By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. While we can learn a lot about the filmmakers from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival through the art that these storytellers share with us, there’s always more we can learn about them as people. We decided to get to the bottom of those artistic wells with our ongoing series: Give Me the Backstory!
“Humankind has a biological and evolutionary necessity to absorb and tell stories,” says filmmaker Jeffrey Walker. “It’s how we understand the universe and ourselves. The format for storytelling is ever-evolving, but the desire for story will never fade.” And Walker should know — he’s been telling stories for decades.
Walker started off as a child actor in Australia in the late 1980s before moving behind the camera in the 2000s. Since then, he’s directed for dozens of TV series (Neighbours, H2O: Just Add Water, Difficult People, and Apple Cider Vinegar just to name a few) as well as venturing into film. His newest project, premiering in the Family Matinee section at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, is the whimsically titled Fing!, based on the children’s book of the same name. The film follows the Meek family — Maureen (Mia Wasikowska), Christopher (Blake Harrison), and their daughter, Myrtle (Iona Bell) — as they seek to protect a rare, large, furry, one-eyed creature from a selfish viscount (Taika Waititi) with nefarious intentions.
Read on to learn more about Walker and Fing!, including the filmmaker’s advice to storytellers and what he loves to do when he’s not busy directing.
Tell us an anecdote about casting or working with your actors.
We had the most wonderful and eclectic cast in this film. From an improv master in Taika, to our own Alice in Wonderland Mia, comedy icon Blake, cinema royalty in Dame Penelope [Wilton], and breakout superstar Iona — it was a blast. An extremely kind, professional, and hilarious ensemble.
What was a big challenge you faced while making this film?
Our Fing was a puppet, so making the performance come through while needing to act alongside actors was challenging. When it came together, it was extremely rewarding.
Tell us why and how you got into filmmaking.
I was a child actor for 10 years in Australia, then snuck behind the lens. It’s funny having been a child actor and now directing child actors.
If you weren’t a filmmaker, what would you be doing?
I would love to be a full-time dad.
What is something that all filmmakers should keep in mind in order to become better cinematic storytellers?
Never put style before content. Always be in service of your story.
Who are your creative heroes?
I love all talented creatives, in every medium — musicians, painters, designers, filmmakers.
What three things do you always have in your refrigerator?
Orange juice, blackberries, milk
What was the last thing you saw that you wish you made?
The Brutalist
One thing people don’t know about me is _____.
I’m happiest riding motorbikes on my farm near Brisbane, Australia.
Tell us about your history with Sundance Institute. When was the first time you engaged with us? Why did you want your film to premiere with us?
I love Sundance so much. It’s the swaggiest festival in the world, it’s filmmaker-centric, and even though I’ve visited it before in support of friends, I’ve never had a film in the Festival until now.
Who was the first person you told when you learned you got into the Sundance Film Festival?
Wifey, Brooke.
What’s your favorite film that has come from the Sundance Institute or Festival?
Minari — just beautiful.
