Like The Jammed, Hostage of the State is a true-story inspired drama tackling a difficult social issue through deeply personal stories.
Over the past decade, audiences have embraced films such as Spotlight (US, 2015), Custody (Jusqu'à la garde) (France, 2017),System Crasher (Systemsprenger) (Germany, 2019) and Take Care of Maya(US, 2023) and Sound of Freedom- proving there is a strong appetite for stories exploring children, justice and institutional accountability. (Red links to trailers)
Hostage of the State occupies a distinctive place within that landscape. While uniquely Australian, it explores universal themes of family, institutional power and the lengths parents will go to protect their children.
We successfully brought The Jammed to audiences on a modest budget, long before the rise of social media. Today, with advocacy networks, grassroots communities and digital platforms, we believe Hostage of the State has the potential to build a powerful audience from the ground up.
We are realistic about the commercial challenges facing independent cinema. Our ambition is simple: to make an unforgettable film that earns its audience through festivals, targeted theatrical release and global streaming platforms.
Hostage of the State is not simply a film. It is the spearhead of a much broader initiative. At the end of the film a QR code will lead to a link to support investigative journalism, podcasts, support resources, legal and public-interest litigation. Our ambition is contribute to meaningful reform.
Investments, Donations, Offsets & Sales
We are seeking a production budget of AU$4-5 million.
This is a disciplined and achievable budget for a feature of this scale. It also qualifies for Australia's Producer Offset, providing a rebate of up to 40% of eligible Australian expenditure, strengthening investor recoupment and supporting marketing and distribution.
As writer and director, I have devoted thousands of hours to researching, investigating and advocating alongside families affected by Australia's child protection system. Those years of experience have shaped every page of this screenplay.
Hostage of the State is more than another film project. With the support of investors, strategic partners and distributors, we believe this story can reach audiences in Australia and around the world—sparking conversation, challenging assumptions and ensuring these families are no longer invisible.
"The future depends on what we do today." Mahatma Gandhi
