Between 1998 and 2009 Michael McMahon and Tony Ayres positioned Big and Little Films as one of Australia’s most exciting independent production companies working in feature films, documentaries, and television drama. In that period the company developed and produced a wide range of content which won prestigious awards both in Australia and internationally, including The Home Song Stories, Wildness, Sadness and Bogan Pride.
In 2009, Michael and Tony went on to co-found Matchbox Pictures Pty Ltd with three other producers. Matchbox Pictures has since become one of Australia’s most successful production companies, producing acclaimed television drama series, feature films, documentaries, and unscripted television for domestic and international audiences.
Michael re-established Big and Little Films in 2019, continuing its legacy as an independent, creator-led production company. Tony has recently rejoined and now develops and creates his new work through Big and Little Films, marking a new chapter for the company focused on distinctive, ambitious storytelling for global audiences.
our team
TONY AYRES
SHOWRUNNER | WRITER | DIRECTOR
Tony Ayres is an award-winning Australian showrunner, writer and director, and a founding member of Big and Little Films and Matchbox Pictures. In 2018, he established Tony Ayres Productions (TAP), developing and producing feature films and television for international markets. In 2025, he rejoined Big and Little Films to focus on writing and directing distinctive and ambitious work for global audiences.
Overall, Tony’s feature films and TV shows have been nominated for over one hundred Australian and international awards, and have won over sixty of these awards including an International Emmy, a BAFTA, a Golden Horse (the Asian Oscars), a Berlinale Teddy Award, six AACTA Awards, and six Logies Awards.
Most recently, Tony was Executive Producer, Showrunner and writer on the Netflix series The Survivors, and an Executive Producer on two seasons of the ABC/BBC children’s series The Spooky Files. Previously, Tony was the creator/showrunner on The Slap, Nowhere Boys and global number one Netflix hit, Clickbait. He co-created and was an Executive Producer on Glitch, Stateless, and Fires. He has executive produced acclaimed shows such as Barracuda, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Wanted, Creamerie, The Devil’s Playground, Old School, Underground: The Julian Assange Story, The Straits, and The Family Law.
In feature films, Tony directed Cut Snake (2015), The Home Song Stories (2007), and Walking on Water (2002). He has also executive produced award winning feature films such as Ali’s Wedding and Lou. His films have premiered and screened at A-list festivals around the world including the Berlinale and the Toronto Film Festival.
MICHAEL MCMAHON
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
A former lawyer with extensive experience in arts and entertainment law, Michael also has an academic background and is an Adjunct Professor at Swinburne University of Technology.
Michael’s work has premiered at the Berlinale and Toronto FF, won International Emmy Awards, AACTA Awards, Golden Horse Awards, and BAFTA along with several national awards.
His documentary production and executive producing credits include Sadness, Wildness, the Anatomy Series, Murunduk – Songs of Freedom, Next Stop Hollywood, and The Coming Back Out Again Ball. His television drama credits include Call Me Mum, Saved, The Slap, series 1 of Nowhere Boys and Night Bloomers. He executive produced the Netflix series Clickbait and the SBS Digital Original Night Bloomers. Feature film credits are The Home Song Stories, Lou, Cut Snake, and Ali’s Wedding.
He was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Screen Producers Australia in 2018.
VEE SHI
DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
Vee Shi is an AACTA-nominated filmmaker. A recipient of both the Australian Directors’ Guild and the Australian Writers’ Guild awards, Vee was selected as one of Screen Producers Australia’s Ones To Watch in 2023. Vee’s work has won Screen Producers award and the Iris Prize Youth Jury Award, amongst many others.