Meet the Campbelltown actress who just about stole the show at home grown short film festival Tropfest this year.
Kya Stewart hit a rare milestone with two films selected for 2026 Tropfest, which attracted an audience of more than 35,000 people at Centennial Park.
Ms Stewart is dynamic – to say the least – in Project Hourglass, an official Tropfest selection, and One More For Safety, handpicked for the festival’s Wildcard competition.
This was a remarkable double achievement for a performer at the world’s largest short film festival; even more notable given the 2026 judging panel included global industry figures such as Margot Robbie, Sarah Snook and James Cameron.
Project Hourglass went on to win the People’s Choice Award, making it the audience favourite of the night.
Directed by Ben Mathews and co-starring Bob Morley, the action-comedy follows a man who reappears years after being presumed dead.
When Jacob reappears three years after leaping from a bridge claiming to be part of a secret government program, his fiancé Katie (played by Kya Stewart) must decide whether to believe his wild claims – or get him some help.
A black belt in Go Kan Ryu karate in real life, Stewart was born and bred in Ingleburn.
She enjoys physically demanding roles and expanding opportunities for women in action-driven stories.
She said the role in Project Hourglass stood out immediately.
“We had a very fast turnaround for the film, but when I read that my character explored so many different emotions within such a short period of time, I was immediately in,’’ she said.
“I also got to utilise my martial arts training, which I don’t often get to do, so that was a major plus.”
The Tropfest moment arrives as Stewart’s career continues to gain momentum internationally.
She recently wrapped the feature film, Her Last Laugh, directed by Joy Hopwood, where she plays the lead opposite Ana Thu Nguyen (Mortal Kombat 2) and Peter Thurnwald (XO Kitty).
The film is set for a cinema release in September 2026.
And Stewart will soon start filming the role of Madi in Curls, directed by Harriet McKern and produced by Breathless Films (starring Ana Thu Nguyen again) and Rina Mousavi (Shayda).
