A feel-good new movie will premiere at Event Cinemas Miranda next week - but that's not the film's only local connection.
Love You Like That was shot all around Sutherland Shire and will be filled with plenty of recognisable locations (and maybe even some faces), when it hits cinemas from October 21.
The film sees a mysterious woman wash up naked on Mim Beach on the coastal town of Seafront Sands (which in reality is a variety of shire locations).
The woman doesn't have any memory, but she does have a mighty strong craving for coffee.
The new arrival, now named Mim after the beach where she was found, has a profound effect on all the townsfolk she meets, changing their lives forever.
Love You Like That producer Patrick Kriz said Sutherland was always the number one choice to film the movie.
"The writer and director - Eric C. Nash - has actually called the shire home for 10-plus years," he said.
"Cronulla and Bundeena became the fictional town of Seafront Sands while writing the script.
"It was an obvious choice to use Sutherland for the film's actual setting."
Kriz said residents wouldn't have any trouble spotting their local haunts on the big screen.
"Bundeens and its beachfront is easily spotted in the opening of the film," he said.
"Howling Forest Cafe in Kirrawee was the host location for a scene.
"South Cronulla beach makes for an exciting volleyball game setting.
"Scott's florist in Sutherland made a beautiful cameo too, while Wanda Beach and Gunnamatta beachfronts also make appearances."
Filming for Love You Like That took place during October and November of 2019, Kriz said, where it wasn't COVID that was wreaking havoc, but another disaster.
"We were in the midst of raging forest fires and smoke," he said.
"COVID played an impact in the post-production part of the film. Much of this had to be done remotely and over conference video calls."
Love You Like That stars Mitchell Hope (Disney's Descendants, Let It Snow), Allira Jaques (Rake), John Jarratt (Wolf Creek), and comedian Steph Tisdell.
It hits select cinemas across NSW from Thursday, October 21 and will have its premiere at Event Cinemas Miranda the same day.
Kriz encouraged everyone to go out and see the film, which is in the vein of Aussie classics like Strictly Ballroom and Muriel's Wedding.
"After the last year and some, Love You Like That is the fresh glass of water everyone needs," he said.
"We made a beautiful Australian film for the whole world to enjoy."
