Kangaroo secures Best Feature Film at 24 th Annual SPA Awards

Screen Producers Australia has named Kangaroo the Feature Film Production of the Year in the 24 th Annual SPA Awards held of the final night of Screen Forever 40, this week hosted on the Gold Coast.

The Stage23 team share their pride in the industry acknowledgment with the mighty Kangaroo coproduction team of Studio Canal, Brindle Films and Bunya Productions. Stage23 provided the seamless special effects with Jonathan Hairman serving as Kangaroo’s VFX Supervisor. The film was shot across the Northern Territory and directed by Kate Woods.

“At a time of continued change across the global screen industry, Australian producers continue to demonstrate extraordinary creativity, resilience and ambition. The work recognised tonight reflects not only outstanding storytelling, but the strength of the businesses behind it,” said SPA chief executive Matthew Deaner.

The film launched in Australia in September 2025 and was the highest grossing film of 2025 at the Australian Box Office. Since then, Kangaroo has been launched internationally progressively across Germany, where it was the highest grossing Australian film in 25 years, New Zealand, the Gulf States and selected European markets. Kangaroo premiered across the UK and Ireland in January debuted at number 12 on its opening weekend.

In February, Kangaroo attracted eight AACTA nominations, with Deborah Mailman wing Best Supporting Actress.

Speaking on the making of Kangaroo at an AACTA panel in February, director Kate Woods said she was lured back to Australia to work on the project on the strength of the story, its vision and its soul.

“I was so blown away. I loved the story from the start. I remember when I read that opening scene with Charlie running, I was hooked. You know, it's like it told me that this film had a soul. I could see it straight away, you know. And it's been an incredible opportunity particularly filming in that area, filming the cooperation of the traditional owners of the land, with an Aboriginal cast.”

Woods added,“working with CG was fabulous because Jonathan was there. We made sure that we had storyboarded everything before hand and we knew exactly what we wanted.”