The AACTA Festival has unveiled a new wave of programming for its 2026 edition, returning to the Gold Coast’s HOTA (Home of the Arts) in early February. Among the headline announcements is the news that Causeway Films co-founders Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings will receive the AACTA Byron Kennedy Award, recognising their sustained innovation and influence within Australian cinema.
Established in honour of George Miller’s late collaborator, the Byron Kennedy Award celebrates bold, visionary screen practitioners — a description that neatly fits Causeway’s body of work. Across the past decade, Ceyton and Jennings have helped shepherd some of the most internationally lauded Australian films of recent years, including “The Babadook,” “The Nightingale,” “Talk to Me” and “Bring Her Back,” the latter leading the 2026 AACTA feature nominations with 16 nods.
As part of the festival, the pair will also host “Fearless Filmmaking,” an in-conversation event unpacking creative risk, genre storytelling and the instincts behind their collaborations with some of the country’s most exciting filmmakers. Ahead of their appearance — and their Byron Kennedy Award honour — Ceyton and Jennings spoke with Variety Australia about Causeway’s creative ethos, the state of Australian genre cinema, and what’s next for the company.
What’s the Causeway Films mission statement when it comes to picking new projects?
Kristina Ceyton: Causeway Films is focused on making original, authored and groundbreaking films with something to say. We are interested in entertaining, socially relevant stories by filmmakers that have the potential to break out critically and commercially.
A lot of the most talked-about titles in Causeway’s filmography are horror, did either of you ever imagine that would be a specialty for your studio?
Samantha Jennings: We’ve always loved horror films. When we started Causeway, horror was not a popular or encouraged genre. We’ve always been drawn to horror because it’s bold, expressive and there is an allegorical level to the storytelling. We never expected horror to be a speciality because we love all genres of cinema.
Do you think audiences are showing interest in more “cerebral” horror films after a pretty relentlessly shlocky few decades in the genre?
Samantha Jennings: The opposite! At the moment, we think we are seeing a turn away from ‘elevated’ horror. We think audiences are seeking communal experiences, which they can get from event horror projects.
A few of those titles came from the Philippou brothers: what drew you to work with them?
Samantha Jennings: We loved Danny and Michael’s online work. We met them and discovered they were legit filmmakers that loved cinema and always aspired to make films prior to their YouTube days. We were excited by the originality of their vision and their commitment to cinema.
Plenty of people have seen “Talk to Me” and “Bring Her Back” — is there one single film that you’ve worked on that deserves to be watched as much as them?
Samantha Jennings: “You Won’t Be Alone” by Goran Stolevski, a film we’re very proud of. The film, despite its genre elements, speaks to the human condition whilst being an alternate take on the horror genre. We were really proud it was longlisted for the Oscar for Best International Film in 2022 and put Goran on the map as a director to watch on the world stage.
In your opinion, does Australian cinema get the limelight it deserves, at home and abroad, or are local voices still fighting tooth and nail to compete with big international releases?
Kristina Ceyton: When it comes to genre filmmaking, Australia is getting a lot of attention. Look at this year’s Sundance Film Festival – there are a number of Australian films represented in a highly competitive field
What was your initial reaction to finding out you were receiving the Byron Kennedy Award at next year’s AACTA Festival?
Kristina Ceyton: We couldn’t believe it. We could never have expected to have been honoured this way. It’s amazing and crazy. Kennedy Miller Mitchell are icons of Australian film and it is very affirming. It’s amazing to be rewarded for producing, which is a role is about supporting a directorial vision, and to receive this honour is incredibly meaningful.
Are there any new directors you’re hoping to get the chance to work with?
Samantha Jennings: There is always new talent breaking through. We are so excited by new voices and Australia has an endless supply of talent that needs to be tapped into, outside of the names people already know. We have always been and remain to be committed to discovering new talent both in Australia and Internationally.
What Causeway Films productions should we look forward to in the new year?
Kristina Ceyton: We are thrilled that our new film “Leviticus” by Adrian Chiarella will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. We also have the new film from Danny and Michael Philippou – a documentary about death match wrestling – and the debut of Dario Russo called “The Fox,” alongside the new film “Future Tense” by filmmaker Jenna Cato Bass.