Wilf Sweetland, a seasoned figure in the commercial production industry, has made a return to Exit Films, rejoining the company as a co-managing partner. He will be working alongside Declan Cahill and Leah Churchill-Brown, leading the company across Australia and New Zealand.

Sweetland's journey with Exit Films began in 1998 when he joined the company as a runner. He left the company for a while, only to return in 2003, this time partnering with Mark Molloy as a director-producer team. Now, he is back once again, ready to contribute to the company's ongoing success.

Exit Films, a Melbourne-based commercial production company, has a nearly 30-year history of storytelling. With offices in Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland, the company has made a name for itself as a 'director-first, craft-led' entity. It has consistently developed creative storytellers who have made their mark on the global stage, be it as directors or cinematographers.

Sweetland (pictured) expressed his excitement about rejoining the company and said he'd been talking with Declan and Leah for a long time.

"We realised that there was a power in how we worked together and the fit was too good to let slip," he said.

"Exit has always been a storytelling-based commercial production company, with a true commitment to creativity, and I have always had the utmost respect for the directors and their craft. It was founded as a director-first, craft-led company and has remained so throughout its nearly 30-year history. No other Australasian company has developed such creative storytellers with a presence on the world stage like Exit has, be they directors or cinematographers. I am honoured to become a part of the history once again and feel like I have been woven through the cultural fabric of Exit since the early days."

Cahill also expressed his enthusiasm about Sweetland's return, stating, "Wilf and I worked together during the latter stages of his last time at Exit. We are very excited to add his skill-set and recognised passion for embracing creatively driven work. I could not be more eager to continue and grow the Exit story with Leah and Wilf. We are very proud of the Exit roster of directors and look forward to its ongoing evolution and development."

Churchill-Brown echoed these sentiments, said interests and skill sets vary, which is a plus.

"I also think that the absolute winners out of our joining forces will be the directors and our agencies. We really are a small bunch of friends and collaborators at Exit, and the history and friendship many of us have had with Wilf over the years creates a very smooth entry for this new phase," he said.

Sweetland's return to Exit Films is seen as a positive move by many in the industry, including director Garth Davis who said, "I feel very excited that Wilf is returning home to shepherd our talented directors, with the heart and soul that is Exit."

Glendyn Ivin, another director, added, "Wilf has been part of Exit’s history and DNA for decades. His desire to create good work with a strong roster of directors will be a huge benefit not only to Exit Films but also to our creative industry as a whole. I’m excited to see where his passion and enthusiasm take Exit into the future."