Australian production company Aquarius Films is closing its doors, with Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford wrapping up their creative partnership after 18 years.
Since its founding in 2007, Aquarius Films films has helped bring the Sundance Film Festival-premiering “Wish You Were Here,” six-time Oscar-nominee “Lion,” Cate Shortland’s “Berlin Syndrome” and 2025’s also Teresa Palmer-starring “Mix Tape” to screens. The company’s catalogue, which spans five feature films and eight television series, includes Gregor Jordan’s adaptation of Tim Winton’s “Dirt Music,” TV crime drama “Savage River,” the Hugo Weaving-led “Love Me,” sci-fi thriller “The Unlisted” and dramedy “The Unusual Suspects” as well.
“I am beyond proud of everything that Polly and I have achieved with Aquarius Films over the past 18 years. From humble beginnings producing short films from our kitchen tables, it has been a joy to build the business alongside such a brilliant friend and colleague,” said Fielder in a statement.
“We have been fortunate to work with so many incredible creatives, staff and partners along the way — I will be forever grateful for these collaborations. This is an exciting transition for Polly and I, and I’m thrilled for what this next chapter has in store for each of us.”
Added Staniford: “Aquarius Films has been our creative home for nearly two decades, and while it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, we’re both feeling a strong call to explore new directions.”
“I want to thank the brilliant writers, directors, cast, crew, funding partners and collaborators who’ve been part of this incredible journey. Aquarius would never have been what it was without all of you.”
“And I’m so grateful to Angie for an incredible 18-year collaboration — this is a celebration of everything we’ve built — and a powerful new beginning.”
The news of Aquarius Films’ winding down comes just months after “Mix Tape’s” arrival on Binge in June 2025, after the four-part series first premiered at 2025 SXSW in Austin earlier in the year, taking home the Audience Award in the festival’s TV Spotlight category.
Across its run, Aquarius Films has prided itself on remaining completely independent, and also on heroing both female-led projects and diversity in front of and behind the camera.
Shorts “Crossbow” and “Netherland Dwarf” by “Animal Kingdom’s” David Michôd were among the company’s first projects, before making the leap into features and television.
Alongside the acclaim earned by its cinema and TV projects, Aquarius Films also received a NSW Creative Laureate and the 2018 Screen Producers Australia (SPA) Screen Business Export of the Year Award