The Run - World Premiere at the AFF
The Watchpost team: Molly Mao (VFX Artist), Alice Yang (Script Supervisor, Additional VFX Artist), Wilson Tran (Editor, Colourist), Chloe Gardner (Producer), Maisie Fabry (Co-Producer, Production Manager) and myself, Stephen de Villiers (Writer/Director).
World Premiere of The Run at Adelaide Film Festival
On Wednesday 23rd October, we had the incredible honour of hosting the world premiere of The Run at the Adelaide Film Festival — a night five years in the making.
The Run marks my feature directorial debut, and was produced by our long-form sister company Arterial Films, with full production, post-production, and VFX services proudly delivered through Watchpost. It’s been an extraordinary journey — one that’s tested and shaped us in ways only independent filmmaking can.
To finally share the film with an audience — in our hometown, surrounded by friends, crew, and supporters — was nothing short of surreal. The fact that we were one of the first films to sell out at the festival, the conversations in the foyer afterwards, the shared sense of relief and pride all helped to mark the evening as a culmination of half a decade’s worth of persistence, creativity, and collaboration.
Some of our wonderful cast: Charlotte Maggi, Joe Romeo, Felix Cameron and Tim Phillips in attendance.
There are too many people to thank, but I do want to send huge thanks to the Adelaide Film Festival for hosting us, and to our phenomenal cast and crew, the South Australian Film Corporation, and our investors who believed in this story from the very beginning. This film wouldn’t exist without you.
The Run is being represented internationally by Global Constellation, with our first major sales push kicking off at AFM this November. For audiences here at home, Exile Films is handling ANZ distribution, with a theatrical release slated for February 2026.
Earlier in the week, I had the pleasure of joining Spence Denny on ABC Radio Adelaide to chat about the film’s journey, the rollercoaster of film finance and sales, and even a bonus segment on our Kangaroo Island Bushfire feature film, The Burnt Half — you can listen to the interview below.
And, in a wonderful surprise, AFF has announced an encore screening series for the festival’s most in-demand films. We’re thrilled that The Run has been selected for an extra screening this Tuesday 29th October at 8:30pm at Palace Nova Eastend. Tickets can be purchased here:
Thank you to everyone who helped bring The Run to life.
Stephen de Villiers
writer/director
