FIN VFX Turns 25: A Quarter Century of Craft, People and Innovation

Twenty‑five years is a long time in visual effects.

In 2026, FIN turns 25. That's a quarter century of helping directors tell stories, solving hard problems one shot at a time, and learning a little more with each project.

We've watched tools we loved retire, new ones arrive, and built a few of our own to bridge the gaps. We grew from a tight crew in Darlinghurst to a multi‑studio team across Australia - without losing sight of the work.

We started in Darlinghurst, built by people who cared about the craft and the relationships behind it. No shortcuts. No hype. We grew by showing up, doing the work, and earning trust.

That growth has travelled alongside Australia's screen industry. We've been lucky to collaborate with local and international partners and see work made here reach audiences well beyond our shores.

Across 25 years, we've evolved our tools, workflows, and pipelines, always with a purpose. Our focus has stayed on story: understanding a director's intent, finding the smartest way through a creative challenge, and making sure the work serves the scene rather than overwhelms it.

That mindset has carried us across feature films, premium series, and complex episodic work; adapting as formats and expectations shift. Scale hasn't changed who we are. We're boutique by nature, not by size: small cross‑functional teams, direct lines to leadership, and the freedom to experiment. Craft remains central to how we operate.

"As FIN has grown, the goal has never been to change who we are," says Managing Director Chris Spry. "It's been to hold onto the boutique mindset of close collaboration, trust, and care for the work, while giving our teams more opportunity and stability."

Every shot still matters. Every department from animation and FX to compositing, production, and pipeline shares responsibility for the final image on screen. That emphasis has forged long‑standing relationships with directors, producers, and studios who trust us project after project.

Ask anyone at FIN what's sustained the company for 25 years and the answer is consistent: people. Alastair Stephen, Head of Studio, sums it up simply: "Our people are our superpower."

From artists and technologists to producers, coordinators, and support teams, we've prioritised building an environment where people can do their best work and keep growing while they do it. That commitment has shaped our culture and our approach to mentoring, leadership, and long‑term careers in an industry known for constant change.

That commitment to people has also shaped where we plant roots. Last year, we opened our Gold Coast studio and now, as we mark our 25th year, our Adelaide studio is open, with 22 people already on the ground and the same sense of purpose that's carried us through every chapter. Each new location has followed the same principle: build somewhere people genuinely want to work, in communities where the industry is growing, and trust that good work will follow.

Today, we're a studio of more than 275 people across Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Ballina and Adelaide. Scale matters less than what it lets us do: support crews locally, share knowledge, invest in R&D, and take care of our teams.

Reaching 25 years is a moment to pause and reflect but not to stand still.

Becoming part of the Dream Machine network marks an exciting next chapter for FIN. It expands who we can work with, how we can scale ideas, and how we continue supporting our teams, while staying true to what has always defined us.

The tools will change. The challenges will evolve. But our focus remains the same: invest in people, embrace new ideas, and keep delivering good work, done well. The principles of craft, collaboration, and care that carried us through the first quarter century will guide whatever comes next.

Here's to the next chapter.