14 10 2020 - Media release A Sunburnt Christmas to deliver Aussie cheer this festive season
A Sunburnt Christmas
New Stan Original Film A Sunburnt Christmas is currently in production in South Australia starring Daniel Henshall (Snowtown, Bloom) and Sullivan Stapleton (Animal Kingdom, Ride Like A Girl), with Christiaan Van Vuuren (Bondi Hipsters, The Other Guy) directing the Christmas family comedy.
Stan today announced that production for a brand new Stan Original Film, A Sunburnt Christmas, Australia's greatest Christmas film ever, is currently underway in Adelaide and will premiere exclusively on Stan later this year just in time for Christmas.
Directed by Christiaan Van Vuuren, this very Australian comedy is produced by Every Cloud Productions, in association with Highview Productions, created and written by Elliot Vella, Gretel Vella and Timothy Walker, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Stan and financed with assistance from the South Australian Film Corporation. Lisa Scott, Highview Productions, is producer, with executive producers Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox for Every Cloud and Mike Jones co-producing.
Not your typical clich Christmas movie, A Sunburnt Christmas is a wild, hilarious and heartfelt story about a single mum and her kids doing it tough on their outback farm until a runaway criminal dressed as Santa Claus crashes into their property and their lives.
In the lead role as Daryl the kindly crim, Daniel Henshall is mistaken for the real Santa by the young and fearless Daisy, played by incredible new talent Lena Nankivell. Other newcomers Eaden McGuinness and Tatiana Goode are equally brilliant in their roles as Daisy's older siblings, her anxious brother Tom and wily teenage sister Hazel who sees Daryl as an opportunity to get her family back on track. Sullivan Stapleton also stars as Dingo, the mobster on the hunt for Daryl, with Ling Cooper Tang (The Secrets She Keeps, The Gloaming) as the children's mum rounding out the multi-generational cast of diverse characters.
A feel-good comedy-of-errors, A Sunburnt Christmas is the must-watch film this Christmas that will bring the family together to laugh, cry and cheer for the triumph of ordinary battlers who might just get their Christmas miracle.
Christiaan Van Vuuren said, I m absolutely stoked to be working at all this year, let alone on a production as special as this with so many talented eggs. I hope this movie is a Christmas present to all Australians after such a hard year.
Every Cloud Productions' Fiona Eagger said, Christmas is one of those occasions where my family love the ritual of sitting down together to watch something Christmassy. Last Christmas, I asked myself where are our good Aussie Christmas films?' A Sunburnt Christmas fills that void and celebrates what makes us uniquely Australian. It is a little bit irreverent, not very politically correct, has a big heart and is a lot funny. In a year where we could do with a little Christmas cheer, this is about creating our own miracles and finding faith in each other.
Alongside Stan and Lisa Scott, Deb and I and the team at Every Cloud Productions, have a strong ethos to give opportunity to new talent. On this show there are many key creatives that are doing their first feature film and we are proud to be doing it with them.
Stan's Chief Content Officer, Nick Forward said, The timing for A Sunburnt Christmas couldn't be better and we're delighted to be working with Christiaan Van Vuuren again, along with the talented young writers, Every Cloud Productions and Highview Productions, to create a fun feel-good Christmas film to give us all a bit of much-needed Aussie festive cheer.
South Australia's Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni, who recently visited the set, said, A Sunburnt Christmas will inject $2.9m into the local economy and employ 104 South Australian crew, 15 local cast and 31 extras. Among the cast are three young South Australian actors in key roles, who have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from acclaimed actors Daniel Henshall and Sullivan Stapleton. It is terrific to continue to build on the strong relationship between Stan and South Australia."
Screen Australia's Head of Content Sally Caplan said, We are thrilled to be supporting this Aussie Christmas comedy. With a fun and distinctive story written by exciting new talents Gretel Vella, Elliot Vella and Tim Walker, and comic mastermind Christiaan Van Vuuren in the director's chair, A Sunburnt Christmas is set to bring laughs for the whole family.
CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation Kate Croser said, We are thrilled to welcome the acclaimed and prolific Every Cloud Productions to South Australia for the first time with this Stan Original film. The turnaround on this production, post-Covid and pre-Christmas is incredibly quick, and is testament to the agility and skill of the nimble crew and vendors in South Australia, under the leadership of South Australian producer, Lisa Scott of Highview Productions.
A Sunburnt Christmas will premiere exclusively on Stan in December 2020.
Production Credit: A Sunburnt Christmas is a Stan Original Film produced by Every Cloud production in association with Highview Productions. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Stan. Financed with assistance from the South Australian Film Corporation.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES For more information, contact Stan Publicity: [email protected]
Media enquiries Amy Burgess | Senior Publicist
61 2 8113 5800 | 61 413 190 195 | [email protected]
Lidia Williams | Publicist and Events Officer
61 2 8113 1091 | 61 468 784 170 | [email protected]
All other general/non-media enquiries Sydney 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
08/07/2026
The right team. The right time.' How The Killings at Parrish Station stuck t...
08/07/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia launch FUTURE VISION Forward to elevate...
07/07/2026
New appointments to Screen Australia board 7 July 2026
The Albanese Labor Government has made new appointments to the Screen Australia board.
Dr Tania Chamber...
07/07/2026
The right team. The right time.' How The Killings at Parrish Station stuck t...
06/07/2026
Techtel debuts insyght: making ST 2110 media discovery easy
intellisphereinsyght2026
6 July Written By Suzanne Costello
Sydney, Australia - 06 July 2026 T...
03/07/2026
Caden Pearson appointed new Commissioning Editor for NITV
3 July, 2026
Media releases
National Indigenous Television (NITV) has strengthened its commitment...
02/07/2026
Screen Australia backs audience-led filmmaking with new insight-driven initiativ...
02/07/2026
Screen Australia refines guidelines for Narrative Content Development and Docume...
01/07/2026
Groundbreaking First Nations Screen Business Accelerator launched through nation...
30/06/2026
Statement regarding GetUp Save Our SBS' campaign
30 June, 2026
Media releases
The GetUp Save Our SBS' campaign is an independent initiative. SBS ...
27/06/2026
A record 4.84 million Australians choose SBS as the Socceroos advance at FIFA Wo...
25/06/2026
The Name You Know, The Lineup You'll Love - SBS2 Returns
25 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Viceland rebrands as SBS2 on Friday 21 August, bringing the c...
23/06/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia's talent development initiative UNT...
22/06/2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 fever grows, as more than one third of Australians tune in ...
18/06/2026
Techtel delivers Haivision live streaming system for TAFE NSW St Leonards, enabl...
16/06/2026
Australians place growing trust in SBS News
16 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has been recognised as one of Australia's most trusted news providers, ran...
16/06/2026
Share your views on Screen Australia and the future of the industry 15 June 2026
Your feedback matters.
Following the instrumental insights provided in 2025,...
16/06/2026
Techtel Supports T-Motion RCCP-2A Controller Upgrade for Major Australian Broadc...
15/06/2026
4.78M AUSSIES TUNE IN FOR SOCCEROOS WIN OVER T RK YE ON SBS
15 June, 2026
Media releases
Match had a Total TV average audience of 3.035 million, with over ...
15/06/2026
SBS Head of Commissioning John Godfrey to depart after 18 years
15 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Head of Commissioning John Godfrey will depart the broadca...
15/06/2026
Techtel Completes Media Production Setup for a major AFL sporting organisation
Sports
15 June Written By Suzanne Costello
(Sydney, Australia 15 June 2026)...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
11/06/2026
Australian Games Industry Glossary of Terms 10 June 2026
From DAU and EULA to COT and QADE, here's a list of game industry terms, industry jargon and their...
10/06/2026
Alone Australia Season 4: Meet the Cast
10 June, 2026
Media releases
WATCH THE TRAILER
Smash-hit survival series Alone Australia drops its highly anticipa...
10/06/2026
DEADLY THEN, DEADLY NOW, DEADLY ALWAYS: SBS & NITV IGNITE NAIDOC WEEK 2026 WITH ...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
03/06/2026
Clarification: SBS's position on definitions of antisemitism
3 June, 2026
Media releases
Statement by Mandi Wicks, SBS Director of News and Current Aff...
03/06/2026
Do not read this media release! Andy Lee's smash-hit show returns to ABC thi...
01/06/2026
SBS confirms its broadcast sponsors for FIFA World Cup 2026
1 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has secured Hyundai, Hisense, Macca's, Rexona, bet365, Com...
28/05/2026
Get fit for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with new SBS On Demand features for the ult...
28/05/2026
Six films, one unmissable collection. First Facts documentaries debut on 10 Stre...
28/05/2026
Emma Watkins brings all-new Emma's Dance Club to ABC Kids 28 May 2026
Emmas Dance Club. Image credit: Sarah Wilson.
The ABC, Screen Australia and Screen N...
26/05/2026
Three new kids' digital series set to hatch from ACTF and Screen Australia i...
25/05/2026
SBS announces exclusive TV broadcast schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026
21 May, 2026
Media releases
Luke Wilkshire, Tommy Oar, Andrew Redmayne, Sarah Walsh ...
22/05/2026
Statement regarding 2026 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award for the late...
21/05/2026
2026 delegation for Partner with Australia (UK) initiative announced 21 May 2026
Screen Australia and Ausfilm have today announced the delegation for the 2026 ...
20/05/2026
From Gulkula to the nation: Yothu Yindi Foundation and NITV deepen national acce...
20/05/2026
SBS appoints David Fernandez as National Manager, Digital & TV Sales
20 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS has appointed David Fernandez as National Manager, Dig...
20/05/2026
First Nations Factual Co-production Development Fund launched to elevate Indigen...
18/05/2026
Delta Goodrem shines for SBS as more than 3.27 million Australians tune in for E...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
15/05/2026
Joint Statement: News Bargaining Incentive
28 April, 2026
Media releases
The vibrancy of Australian democracy relies on the robust and open exchange of new...
15/05/2026
Call it Deltavision, Australia's through to the Grand Final of this year'...
14/05/2026
SBS Board appoints Jane Palfreyman Managing Director
13 May, 2026
Media releases
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Board of Directors is pleased to an...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns
14 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS, NITV and Screen Australia have announced ...
14/05/2026
Australia Uncovered Returns to SBS with Bold New Season Featuring John Safran on...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns 14 May 2026
Top (L-R): Bronte Gosper (Musket), Mema Munro (Rogue One), Nathan ...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
14 10 2020 - Media release A Sunburnt Christmas to deliver Aussie cheer this festive season 
