Wolfram (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- David Tranter
- Steven McGregor
- Deborah Mailman
- Pedrea Jackson
- Joe Bird
- Thomas M. Wright
- Luka May Glynn-Cole
- Anni Finsterer
- Natassia Gorey-Furber
- Erroll Shand
- John Howard
- Jason Chong
- Matt Nable
| Wolfram | |
|---|---|
 International promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Warwick Thornton |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Warwick Thornton |
| Edited by | Nick Meyers |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Bonsai Films[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes[1] |
| Country | Australia |
| Languages |
|
Wolfram is a 2025 Australian Western drama film directed by Warwick Thornton. It is a sequel to Thornton's 2017 film Sweet Country, reprising several of the same characters. It stars Deborah Mailman, Pedrea Jackson, Thomas M. Wright and Luka May Glynn-Cole. The title refers to the Hatches Creek wolfram field in the Northern Territory, where Aboriginal Australian children were exploited for their labour, digging tungsten out of the ground.
The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Adelaide Film Festival on 26 October, followed by its international premiere at the main competition of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 17 February 2026, where it was nominated for the Golden Bear.
Based on a real story and set in 1932, the film centres on a mother longing for the return of her stolen children.[2] It looks at the exploitation of Indigenous Australian child labour[3] at the Hatches Creek wolfram field, a tungsten mine in the Northern Territory of Australia.[4]
Cast
- Deborah Mailman as Pansy[4]
- Pedrea Jackson as Philomac[5]
- Joe Bird as Frank
- Thomas M. Wright as Mick Kennedy
- Luka May Glynn-Cole as Olive
- Anni Finsterer as Nell
- Gibson John as Archie
- Natassia Gorey-Furber as Lizzie
- Erroll Shand
- John Howard
- Aidan Du Chiem
- Ferdinand Hoang
- Jason Chong
- Matt Nable
Production
Development
Wolfram was written by Steven McGregor and David Tranter, and produced by Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey of Bunya Productions, along with co-producer Drew Bailey.[4] Thornton served as director and cinematographer,[2] while frequent collaborator Nick Meyers edited the film.[4]
It is a sequel to Thornton's 2017 film Sweet Country, set four years later, and features some of the same characters. Its genre is mixed: drama / history / Australian Western.[2] The story is based on some of writer Tranter's Alyawarra family history, told from the perspective of the women and children. Thornton's great-grandmother and her daughters also worked at Hatches Creek. Arrernte Traditional Owners, led by elder Theresa Ellis, worked as First Nations consultants.[4]
Funding was provided by Screen Australia, in association with Screen Territory, NITV, Screen NSW, and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund.[4]
Filming
Filming took place in Alice Springs, with post-production done in New South Wales.[4]
-00314.jpg)
Release
Wolfram had its world premiere on the closing night of the Adelaide Film Festival on 26 October 2025.[2] It screened in competition at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 17 February 2026.[6]
An advance preview including a Q&A session with the director will be hosted at the Palace Nova in Adelaide on 26 April 2026, followed by general release in Australian cinemas on 30 April.[7]