Stephen Van Mil, Producer

Stephen Van Mil founded the independent Australian film production company which began in Sydney. Impian Films first feature film is based on the book The Drowner by Robert Drewe. Development began in 2008 with production expected to begin 2011. The West Australian filmmaker is producing the movie project along with Mel Gibson's Icon Productions and UK Producer Robert Jones. Impian Films has contracted renowned Australian-based screenwriter John Collee (Master and Commander, Happy Feet) for the screenplay adaptation.

Stephen's passion for film was borne out of 20 years experience in television, print and film. With a Veterinary background, previous productions include wildlife documentaries White Lions – King of Kings (2006) for Discovery Network/Animal Planet International and Saving Orangutans for the Ten Network Australia. Made in conjunction with Fork Films, the multiple award winning The Last Trimate (2008) is a world released documentary narrated by Mel Gibson and featuring the amazing life-work of Birute Mary Galdikas and orangutans in Indonesia. Upcoming projects include Big Fish, a global odyssey to unravel the mystery of the remarkable whale shark, the biggest fish in our oceans, Elephant Wars examining the alarming escalation in human-elephant conflict , Tipping Point which exposes the growing unsustainability of planet earth, and The Track a docu-reality series profiling the racing game.

Tim Winton, Author

Tim Winton has published twenty books for children and adults, and his work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Since his first novel, An Open Swimmer, won the Australian/Vogel Award in 1981, he has won the Miles Franklin award four times (for Shallows, Cloudstreet, Dirt Music and Breath) and twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize (for The Riders and Dirt Music). He lives in Western Australia.

Tim has recently filmed an impassioned plea to Australians, asking for their assistance in saving the Western Australian coastline. You can see it on our Behind the Scenes page. 

Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey, Mark Gooder
ICON Productions (Co-Producers)

Icon Productions is an American independent production company founded by actor/director Mel Gibson and Australian producing partner Bruce Davey. Unlike most other independents, Icon internally funds most of its development and packaging costs, allowing it to retain creative control of projects through production.

Icon Productions has made 49 films including Fahrenheit 451 (2010), Apocalypto (2006), The Passion of the Christ (2004), The Night We Called It a Day (2003), The Blind Assassin (2002), The Magic Pudding (2000), What Women Want (2000), Maverick (1994), Airborne (1993), The Man Without a Face (1993), Forever Young (1992) and Hamlet (1990).

The company also produces and distributes films in the UK and Australia through its subsidiary Icon Entertainment International. Icon has distributed 22 films including Mary and Max (2009), Hunger (2008), The Black Balloon (2008), Romance & Cigarettes (2005), I Heart Huckabees (2004), Foyle's War (2002), Ned (2003), The Man Who Sued God (2001) and The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)

In 2008, Icon entered the exhibition business for the first time by purchasing Dendy Cinemas, Australia's largest independent film distributor and art house cinema chain.