After making a significant impact at Sundance with its horror hit “Collectively,” featuring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, the Melbourne-based production company Princess Photos is strategically expanding its presence in the feature film industry. This ambitious initiative is supported by a lineup of innovative projects that showcase talent from award-winning professionals in the film and creative sectors.

The company’s first live-action feature film slate features the gripping crime thriller “Stillwater,” produced in collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker David Michôd of “Animal Kingdom” fame, along with actor Joel Edgerton and producer Brad Zimmerman from “The Outfit.” Additionally, the slate includes Michael Shanks‘ follow-up project to “Collectively,” titled “Resort Resort Resort Resort,” based on his celebrated Black List script and created in partnership with Adam McKay’s production company. Rounding out the lineup is “Axis of Impersonators,” a timely documentary feature directed by Alexis Spraic (“Shadow Billionaire”) and Nick Cole.

“Stillwater” is adapted from the debut novel by Tanya Scott, a physician and medical educator with extensive experience in mental health care. The narrative follows Jack Quinn, who faced a traumatic childhood marked by his mother’s overdose and his father’s criminal activities. Groomed by the ruthless crime boss Gus, Jack eventually reinvents himself as Luke Harris. As he pursues higher education and strives for a better future, Luke confronts the re-emergence of his past when Gus returns to disrupt his new life.

“‘Stillwater’ is reminiscent of a bildungsroman, a German literary term for a coming-of-age story, set against the gritty backdrop of Melbourne’s criminal underbelly,” explains Christopher Casanova, a former executive at Black Bear who joined Princess Photos 18 months ago as the head of content. “It captivated us, as well as Joel and David (Michôd), along with Brad Zimmerman. The project felt like a natural opportunity for them to collaborate as producers, marking a reunion of the ‘Animal Kingdom’ team in a fresh endeavor,” Casanova elaborates, highlighting Princess Photos’ aspirations in the feature film landscape.

Casanova, who previously oversaw projects like “Dumb Money” featuring Paul Dano and Seth Rogen and “Immaculate” starring Sydney Sweeney while at Black Bear, expresses hope that “Stillwater” will serve as a beacon to attract emerging talent in the filmmaking arena.

In an exclusive interview with Variety, alongside Laura Waters, the founder of Princess Photos, executive producer Mike Cowap, and managing director Emma Fitzsimons, Casanova discussed the company’s vision. The 22-year-old firm is actively building a director-driven slate that boasts over 30 projects in development for television and a robust selection of feature films. The goal is to produce one or two films annually while also developing two to three television series.

While the projects at Princess Photos span various genres, they share a common thread of being “boundary-pushing, possessing unique and distinctive voices,” according to Waters, who founded the company in 2003 and has produced all six of Chris Lilley’s acclaimed series for ABC, BBC, HBO, and Netflix.

“Typically, our projects originate from creators, writers, or artists we firmly believe in and wish to support. It’s crucial that their voice and vision shine through, offering audiences a fresh perspective on the world,” explains Waters.

Until recently, Princess Photos was primarily recognized as a trendsetting producer of primetime animated series aimed at adults, such as the Hulu/Disney+ series “Koala Man,” featuring Hugh Jackman and Sarah Snook, as well as three seasons of “Yolo: Crystal Fantasy” for Adult Swim and Max, which Cowap produced under the company’s label Princess Bento.

“Collectively,” which represented Princess’s inaugural feature film, secured a major deal with Neon, one of the festival’s most significant transactions, and will be released in theaters on July 30.

“‘Collectively’ is an exceptional debut from a truly unique voice in Michael Shanks, and it has undeniably opened numerous doors for us, particularly with Chris Casanova’s impressive reputation and connections in Hollywood,” remarks Cowap, who produced “Collectively” and has now partnered with Casanova to develop the company’s film slate further.

“We are well-positioned to leverage that momentum and hope to collaborate with talents that we may not have had access to previously, including potentially working with larger budgets that we haven’t been trusted with yet,” Cowap elaborated.

As part of their future plans, Princess will reunite with Shanks on his upcoming project, “Resort Resort Resort Resort.” Cowap describes it as a “mystery box thriller,” centering on a man who wakes up trapped in a mysterious hotel room. “Isolated in a mind-bending prison, his only chance for escape relies on teamwork… with himself,” the synopsis reveals. Princess is producing it alongside Adam McKay’s Hyperobject (“Succession”) and anticipates starting production in early 2026.

While the cast has yet to be determined, Cowap hints at an “incredible role” because it involves a character who interacts with multiple versions of themselves.

Since joining the company, Casanova has been dedicated to identifying projects that feel like a natural extension of Princess’s strong brand and sensibility, whether that be a high-concept romantic comedy, a gritty comedy, or an entry into the horror genre. Additionally, he is eager to explore “newer territory” for Princess.

The company is also producing the documentary feature “Axis of Impersonators” in collaboration with Spraic and Cole, with financial backing from Screen Australia, Vicscreen, and private investors.

This documentary unfolds the real-life tale of how a Kim Jong-Un impersonator teams up with a Putin impersonator to rescue a Zelensky impersonator from Kyiv following the onset of the Ukraine conflict. “Infused with humor and intrigue, their high-octane escape also highlights the precarious nature of refugee life and the difficult choices between home, safety, and livelihood,” the synopsis elaborates.

The filmmaking couple behind “Axis of Impersonators” possesses an “incredible track record of tackling provocative themes and significant issues, often through comedy and engaging interviews,” says Waters.

The company has also branched into producing series for platforms like TikTok, Audible, and YouTube, staying ahead of the curve in identifying promising content creators and facilitating their transition to longer narrative formats.

Among these breakout talents is Michael Cusack, the creator and director of cult animated series for Adult Swim including “YOLO,” “Smiling Friends,” and “Koala Man.” Princess is currently collaborating with him on a fourth show. Another notable mention is the Australian duo Theo and Nathan Saidden, known as Superwog on YouTube, who are writing, directing, and producing a new comedy series titled “Son of a Donkey” for Netflix.

“What we excel at is discovering talent and ensuring that we stay attuned to the trends on platforms like YouTube, where many audiences consume content. This insight allows us to identify what is popular and spot emerging trends,” Cowap emphasizes, noting that streaming services and broadcasters are increasingly eager to collaborate with YouTube creators due to their substantial audience engagement.

Even Shanks began his career on YouTube, creating content for the platform since he was 18. “He left film school to pursue this YouTube project that gained immense popularity. By the time he made his first feature, he was a versatile filmmaker who was capable of doing everything himself,” Cowap shares.

Princess Photos identifies itself as “genre-agnostic,” according to Cowap, as they prioritize collaborating with talented individuals first and consider the type of content, genre, or format they wish to pursue second.

“While we are very much open to new avenues and actively searching for fresh opportunities, we do so without sacrificing the relationships we have already established. This approach leads to sustainable growth,” he explains, referencing ongoing collaborations with filmmakers like Chris Lilley, Shanks, and more recently, Cusack, who he describes as “the hottest name in animation in LA” despite hailing from a small town in Australia.

Princess Photos continues to collaborate with talent and co-producers in the U.S. and U.K., including Brooke Posch, Andrew Mittman, John Hodge, Hyperobject, and Ruff House, along with Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow Productions. The company also acquired the Dublin-based animation studio Boulder Media from Hasbro in 2022.

Looking ahead, Casanova emphasizes that the company aims to forge connections with “creators and creatives from the U.S. and U.K., while also exploring international opportunities, co-productions, and joint ventures.”

Although “Collectively” has been largely celebrated, the film recently faced controversy when its stars and co-producers Brie and Dave Franco were accused of copyright infringement, a claim they have denied.

“Everything that has transpired with ‘Collectively’ has been nothing short of a dream come true,” Cowap stated while addressing the controversy. “Of course, dealing with that issue has been challenging within an otherwise successful journey, but it’s something we believe we have managed to move past now, especially following the supportive statements from Shanks and Neon.”

Looking ahead, Princess Photos has a horror feature set to begin production in August, alongside a romantic comedy feature scheduled to shoot at the end of the year or early 2026. The company’s development slate also includes a feminist body horror feature, which is a remake of a classic Ausploitation film.

“Stillwater” is slated for release in the U.S. on August 12, published by Grove Atlantic, and in Australia by Allen & Unwin on July 29. Tanya Scott is represented by UTA and Tom Gilliatt at A4 Literary.