Anti-hero Australian film Juvenile Delinquents screens first at Richmond Regent

An anti-hero thriller, the film features strong female leads and focuses on seven broken teens trying to do good - but in their own way.

"Faced with the consequences of saving their friend from the clutches of a child abuser the group form a new family to go in search of a new future as they take control of their own fortunes," Mr Goss told the Gazette.

"It's probably easier for teens and young adults to invest in the characters and accept the vernacular, but the concept of broken people trying to do good is for all, and the film is not confrontational to watch, its mainstream drama."

Mr Goss - who wrote and directed the film - said the intention was to create a moral dilemma in the watcher.

"Even those not agreeable to any violence may still side with the teens, particularly child abuse survivor Sarah who has a strength which can't be questioned or crushed," he said.

"Her bravery and conviction leads to a moment where a fatherless daughter and daughterless father unite that is so endearingly special to them and hopefully through the screen to audiences; I say 'if you're not crying during this scene, call the morgue because you're already dead'."

Mr Goss said, despite trying for two years, he was unable to gain permission to make Juvenile Delinquents in Australia, which resulted in him securing what he believed to be the first ever E2 Visa to make a film in the USA.

The film was shot in New York City, where he lived with his sister for almost a year during production.

Mr Goss said the lack of support from local channels when it came to green-lighting the film was all the more reason Hawkesbury residents should get behind it, and check it out at the Richmond Regent.

"They are the first [cinema] to show the film in Sydney, which is my hometown so I am extremely thankful to them for getting a footing here," said Mr Goss.

"We are releasing in 100 cinemas in the US dealing with the world's biggest circuits but yet to date it's been exclusively independents and small chains here [in Australia], which is something I hope will change when bookers realise the true history of the film and decide to support this Australian filmmaker."

He said he appreciated Hawkesbury support for the film and was sure local audiences would "love it".

"It has been a really tough time getting the film made then out here, this is US product built for the international market but there was no way I was going to allow Australians to miss seeing it on the big screen," he said.

"This is the first instalment in a new franchise and people of the Hawkesbury are sitting in pole position."

The film is being distributed in Australia by Torrito. Find out more about Juvenile Delinquents at www.jds.space.