On the edge of success

Sunshine Coast filmmaker Jane Larkin and her film, The Edge, are up for a swag of prestigious AACTA awards.

By Lucinda Dean

Independent Aussie feature film, The Edge, is in consideration for 14 AACTA awards across 10 categories, including best feature film and best independent feature film.

Local filmmaker Jane Larkin is also up for best director, best producer, best screenplay and best lead actress.

The AACTA awards will be held next year in February at HOTA (Home of the Arts) on the Gold Coast, where The Edge had its world premiere in May.

For the former elite athlete-turned-filmmaker, it could be a serendipitous case of life coming full circle.

The film was funded with assistance from the Sunshine Coast Council and private investors, and made for under $1 million by 3lite Productions – Jane’s own production company.

Jane gave birth to her first child on June 10, and 10 days later, her ‘other baby’ was ‘birthed’ on Netflix.

“It’s been such a rewarding journey seeing the film find its audience on Netflix ANZ and now being recognised among Australia’s top filmmakers.”

Jane conceived the idea for The Edge at 15 when she was on her first overseas trip representing her country in sprinting.

“When I started writing it, I realised that there were no female narratives in the sporting world, at least there weren’t any films where I saw myself represented, and I’d always wanted to see myself represented because my favourite films were Remember the Titans and other sports narratives, but they always seemed to focus on men,” she says.

“And if there were ever female sporting films, they seemed to be like Honey or Bring It On or cheerleading, and I wanted it to be really gritty.

“I wanted the world of sport to coexist with what it is to be a female athlete, so of course all the girls have drama in their personal lives as well as in their sporting journeys, and I felt like that really needed to be shown.”

Jane starred in her first lead role alongside First Nations woman powerlifter and cancer survivor, Lily Riley, and Japanese Paralympic swimmer Mei Ichinose.

Jane had previously acted in Boy Swallows Universe and Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives, but Lily and Mei were primarily athletes, not professional actors.

The Edge was also a Septimius Awards 2025 contender.

It was nominated for Best Oceanian Film along with Spit (David Wenham) and the Maori film Ka Whawhai Tonu. Mei Ichinose also received a nomination for Best Asian Actress.

“If you decide to make another film down the track, it helps to have these accolades under your belt,” Jane says.

“Streaming services have been so terrific in so many ways, and Netflix ANZ provides the biggest reach.

“Ultimately, we want people to see what we pour our passion into.”

Jane is quietly confident of succeeding at the AACTAs: “Our film is on the streaming service, it measures up, it’s easily accessible, so I think it’s got a really good chance”.