A delightfully off-kilter new Australian film is about to arrive, with the first trailer now unveiled for Alphabet Lane, set to open in Australian cinemas on April 23rd, 2026.
Written and directed by James Litchfield in his striking feature debut, the film pairs Tilda Cobham-Hervey (Apple Cider Vinegar, Jimpa) and Nicholas Denton (Talamasca, Dangerous Liaisons) as a couple whose quiet life together begins to unravel after an innocent joke about imaginary friends takes on a life of its own. What starts as playful mischief soon spirals into something far stranger – an eerie, tender, and unexpectedly romantic exploration of isolation, imagination, and the odd ways love can echo in empty spaces.
Premiering at the Melbourne International Film Festival, Alphabet Lane introduces audiences to a world that feels both intimate and slightly askew. Cobham-Hervey and Denton are joined by a standout supporting cast including Helana Sawires (Stateless), Henry Nixon (The Pacific), Alan Dukes (The Stranger), and Bishanyia Vincent (The Twelve).
Adding another layer of invention is the film’s playful, atmospheric score by Mark Bradshaw (You Won’t Be Alone), which incorporates the distinctive humming of actors Ben Whishaw (Peter Hujar’s Day) and Alice Englert (Bad Behaviour). The result is a soundscape that feels as curious and whimsical as the story itself.
Filmed in the hauntingly beautiful Monaro region of New South Wales, the stark landscape becomes its own character – an isolated, windswept backdrop that mirrors the film’s growing sense of unease and wonder.
Produced by Joe Films, Alphabet Lane was developed with the assistance of Screen NSW and received principal production funding from Screen Australia. Local distribution is handled by Screen Inc.
Equal parts intimate, strange and quietly romantic, Alphabet Lane is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing Australian indie discoveries of the year when it arrives in cinemas this April.
