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Umbrella Entertainment

From Alfawiki
Umbrella Entertainment
Company typePrivate
IndustryFilm production and distribution
Founded2001
FounderJeff Harrison
Headquarters
Australia
Area served
Australia, New Zealand
Key people
Jeff Harrison (Founder)
ProductsFilm production, film distribution, film restoration, digital distribution, streaming service (Brollie)

Umbrella Entertainment is an Australian private company specializing in film production and distribution, established in 2001 by Jeff Harrison.

History

Following a career in music distribution, Jeff Harrison founded Umbrella Entertainment. In 2015, the firm broadened its scope to include digital distribution, making Australian titles such as The Big Steal and Malcolm accessible on platforms like Amazon Prime Video. That same year, Harrison took on the role of treasurer for the Australian Independent Distributors Association (AIDA).

On 23 November 2023, Umbrella introduced Brollie, a free streaming service supported by advertisements, its name inspired by British slang for "umbrella."

Overview

Operating across Australia and New Zealand, Umbrella Entertainment handles film and television distribution, overseeing rights for theatrical and non-theatrical releases, television licensing, video-on-demand services, as well as hospitality and airline sectors. The company is recognized for restoring and distributing classic Australian films, frequently including interviews with original cast members and production teams alongside each release.

The company's commercial catalog predominantly consists of Australian cinema and Ozploitation titles, with ongoing restoration projects involving genre staples such as Razorback, Frog Dreaming, The Man From Hong Kong, and Mad Dog Morgan. Additionally, Umbrella restores rare cult favorites like the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead and Night of the Creeps. All restorations are performed by scanning original film elements in either 4K or 2K resolution.

Theatrical distribution

As a leading "all rights" licensor, Umbrella Entertainment has overseen theatrical releases of numerous films throughout Australia and New Zealand. Emphasizing the revival of Australian classic cinema, many titles have been showcased in cinemas and film festivals nationwide. In 2012, the company distributed Emilio Estevez's The Way, featuring Martin Sheen; it debuted on 35 screens before expanding to 110 during its theatrical run.

Since 2014, Umbrella has collaborated with Causeway Films, an Australian production company, to release films including The Babadook, Cargo, and Buoyancy. Despite challenges from COVID-19-related cinema closures, Umbrella maintained theatrical distribution in 2020, presenting 18 different titles.

In celebration of the Ritz Cinema's 85th anniversary in 2022, Umbrella partnered with the National Film and Sound Archive to offer a year-long screening series of classic Australian movies projected on 35mm film prints.

Sanctuary Pictures

Umbrella Entertainment launched Sanctuary Pictures in March 2023 as a new production entity led by general manager Ari Harrison alongside producer Julie Ryan from Cyan Films. Harrison’s executive production credits include Talk to Me and The Survival of Kindness (2022). Sanctuary Pictures initially concentrates on independent feature films with intentions to expand into high-quality television series.

In February 2024, Jasmin McSweeney, a New Zealand-based producer who also serves as Umbrella’s head of sales & acquisitions, joined Sanctuary Pictures.

Sanctuary's debut feature film, the horror-thriller Penny Lane is Dead directed by Mia'Kate Russell, was promoted at Cannes in May 2025. Supported financially by the South Australian Film Corporation and Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund with post-production handled by KOJO Studios, the project is produced by Harrison, Ryan, and Andre Lima. Its red carpet premiere is planned for the Adelaide Film Festival on 18 October 2025.

Additionally in May 2025, Sanctuary co-founded the Wake in Fright Development Initiative alongside the Wake in Fright Trust and AACTA. This national program offers AUD 30,000 in funding plus development assistance targeting thriller and horror projects that elevate diverse voices.

As of July 2025, Ari Harrison serves as director and owner of Sanctuary Pictures, which is registered in Victoria.

Restoration of Australian Films

Umbrella Entertainment has established a notable reputation for restoring and distributing rare, classic, and cult Australian films. By 2013, the company had successfully restored more than 100 Australian titles in high-definition formats, frequently partnering with the National Film & Sound Archive. In addition to utilizing NFSA’s archival resources, Umbrella creates exclusive featurettes and interviews, drawing from previously unreleased archival materials such as outtakes, production notes, and rare footage.

Producer Antony I. Ginnane remarked that apart from the government-supported NFSA, Umbrella has contributed more than any other organization toward restoring and highlighting Australian cinema from the 1950s through the 1990s. Director Brian Trenchard-Smith commended Umbrella alongside Madman for their dedication to issuing historic Australian films on DVD, which aids in preserving the country’s cinematic legacy while introducing these works to modern viewers.

In 2017, Umbrella Entertainment joined forces with the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) to restore and reissue 25 SAFC-produced films, further reinforcing Umbrella’s role in safeguarding regional Australian film history.

Selected Restored Films

Umbrella Entertainment has spearheaded restoration projects for numerous iconic Australian films, often collaborating with the NFSA and ROAR Digital. Among the significant titles restored and remastered are:


Brollie

Brollie is a subscription-based video-on-demand platform dedicated to classic Australian films and television series. Introduced by Umbrella Entertainment on 24 November 2023, it functions as a free streaming service tailored specifically for audiences within Australia.

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