about
Sal Balharrie grew up on a sheep station and wrote stories in a peppercorn tree which she turned into books but as customers only extended to her two dogs and humans were light on the ground, she was forced to take another job, stenciling the name of the property - Roseneath - onto the side of wool bales.
“I am thrilled to announce i am now working with Harper Collins to publish my novels.”
current projects
bio
Sal’s creative journey began in Adland where she wrote and directed over 20 short films for clients such as Ray Ban, Patricia Piccinini’s Skywhale and The Australian Ballet.
In 2013, she began writing, directing and creating exclusively for screen and publication. Primarily a writer, Sal’s original concepts and projects span two areas - FACT - documentary work and FICTION writing novels and scripted drama and screen adaptation.
FICTION // When it comes to novels and scripted drama, Sal is drawn to stories set deep within the dynamics of a contemporary family.
Sal’s novels are stories for women who crave prestige drama with bite. Signing her first show CALYPSO CHEW! WHAT’S UP WITH YOU Beyond Productions in 2015, this was closely followed by her second KID A’S DAY to Komixx Entertainment in 2017. Sal’s slate is small, rich and deliciously ‘now’. Having recently signed a two book deal for global release of her original work with publisher Harper Collins, Sal’s first novel THE EXCHANGE STUDENT is set for publication in 2027. Her follow-up NO PARTY is planned for released in 2028. Adaptation and film rights for both titles remain with the author. Readers will immediately appreciate the ‘filmic’ nature of each page and can expect screen adaptations to be a logical and exciting next step.
FACT // There is no doubt critically acclaimed, feature film - LIKE MY BROTHER - with a world premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival 2024 + broad festival run + Australian cinemas release - is a career highlight.
Made over six years, this project was all consuming. In May 2025, Sal returned to the NT and QLD to direct a short film set in four remote communities for THE FUTURE IS FREEDOM a 30 min film celebrating Murrup, formerly the Cathy Freeman Foundation. In 2025, Sal shot and directed the short film, MIRROR OF HOPE - about female empowerment in Kenya via tabletop banking and micro-financing. In spending time on the ground in Nairobi, Sal has identified the characters of her next film, STARRING MAUREEN - currently in early stages of development.
In 2025 Sal founded I SEE DOCO LAB - a 12 week accelerator, taking eight filmmakers and their documentary projects through a series of story discovery workshops. The aim of I SEE DOCO LAB is to fast track film makers TO achieve a specific project goal and to build a community of kindness - both outcomes being light on the ground in the film industry.