CHRISTMAS ROMANCE THE PAINTER & THE PRINCE WRAPPING PRODUCTION IN BRISBANE, AS JAGGI ENTERTAINMENT'S ROMANCE SLATE SURPASSES 11 MILLION STREAMING VIEWS
Tim Ross (Prince Henry) and Melina Vidler (Shelby Stevens) on set in Brisbane, Queensland. Photo by David Fell.
Jaggi Entertainment is thrilled to announce that production is wrapping on The Painter & The Prince, a festive romance filming in Brisbane. The film stars Melina Vidler as Shelby Stevens and Tim Ross as Prince Henry, and is directed by Colin Budds. Cameras started rolling on Monday 17 August, 2026.
When financial struggles threaten to close her family’s art-tour business before Christmas, self-taught artist Shelby Stevens enters a televised holiday painting competition, hoping the prize money can save it. During the competition, Shelby clashes with fellow contestant “Mark,” whose polished talent and charm slowly win her over through festive adventures and late-night creative breakthroughs. But when Shelby discovers Mark is actually Prince Henry of Serendovia, secretly escaping royal expectations to pursue art, their growing romance is put at risk.
The Painter & The Prince is the latest addition to Jaggi Entertainment’s romance catalogue, with the Brisbane-based studio set to produce seven feature films and two series across its 2026/27 slate.
The new production lands as Jaggi Entertainment’s romance titles continue to prove their staying power well beyond theatrical release. Netflix viewership data shows the studio’s catalogue holding strong audiences across multiple half-year windows – evidence, the studio says, of just how long a well-loved romance can keep finding new viewers on streaming. Between Love Is In The Air and You, Always alone, the two titles have amassed more than 11 million views on Netflix.The new
Producer Steve Jaggi said the numbers reflect the enduring appeal of romance, both on the big screen and on streaming platforms.
“Romance has genuine staying power as these aren’t films that disappear after their first week. Love Is In The Air and You, Always have now been watched more than 11 million times on Netflix between them, months and even years after they first released, and that tells us audiences keep coming back to these stories. The Painter & The Prince continues that tradition, and it’s exciting to be bringing it to life as part of our biggest slate yet – seven films and two series in 2026.” says Jaggi.
Produced by Steve Jaggi and Kyle Lema and Executive Produced by Kylie Pascoe, The Painter & The Prince is shooting on location in Brisbane, Australia.
With an exciting slate of romance films ahead, Jaggi Entertainment is committed to allowing audiences to experience these stories first on the big screen, building an early and loyal fan base that will return to them as enduring cosy favourites. Cinemas play a vital role in that journey, providing the first introduction to the romance titles for which Jaggi has become renowned.
The film will be released in Australian cinemas through Jaggi Entertainment Distribution’s Romance Society brand, and the Studios LA office will also manage global sales.
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
Rebecca Pini
M4M Agency
Email: rpini@m4magency.com.au
Netflix “What We Watched” engagement data: Dive Club has held between 700,000 and 900,000 views per half-year period since late 2024; Love Is In The Air has ranged from 1.7 to 2.8 million views per period since its 2025 release; and You, Always debuted with 4.7 million views in its first half-year alone (Jan–Jun 2026)