

Films with strong cult followings, genre credentials, connections to Australian or New Zealand cinema, or classic catalog appeal are the most natural fits for Umbrella's acquisition interest. The company's non-exclusive approach to distribution windows allows for simultaneous theatrical, digital, and physical release strategies.

For international filmmakers seeking ANZ distribution, Umbrella typically acquires ANZ rights from sales agents at markets. The company's international sales arm also represents Australian and New Zealand classic titles to overseas buyers.

Example Titles They've Released

Umbrella's most commercially significant theatrical releases have been horror and genre titles distributed in partnership with Maslow Entertainment and Ahi Films: Talk to Me (2022, dirs. Danny and Michael Philippou, $92 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget, 8 AACTA Awards including Best Film, A24 handled US distribution), Late Night with the Devil (2023, dirs. Colin and Cameron Cairnes, $16.8 million worldwide, SXSW premiere), Birdeater (dirs. Jim Weir and Jack Clark, Sydney Film Festival Audience Award winner), and Every Little Thing (dir. Sally Aitken, Sundance-selected documentary). The company represents approximately 500 classic films across ANZ and has collaborated with Causeway Films since 2014, including The Babadook (2014), Cargo (2017), and Buoyancy (2019). Upcoming titles include Lesbian Space Princess (Berlinale Teddy Award winner), We Bury The Dead (dir. Zac Hilditch, starring Daisy Ridley), and Penny Lane Is Dead (Sanctuary Pictures' debut production).

Deal Structure Reputation

Umbrella acquires through direct outreach from filmmakers and rights holders, agent submissions, and at film markets including Cannes, Berlin, AFM, and TIFF. The company's non-exclusive approach to distribution windows allows for simultaneous theatrical, digital, and physical release strategies. Umbrella is less suited to prestige arthouse films targeting a wide theatrical-first release on the scale of a Transmission or Madman campaign; its value is strongest in the genre, cult, and Australian classic categories, where its collector-oriented releases and deep audience relationships generate results. The Talk to ME and Late Night with the Devil releases demonstrate that Umbrella can handle wider theatrical releases for the right genre titles. The company generates approximately $27 million in annual revenue with 23 employees (a 197% year-over-year increase). Sanctuary Pictures, launched in March 2023 under the Umbrella umbrella, focuses on independent feature films with plans to expand into premium TV.

Typical Acquisition Profile

Umbrella is one of the most active and committed independent distributors in the Australia-New Zealand market. Films with strong cult followings, genre credentials, connections to Australian or New Zealand cinema, or classic catalog appeal are the most natural fits for Umbrella's acquisition interest. The company acquires ANZ rights from sales agents at markets. For genre and cult filmmakers seeking ANZ distribution, Umbrella's expertise in marketing to genre audiences and its established retail relationships make it an effective partner. Umbrella has deepened its New Zealand commitment with hires in Wellington (Jasmin McSweeney as head of sales and acquisitions, Luke Murray as senior theatrical manager) and a restoration and re-release programme for classic New Zealand films from the NZ Film Commission archive. The Wake in Fright Development Initiative (launched May 2025 with the Wake in Fright Trust, Sanctuary Pictures, and AACTA) offers A$30,000 in funding plus development support for thriller and horror films that amplify underrepresented voices.

Watch: Trailers and Behind the Scenes

See Also

For how home entertainment distribution operates alongside theatrical and digital in an Australian release strategy, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model the revenue contribution of Australian and New Zealand rights in a global distribution plan, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For comparison with other ANZ distributors, see Madman Entertainment in this directory.