Australian creative studio Jagat has been awarded Gold at the 2026 Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) NSW & ACT Awards, with co-founder and Creative Director Jackson England recognised in the Commercials – budget under $100k category for El Questro Sense of Place.
Created in collaboration with Luxury Lodges of Australia and El Questro Homestead, and filmed in the heart of Western Australia’s Kimberley, the award-winning production captures the extraordinary scale, beauty and spirit of El Questro, a million-acre wilderness destination where dramatic landscapes, ancient waterways and luxury hospitality exist in remarkable harmony.
From the thermal waters of Zebedee Springs to the dramatic escarpments of the Chamberlain Gorge and the secluded luxury of El Questro Homestead, Sense of Place offers an immersive portrait of a destination shaped by its extraordinary natural environment.
Yet beyond the cinematic beauty of the landscape lies a story of far greater cultural significance.
El Questro sits on Country with an enduring connection to its Traditional Owners. In 2022, a landmark agreement saw approximately 165,000 hectares of land returned to the Wilinggin people, marking a significant moment in the recognition of Traditional Owners’ connection to the region.
That connection is explored more deeply in Jagat’s accompanying Placemaker Film, featuring Ngarinyin Traditional Owner and cultural leader Nelson O’Reeri, whose knowledge and relationship with Country offer a profoundly personal perspective on the landscape and its history. Together the films form part of a broader creative commission for El Questro Homestead, developed by Jagat to capture the destination through three distinct storytelling perspectives: Sense of Place, Placemaker and Distinctive Moment.
For England the creative challenge was to honour the grandeur of the Kimberley while retaining the intimacy and emotional connection that define Jagat’s filmmaking.
“There’s something extraordinary about the Kimberley. The sheer scale of the landscape is breathtaking, but it’s the feeling you have when you’re there that really stays with you. We wanted to translate that into film, to give people a sense of the place rather than simply show them what it looks like,” explains England. “El Questro is such a special part of Australia and having the opportunity to tell its story alongside the people who have such a deep connection to the land, was a real privilege. To have that work recognised with Gold by the ACS is incredibly rewarding.”
Founded by England and Lauren James, Jagat has quietly established itself as a leading creative partner to the international luxury hospitality industry, working with brands including AMAN, Rosewood, Four Season, Park Hyatt and Sujan.
Operating from Australia, the boutique studio has built its reputation through a distinctive combination of cinematic filmmaking, brand strategy and editorial storytelling, creating work that goes beyond traditional destination marketing to reveal the character and identity of a place.
The latest ACS Gold adds to England’s growing list of cinematography accolades and reinforces Jagat’s reputation for producing internationally recognised creative work from its Australian base.
With the Gold win, El Questro Sense of Place will progress for consideration at the 2027 ACS National Awards for Cinematography.
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