Screenwest and Screen Australia today announced Richard Vilensky’s scripted feature Everyone’s Having a Good Time But You as the coveted West Coast Visions 2026 recipient.
One of the country’s most significant filmmaking initiatives for emerging filmmakers, West Coast Visions is designed to uncover, inspire and develop talented Western Australian filmmakers with distinctive voices, providing them with up to $1 million production funding supported by the Western Australian Government and Lotterywest.
With Screen Australia’s pre-commitment of $500,000 in equity, West Coast Visions recipients will receive a total of up to $1.5 million in production funding for their project.
WA writer and director Richard Vilensky brings his noir-inflected, tragicomic and performance driven work to his dark comedy debut feature, where Fargo meets Father of the Bride in an insurance scam that goes horribly wrong.
The film is produced by Shane McNeil, Matty Limpus, Grady Habib (Sandbox Productions) and Ari Harrison (Sanctuary Pictures).
Julie Ryan (Late Night with The Devil, Hotel Mumbai, Red Dog) is attached as Executive Producer alongside Jamie Bialkower (Jump Street Films) bringing the support of the Jewish Australian Screen Fund.
Set on the eve of his daughter’s wedding, the owner of a failing furniture chain is forced into extreme action as he attempts to keep his family in the dark, himself out of jail and the big day on the rails.
Everyone’s Having a Good Time But You draws on Vilensky’s experiences of connection, community and humour as a member of Perth’s Jewish community, representing a story world and perspective rarely seen in Australian screen culture – a contemporary Jewish-Australian family drama through the lens of dark comedy and surreal farce.
Supported by the Western Australian Government and Lotterywest, West Coast Visions provides funding to develop talented Western Australian filmmakers with distinctive cinematic voices for a debut feature film for theatrical release.
Writer/Director Richard Vilensky said, “This film is the culmination of a long creative journey - having circled these ideas for years without fully understanding why. It wasn't until I embraced both the personal themes and the Jewish world I grew up in that the story finally became what it was meant to be - a funny, unsettling and painfully human spiral of chaos. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has believed in that vision, and I can’t wait to share it with the world. If for no other reason than my mother needs something to boast about.”
Producers Shane McNeil, Matty Limpus and Grady Habib said “As soon as we read Richard’s hilarious script, we all knew this was the film we wanted to make. Having watched Richard develop as a director through his work with Sandbox over the past decade, we’re thrilled to help bring his unique voice and bold cinematic vision to a global audience."
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall said, “For more than 20 years, West Coast Visions has launched the careers of talented Western Australian filmmakers, projects supported through the initiative have reached audiences around the world.
Congratulations to the Everyone’s Having A Good Time But You team and I look forward to seeing their project come to life next year.”
Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content Louise Gough said “Screen Australia is proud to support Screenwest's West Coast Visions, an initiative that champions talented Western Australian filmmakers as they bring their debut feature films to the big screen. Congratulations to Richard Vilensky, his debut feature Everyone's Having a Good Time But You is boldly voiced, comedic and uniquely Western Australian.”
Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said “West Coast Visions has become one of the country's premier pathways for emerging filmmakers, helping Western Australians transform bold creative ideas into feature films with national and international reach.
“The Cook Government is proud to support initiatives like West Coast Visions through Screenwest because investing in local storytellers strengthens our screen industry, creates skilled jobs and ensures uniquely Western Australian stories continue to be shared with audiences around the world.”
“Congratulations to Richard Vilensky and the entire creative team behind Everyone's Having a Good Time But You. I look forward to seeing this exciting project come to life when production begins next year.”
Lotterywest CEO Colin Smith said “Strong communities are built through sharing stories, experiences and culture. Lotterywest is committed to supporting projects that enrich Western Australia’s cultural landscape and create lasting opportunities for local creatives.”
“Lotterywest is proud to support West Coast Visions and the development of Western Australian filmmaking talent. We look forward to seeing this bold, distinctive story reach audiences in WA and beyond.”
Everyone’s Having a Good Time But You is set to commence production in mid-2027.
Screenwest through its West Coast Visions initiative has backed the careers and stories of rising Western Australia filmmakers, with supported projects including Proclivitas, Sweet As, Birthright, Last Train to Freo and How to Please A Woman.
Production credit: Everyone’s Having a Good Time But You is a joint venture between Habib, Harrison, McNeill and Limpus. Major production funding from Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Government, with support from Screen Australia.