Wirra Distribution, an Indigenous-owned company founded by Wongutha filmmaker Travis Akbar, has acquired Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) distribution rights for Noongar filmmaker Thibul Nettle's psychological thriller 'The Shadows of Trust'.

The deal is an early announcement and marks its second new release following its acquisition of rights to director Josh Trigg's 'SATU Year of the Rabbit'.

The film is written, directed and produced by Mr Nettle, who also stars alongside Sarah Jeavons, Georgia Williams and Trung Le.

It is produced by Tracey Romano of Loyal T Productions and executive produced by Nick Buckland of Scuti Productions.

Wirra Distribution said the film follows a tense psychological story and compared it to thrillers such as 'Gone Girl'.

Akbar said Wirra Distribution planned to bring the film to audiences as its slate expands, and to support filmmakers reaching wide audiences.

"We are incredibly proud to be able to bring The Shadows of Trust to audiences as part of our growing slate of films," he said.

"As seemingly the first Aboriginal-owned distribution company in Australia, our goal is to create opportunities for Indigenous, diverse but also mainstream filmmakers to tell their stories authentically while reaching the widest possible audience."

Mr Nettle said the film was drawn from personal experience and focused on themes of trust in relationships.

"The Shadows of Trust was inspired by my own experiences, delving into love, loyalty, and the emotional cost of trust within a relationship," he said.

"It's an honour to be working with Wirra Distribution on the release of The Shadows of Trust across Australia and New Zealand.

"Our aim at Firestick Films, and as filmmakers, is to build a lasting relationship that brings First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians together to experience our stories side by side."

'The Shadows of Trust' is set for release in 2026, with festival screenings and a rollout across Australian cinemas, streaming platforms and international markets to follow.

The team is also raising $15,000 through GoFundMe to support post-production and lift production quality.

Mr Nettle said the fundraising would go toward equipment upgrades for visuals and sound, production insurance and additional crew support.