All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane
2026 Australian film
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All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane is a 2026 Australian romantic comedy-drama film directed by Louise Alston and written by Stephen Vagg, based on his 2023 stage play All My Friends are Returning to Brisbane. It has been described as a "spiritual sequel" to Alston and Vagg's earlier All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane (2007).[3]
by Stephen Vagg
Stephen Vagg
Andrew Steel
| All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Louise Alston |
| Written by | Stephen Vagg |
| Based on | All My Friends Are Returning to Brisbane by Stephen Vagg |
| Produced by | Louise Alston Stephen Vagg Andrew Steel |
| Starring | Nelle Lee Andrew Steel Kym Jackson Dan Ewing |
| Cinematography | Chase Brockett |
| Edited by | Emma McKenna |
| Music by | Pru Montin |
Production company | Bunker Productions International |
Release date |
|
Running time | 77 minutes[2] |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $13,000 |
The film had its world premiere at the 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival, and will receive a limited theatrical run soon afterwards.[4][1]
Premise
After being dumped by her fiancé in London, a lawyer, Cris, returns to her hometown of Brisbane. She finds herself working alongside her ex-boyfriend, Scooter, who she left a decade earlier. Scooter is now married to Ainsley, with whom he has a child. Cris reconnects with her best friend, Michelle, and attempts a new romance with screenwriter Toby.
Cast
- Nelle Lee as Cris
- Andrew Steel as Scooter
- Dan Ewing as Hutcho
- Kym Jackson as Michelle[5]
- Tim Ross as Aram
- Brooke Lee as Ainsley
- Julian Curtis as Toby
Production
The film is based on the stage play All My Friends Are Returning to Brisbane, which was given a public reading in 2022[6] and had its world premiere in 2023.[7][8]
Filming took place in Brisbane in April 2025. Locations included New Farm, West End and the CBD.[9][10] According to Vagg, the production was financed by his fee for two scripts he had written for Neighbours; the budget was originally set at $10,000, but increased to $13,000 to include catering expenses.[11] The production methodology was inspired by Newlyweds (2011):
Over the years we had learned various tricks to keep the budget down: minimise locations, no crowd scenes, no effects, no stunts, no extras, no kids, no night shoots, no props, no choreography, two-hander scenes wherever possible, minimal crew, nine-day shoot with one day for contingency, 10-hour days, scheduled breaks.[3]
Release
All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane had its world premiere on May 1, 2026 at the Gold Coast Film Festival.[1][12]
Awards
The film won the 2026 Best Queensland Feature Film Award at the Gold Coast Film Festival.[13]