Kids

ACTF film Whale Shark Jack is expanding its international reach, with the live-action family feature securing new broadcast deals across Europe and North America. The film has been acquired by Canal+ in France, RTE in Ireland, RTV Slovenia, Netherlands Public Broadcasting and BYUtv in the United States. The project has also expanded beyond the screen, with Penguin Random House adapting the story into a book of the same name.
Set against the spectacular Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, Whale Shark Jack follows 12-year-old Sarah (Alyla Browne), who lives aboard a boat with her marine biologist parents. Her closest companion is Jack, a whale shark she rescued as a baby.

After a tragic accident forces Sarah and her mother to move to the coastal town of Exmouth, Jack disappears during his migration. Determined to find him, Sarah sets out on a risky mission that will test her resilience and courage. The film explores themes of family, friendship and the natural world, while offering an Australian setting and voice designed to connect with audiences internationally.

“Whale Shark Jack is exactly the kind of film broadcasters and streamers around the world are looking for – a high-quality, authentic story full of heart and humour with universal themes that speak to children and adults alike. Whale Shark Jack is a truly beautiful film full of characters and locations audiences across the world will fall in love with,” said ACTF Head of Content Bernadette O’Mahony.

Whale Shark Jack will make its international premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California in October. The film is the second feature to emerge from the partnership between the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF) and Stan, following the award-winning Windcatcher (2024). Both titles are distributed internationally by ACTF.
Whale Shark Jack is produced by Cottesloe Films and Southern Light Films as part of the ACTF/Stan Family Film partnership, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with ACTF and Stan. The film was financed with support from Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Government through the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund, and in association with Minderoo Pictures.