A new film will be released across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand through Wirra Distribution, an Indigenous owned company founded by Wongutha filmmaker Travis Akbar.

Mr Akbar said Wirra was built to provide a culturally safe and values-driven pathway for filmmakers.

"Wirra is about integrity, trust, and community," he said.

"We want to be a premiere Australian distributor that supports all filmmakers, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, whose work aligns with our values... it will be a very slow road, but we will make it happen."

Mr Akbar said the company's first release represents those values.

"'Satu - Year of the Rabbit' is a beautiful story with absolutely gorgeous cinematography and great performances from the young leads," he said.

"It's the perfect film to represent what Wirra stands for.

"Finding a film outside of Australia was the intention to show that we are intent on being a key player in the film industry."

Satu is a poetic road movie which follows a young orphan and a teenage photojournalist as they travel across Laos in search of identity and connection.

The film was shot on 16mm film with producer Lee Phongsavanh, a local cast and crew, and faced significant challenges including limited resources, broken equipment, and pandemic restrictions.

Despite these obstacles, the production was completed over 22 days across four weeks.

Director Joshua Trigg said the process was intense.

"Everything was by the skin of our teeth, smuggling cameras across borders, poisonous snakes and daily hurdles meant we were in survival mode," he said.

Mr Phongsavanh noted the production created a strong bond among those involved.

"We're very proud of this Lao-UK film, and grateful that more people will get to see our country, our culture, and our story," he said.

"It might sound cliché, but we didn't just work on a film we became a real family after all."

The film has already won the Golden Shika Grand Prix at the Nara International Film Festival and received multiple BIFA nominations.

Wirra Distribution has also partnered with Screen Inc's Dov Kornits to strengthen its future release strategies.

Mr Akbar said Mr Kornits' guidance had been "pivotal in reaching this milestone".

Mr Kornits added the creation of Wirra was an important step for the industry.

"A First-Nations-owned and operated film distribution company is such an astute and necessary addition to the Australian landscape, coming at a time when authentic voices are so important," he said.

'Satu: Year of the Rabbit' will screen in select cinemas following its festival release program.