Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has picked up North American rights to Gracie Otto’s Seriously Red, the Dolly Parton impersonator comedy which stars and was produced by Rose Byrne, that made its world premiere at SXSW.
Gravitas plans a Q1 2023 release.
The musical pic follows Red (Krew Boylan), who is at a crossroads in her life. A red haired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator. Red must lose herself to find herself. As Dolly Parton says, “Be Yourself Because Everyone is taken’.” The film is produced with the full...
Gravitas plans a Q1 2023 release.
The musical pic follows Red (Krew Boylan), who is at a crossroads in her life. A red haired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator. Red must lose herself to find herself. As Dolly Parton says, “Be Yourself Because Everyone is taken’.” The film is produced with the full...
- 7/20/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Belgian drama previously won a Grand Prix at Cannes.
Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont’s Close won the top prize at the Sydney Film Festival on Sunday evening (June 19), adding to the Grand Prix it picked up at Cannes last month.
Accepting the Sydney Film Prize via video message, Dhont said that he was “incredibly proud and incredibly happy”, adding that he hoped the audience enjoyed the film and that it meant something to them. The award includes a cash prize of 42,000.
“This film displayed a mastery of restraint, subtle handling of story, astute observations and delicate attention to finer details,...
Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont’s Close won the top prize at the Sydney Film Festival on Sunday evening (June 19), adding to the Grand Prix it picked up at Cannes last month.
Accepting the Sydney Film Prize via video message, Dhont said that he was “incredibly proud and incredibly happy”, adding that he hoped the audience enjoyed the film and that it meant something to them. The award includes a cash prize of 42,000.
“This film displayed a mastery of restraint, subtle handling of story, astute observations and delicate attention to finer details,...
- 6/20/2022
- by Sandy George
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Deadline has your first look at Rose Byrne’s transformation into an Elvis impersonator for Seriously Red, a musical comedy set to make its world premiere in Narrative Feature Competition at the SXSW Film Festival on March 13.
The film from director Gracie Otto (Under the Volcano) finds Red (Krew Boylan) at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red tumbles out of bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey, romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator and looking to lose herself, so that she may ultimately find herself.
Seriously Red also stars Bobby Cannavale (Blue Jasmine) and...
The film from director Gracie Otto (Under the Volcano) finds Red (Krew Boylan) at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red tumbles out of bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey, romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator and looking to lose herself, so that she may ultimately find herself.
Seriously Red also stars Bobby Cannavale (Blue Jasmine) and...
- 3/8/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Comedy legend John Cleese has signed on to star in The Great Emu War, an Australian-set action-adventure comedy inspired by ridiculous true events in the outback in the 1930s.
Aussie comedians Monty Franklin and Jim Jefferies and New Zealand funnyman Rhys Darby (What We Do in the Shadows, Flight of the Conchords) are also attached to the film, which Franklin wrote, inspired by real events in Western Australia in 1932 when the Australian army declared war on the country’s wild emu population. And lost.
Yaniv Raz (Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets) will direct The Great Emu War, with Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae, Seriously ...
Aussie comedians Monty Franklin and Jim Jefferies and New Zealand funnyman Rhys Darby (What We Do in the Shadows, Flight of the Conchords) are also attached to the film, which Franklin wrote, inspired by real events in Western Australia in 1932 when the Australian army declared war on the country’s wild emu population. And lost.
Yaniv Raz (Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets) will direct The Great Emu War, with Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae, Seriously ...
- 10/27/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comedy legend John Cleese has signed on to star in The Great Emu War, an Australia-set action-adventure comedy inspired by a ridiculous true story.
Aussie comedians Monty Franklin and Jim Jefferies and New Zealand funnyman Rhys Darby (What We Do in the Shadows, Flight of the Conchords) are also attached to the film, which Franklin wrote, inspired by real events in Western Australia in 1932 when the Australian army declared war on the country’s wild emu population — and lost.
Yaniv Raz (Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets) will direct The Great Emu War; Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae, Seriously Red) is producing with Village ...
Aussie comedians Monty Franklin and Jim Jefferies and New Zealand funnyman Rhys Darby (What We Do in the Shadows, Flight of the Conchords) are also attached to the film, which Franklin wrote, inspired by real events in Western Australia in 1932 when the Australian army declared war on the country’s wild emu population — and lost.
Yaniv Raz (Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets) will direct The Great Emu War; Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae, Seriously Red) is producing with Village ...
- 10/27/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The presentation will take place during Mia on October 14.
Projects from the UK, Germany and Belgium are among the nine chosen for SeriesLab, a training programme for international TV series projects run by TorinoFilmLab (Tfl).
The nine projects, selected from 120 entries, will be presented to attendees at the Mia market in Rome on October 14, moderated by Tfl pitching trainer Luigi Ventriglia.
The series include UK drama Coalville, about five teenagers in a working-class village near Nottingham, who have six weeks of freedom after finishing high school. The project is written and directed by Margo Roe, and produced by Lucy Meer for Strive Films.
Projects from the UK, Germany and Belgium are among the nine chosen for SeriesLab, a training programme for international TV series projects run by TorinoFilmLab (Tfl).
The nine projects, selected from 120 entries, will be presented to attendees at the Mia market in Rome on October 14, moderated by Tfl pitching trainer Luigi Ventriglia.
The series include UK drama Coalville, about five teenagers in a working-class village near Nottingham, who have six weeks of freedom after finishing high school. The project is written and directed by Margo Roe, and produced by Lucy Meer for Strive Films.
- 10/12/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
High-profile talent on both sides of the camera punctuate the four feature films, three television dramas, and one virtual reality project that will share in more than $6.5 million of production funding from Screen Australia.
Recipients include two projects from Lingo Pictures: a second season of Upright with Tim Minchin, and an adaptation of Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel The Messenger for the ABC. Funding has also been announced for Rolf de Heer’s The Mountain, and Gracie Otto’s feature film directorial debut Seriously Red, executive produced by Rose Byrne, now in post.
The feature films projects are rounded out by Goran Stolevski’s Of An Age, and Spencer and Lloyd Harvey’s Photo Booth.
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said it was heartening to see there was no shortage of strong ideas during another challenging year.
“We are proud to announce this impressive slate from...
Recipients include two projects from Lingo Pictures: a second season of Upright with Tim Minchin, and an adaptation of Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel The Messenger for the ABC. Funding has also been announced for Rolf de Heer’s The Mountain, and Gracie Otto’s feature film directorial debut Seriously Red, executive produced by Rose Byrne, now in post.
The feature films projects are rounded out by Goran Stolevski’s Of An Age, and Spencer and Lloyd Harvey’s Photo Booth.
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said it was heartening to see there was no shortage of strong ideas during another challenging year.
“We are proud to announce this impressive slate from...
- 9/23/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Writer-director Annika Glac and producer Robyn Kershaw will further develop their six-part drama based on the life of cosmetics entrepreneur Helena Rubinstein after being selected for TorinoFilmLab’s TV development platform SeriesLab.
The series, titled Helena I Am, follows Rubenstein, a woman born into a Jewish Orthodox family in Krakow Poland, who was then banished to outback Coleraine, Victoria.
Without an education, money or connections, she pioneered a makeup empire from lanolin, the grease from sheep’s wool – and would go on to become one of the world’s richest women.
The series is one of nine selected for this year’s SeriesLab which mentors European creatives (Glac is Polish-Australian).
Helena Rubenstein.
Glac and Kershaw started developing the project around two years ago. In the last six months, UK-based producer and script editor John Yorke has been mentoring Glac.
The writer-director was drawn to the pioneering nature of Rubenstein’s...
The series, titled Helena I Am, follows Rubenstein, a woman born into a Jewish Orthodox family in Krakow Poland, who was then banished to outback Coleraine, Victoria.
Without an education, money or connections, she pioneered a makeup empire from lanolin, the grease from sheep’s wool – and would go on to become one of the world’s richest women.
The series is one of nine selected for this year’s SeriesLab which mentors European creatives (Glac is Polish-Australian).
Helena Rubenstein.
Glac and Kershaw started developing the project around two years ago. In the last six months, UK-based producer and script editor John Yorke has been mentoring Glac.
The writer-director was drawn to the pioneering nature of Rubenstein’s...
- 6/23/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Drama series from the UK, Belgium and Austria among development line-up.
Italy’s TorinoFilmLab (Tfl) has unveiled the nine projects selected for its upcoming TV development platform SeriesLab, including a new period thriller from the Riahi brothers.
The industry programme, which mentors European scriptwriters, directors and producers, selected this year’s cohort from 125 projects. A total of 10 European countries are represented across the nine projects, which are brought by 12 female participants and eight men.
The titles include 30 Bullets by Iranian-born, Austrian-based filmmakers Arash T. Riahi and Arman T.Riahi. Set in the 1990s, the drama series is described as “the...
Italy’s TorinoFilmLab (Tfl) has unveiled the nine projects selected for its upcoming TV development platform SeriesLab, including a new period thriller from the Riahi brothers.
The industry programme, which mentors European scriptwriters, directors and producers, selected this year’s cohort from 125 projects. A total of 10 European countries are represented across the nine projects, which are brought by 12 female participants and eight men.
The titles include 30 Bullets by Iranian-born, Austrian-based filmmakers Arash T. Riahi and Arman T.Riahi. Set in the 1990s, the drama series is described as “the...
- 5/24/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Brendan Harkin, founder of X Media Lab, died on Monday in Lincoln, Nebraska.
A pioneering figure in digital innovation and media, Harkin started X Media Lab back in June 2003 as part of Sydney Film Festival. Over the years, it expanded across Australia and around the world, held in 14 countries, including China, India, the US and UK.
The aim of the creative thinktank was to assist local companies to get their projects to market by connecting them with international leaders in digital media, who were then able to provide mentorship and feedback.
Partners in the lab included the Beijing Film Academy; Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Npo, the national broadcaster in The Netherlands; the American Film Institute; Digital Hollywood; 5D Global; the British Council, and the Federal Office of Culture in Switzerland.
Producer Robyn Kershaw tells If the X Media Lab and Harkin’s vision had a “profound impact” on so many filmmakers,...
A pioneering figure in digital innovation and media, Harkin started X Media Lab back in June 2003 as part of Sydney Film Festival. Over the years, it expanded across Australia and around the world, held in 14 countries, including China, India, the US and UK.
The aim of the creative thinktank was to assist local companies to get their projects to market by connecting them with international leaders in digital media, who were then able to provide mentorship and feedback.
Partners in the lab included the Beijing Film Academy; Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Npo, the national broadcaster in The Netherlands; the American Film Institute; Digital Hollywood; 5D Global; the British Council, and the Federal Office of Culture in Switzerland.
Producer Robyn Kershaw tells If the X Media Lab and Harkin’s vision had a “profound impact” on so many filmmakers,...
- 3/20/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Rose Byrne, Krew Boylan, Bobby Cannavale and Daniel Webber will lead the ensemble cast of musical dramedy Seriously Red, written by Boylan and directed by Gracie Otto.
Currently shooting in the Northern Rivers, the film follows Red (Boylan), a vivacious and hilarious red-headed woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem.
Red trades her job in real estate to take up a new career as a Dolly Parton impersonator, and falls into a new world of tribute artists, including a romance with a Kenny Rogers impersonator.
The film will feature the Parton discography as well as a soundtrack of iconic musical artists and re-recordings.
More detail on the cast is expected shortly.
Seriously Red is the first feature under the Dollhouse Pictures banner, a collective founded by Byrne, Otto, Boylan, Shannon Murphy and Jessica Carrera. It has been on the slate since its launch in 2015. At one stage, Kate Woods was attached to direct.
Currently shooting in the Northern Rivers, the film follows Red (Boylan), a vivacious and hilarious red-headed woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem.
Red trades her job in real estate to take up a new career as a Dolly Parton impersonator, and falls into a new world of tribute artists, including a romance with a Kenny Rogers impersonator.
The film will feature the Parton discography as well as a soundtrack of iconic musical artists and re-recordings.
More detail on the cast is expected shortly.
Seriously Red is the first feature under the Dollhouse Pictures banner, a collective founded by Byrne, Otto, Boylan, Shannon Murphy and Jessica Carrera. It has been on the slate since its launch in 2015. At one stage, Kate Woods was attached to direct.
- 11/18/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Rose Byrne is all set to feature in musical dramedy 'Seriously Red.'
The 41-year-old actress will also produce the movie through her banner Dollhouse Pictures.
'Seriously Red' marks the first feature from Rose Byrne’s Dollhouse Pictures, which was reportedly launched five years ago.
Apart from Byrne, the film also stars Byrne's Emmy-winning partner Bobby Cannavale as well as actors Krew Boylan and Daniel Webber in the lead.
Described as a "rowdy and rambunctious musical comedy", 'Seriously Red' revolves around Red (played by Boylan) who is at a crossroads in her life.
The official plotline for the film is as follows: "A vivacious and hilarious red-haired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator."
"After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red...
The 41-year-old actress will also produce the movie through her banner Dollhouse Pictures.
'Seriously Red' marks the first feature from Rose Byrne’s Dollhouse Pictures, which was reportedly launched five years ago.
Apart from Byrne, the film also stars Byrne's Emmy-winning partner Bobby Cannavale as well as actors Krew Boylan and Daniel Webber in the lead.
Described as a "rowdy and rambunctious musical comedy", 'Seriously Red' revolves around Red (played by Boylan) who is at a crossroads in her life.
The official plotline for the film is as follows: "A vivacious and hilarious red-haired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator."
"After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red...
- 11/18/2020
- by Omkar Padte
- GlamSham
Exclusive: Cameras are already rolling in Northern Rivers, Australia on Seriously Red, the musical dramedy that reps the first feature from Rose Byrne’s Dollhouse Pictures. While Dollhouse launched five years ago, and the Seriously Red screenplay by Krew Boylan has been in the fold, we can tell you that Byrne will be part of the newly announced ensemble cast along with her Emmy-winning partner Bobby Cannavale and Daniel Webber. Arclight Films has boarded to handle worldwide distribution rights with Gracie Otto (The Last Impresario) directing.
In the rowdy and rambunctious musical comedy, Red (played by Boylan) is at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator.
In the rowdy and rambunctious musical comedy, Red (played by Boylan) is at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator.
- 11/17/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Tim Marshall with Christina Radburn (second from left).
Writer-director Tim Marshall’s debut feature Followers is among 10 projects from around the world selected to participate in the Toronto-based Inside Out Lgbtq Film Finance Forum.
Developed from his eponymous short which had its world premiere in competition at Sundance followed by SXSW in 2015, the dark comedy follows Lynn Walters, a grieving widow who sees a vision of Jesus on the shorts of young, queer aqua aerobics instructor Rudi.
Convinced Rudi has been sent from God to heal and reinvigorate her life, Lynn hopes he will somehow fill the void left by her dead husband while he endures a toxic relationship with Jim, his older life coach.
Melbourne-based Frances Wang-Ward and Christina Radburn (who produced the short) will produce, with Robyn Kershaw as Ep.
The fourth edition of the Lgbtq Forum will take place online from May 26-29, featuring one-on-one meetings with reps from Netflix,...
Writer-director Tim Marshall’s debut feature Followers is among 10 projects from around the world selected to participate in the Toronto-based Inside Out Lgbtq Film Finance Forum.
Developed from his eponymous short which had its world premiere in competition at Sundance followed by SXSW in 2015, the dark comedy follows Lynn Walters, a grieving widow who sees a vision of Jesus on the shorts of young, queer aqua aerobics instructor Rudi.
Convinced Rudi has been sent from God to heal and reinvigorate her life, Lynn hopes he will somehow fill the void left by her dead husband while he endures a toxic relationship with Jim, his older life coach.
Melbourne-based Frances Wang-Ward and Christina Radburn (who produced the short) will produce, with Robyn Kershaw as Ep.
The fourth edition of the Lgbtq Forum will take place online from May 26-29, featuring one-on-one meetings with reps from Netflix,...
- 5/12/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Annika Glac (L) and Agnieszka Holland.
As she prepares to shoot Radiant, her third feature, Annika Glac is gaining valuable insights into her craft from Oscar-nominated director Agnieszka Holland.
Thanks to Screen Australia’s Enterprise People program, Glac is in Warsaw shadowing Holland through the entire post production of Charlatan, a 1950s drama set in Prague.
“To be in the presence of such a brilliant film director with vast International experience, an astute eye, and generous spirit has truly been a life-changing and career-catapulting experience,” the Polish/Australian filmmaker tells If.
Holland has given Glac advice on casting Radiant, a biopic on Marie Curie, the Polish-born physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, as well as tips on Polish service companies.
Producer Robyn Kershaw is raising the finance from Polish, French and German partners and plans to start shooting in Krakow, Paris and Australia early next year. The...
As she prepares to shoot Radiant, her third feature, Annika Glac is gaining valuable insights into her craft from Oscar-nominated director Agnieszka Holland.
Thanks to Screen Australia’s Enterprise People program, Glac is in Warsaw shadowing Holland through the entire post production of Charlatan, a 1950s drama set in Prague.
“To be in the presence of such a brilliant film director with vast International experience, an astute eye, and generous spirit has truly been a life-changing and career-catapulting experience,” the Polish/Australian filmmaker tells If.
Holland has given Glac advice on casting Radiant, a biopic on Marie Curie, the Polish-born physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, as well as tips on Polish service companies.
Producer Robyn Kershaw is raising the finance from Polish, French and German partners and plans to start shooting in Krakow, Paris and Australia early next year. The...
- 11/25/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Annika Glac and Robyn Kershaw.
Marie Curie, the Polish-born physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, is often portrayed on screen and in books as stuffy, cold and asexual.
That characterisation is unfair and inaccurate, according to Polish/Australian filmmaker Annika Glac, who aims to set the record straight in her biopic Radiant.
The drama will focus on the Nobel Prize winner from the time she won the top prize in chemistry and physics at Sorbonne University through her marriage to Pierre Curie, his death and her subsequent affair with married Frenchman Paul Langevin.
“When I read her letters to Pierre, they were so touching, passionate and beautiful,” Glac tells If. “She had a delicate psychology which you never see in the films and documentaries that were made about her.”
Producer Robyn Kershaw, who met the writer-director through a mutual friend, is raising the finance from Polish, French...
Marie Curie, the Polish-born physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, is often portrayed on screen and in books as stuffy, cold and asexual.
That characterisation is unfair and inaccurate, according to Polish/Australian filmmaker Annika Glac, who aims to set the record straight in her biopic Radiant.
The drama will focus on the Nobel Prize winner from the time she won the top prize in chemistry and physics at Sorbonne University through her marriage to Pierre Curie, his death and her subsequent affair with married Frenchman Paul Langevin.
“When I read her letters to Pierre, they were so touching, passionate and beautiful,” Glac tells If. “She had a delicate psychology which you never see in the films and documentaries that were made about her.”
Producer Robyn Kershaw, who met the writer-director through a mutual friend, is raising the finance from Polish, French...
- 10/13/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Two-part programme will nurture film and TV projects from leading international producers.
The Climb producer Noah Lang, Finnish Making Movies Oy chief Kaarle Aho and Canadian actress and producer Rebecca Gibson are among the 26 producers who will participate in the 11th edition of Trans-Atlantic Partners (Tap).
A joint initiative between Germany’s Erich Pommer Institute (Epi) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (Cmpa), with the support of Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, the two-part Tap programme is the only one of its kind devoted to supporting transatlantic film and high-end TV productions.
The first module runs in Berlin...
The Climb producer Noah Lang, Finnish Making Movies Oy chief Kaarle Aho and Canadian actress and producer Rebecca Gibson are among the 26 producers who will participate in the 11th edition of Trans-Atlantic Partners (Tap).
A joint initiative between Germany’s Erich Pommer Institute (Epi) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (Cmpa), with the support of Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, the two-part Tap programme is the only one of its kind devoted to supporting transatlantic film and high-end TV productions.
The first module runs in Berlin...
- 6/18/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
‘Let’s See How Fast this Baby Will Go’
Julietta Boscolo’s Let’s See How Fast this Baby Will Go is among seven films that will screen at the American Pavilion’s showcase of short films from emerging filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival.
Funded by Screen Australia’s Hot Shots program, the film stars Liv Hewson and Tara Morice and follows pregnant teenager Gloria. Despite being in labour she decides to buy a new car and in the process of giving birth she becomes a new person.
Based on a true story by Gloria Harrison and produced by Eva Di Blasio and executive produced by Robyn Kershaw, the 15-minute comedy/drama won the emerging filmmaker award at the 2017 Melbourne International Film Festival and the Atom award for best short fiction film.
It was invited to Cannes Critics Week and has screened at numerous other festivals including the Flickerfest International Film Festival,...
Julietta Boscolo’s Let’s See How Fast this Baby Will Go is among seven films that will screen at the American Pavilion’s showcase of short films from emerging filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival.
Funded by Screen Australia’s Hot Shots program, the film stars Liv Hewson and Tara Morice and follows pregnant teenager Gloria. Despite being in labour she decides to buy a new car and in the process of giving birth she becomes a new person.
Based on a true story by Gloria Harrison and produced by Eva Di Blasio and executive produced by Robyn Kershaw, the 15-minute comedy/drama won the emerging filmmaker award at the 2017 Melbourne International Film Festival and the Atom award for best short fiction film.
It was invited to Cannes Critics Week and has screened at numerous other festivals including the Flickerfest International Film Festival,...
- 4/16/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Nir Shelter and Jules Duncan.
Jules Duncan’s The Big Yarn and Nir Shelter’s Home won the Monte Miller Awards for the best unproduced scripts presented by the Australian Writers’ Guild in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
Duncan’s feature screenplay revolves around a small town journalist who, after surviving a bungled hit, teams up with a wannabe cop to find out which of the lame stories she’s been working on masks a broader conspiracy.
Home is a short film about a Palestinian who boards an Israeli bus, forcing an Israeli soldier to choose between risking the lives of the other passengers and a potentially innocent man.
Duncan wrote the action comedy as part of Screenwest’s Feature Navigator program; it also won the Bill Warnock Screenwriting award.
His first produced screenplay is Rams, an adaptation of writer-director Grímur Hákonarson’s Icelandic hit Hrútar. Now in post, Rams stars Miranda Richardson,...
Jules Duncan’s The Big Yarn and Nir Shelter’s Home won the Monte Miller Awards for the best unproduced scripts presented by the Australian Writers’ Guild in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
Duncan’s feature screenplay revolves around a small town journalist who, after surviving a bungled hit, teams up with a wannabe cop to find out which of the lame stories she’s been working on masks a broader conspiracy.
Home is a short film about a Palestinian who boards an Israeli bus, forcing an Israeli soldier to choose between risking the lives of the other passengers and a potentially innocent man.
Duncan wrote the action comedy as part of Screenwest’s Feature Navigator program; it also won the Bill Warnock Screenwriting award.
His first produced screenplay is Rams, an adaptation of writer-director Grímur Hákonarson’s Icelandic hit Hrútar. Now in post, Rams stars Miranda Richardson,...
- 2/26/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Short film ‘Oddlands’, which is being developed into a six-part series. (Photo: Georgina Savage)
Screen Australia has announced $300,000 of story development funding for six features, four TV dramas and two online series.
The slate includes feature film Memoir of a Snail from Oscar-winner Adam Elliot; Aleph, a science-fiction series from Porchlight Films about a mother who faces the unthinkable decision of saving her daughter or humanity; and online dark comedy Plushed, which explores mental illness through the eyes of a toy.
This is the the second round of funding announced since Screen Australia’s changes to development funding guidelines last July. Recently the agency has made further clarifications to the guidelines to improve the application process, which include increasing the pitch video length to up to four minutes, adding budget level limits to more clearly differentiate the Generate and Premium funds adding an opportunity to provide a paragraph synopsis to a proof of concept.
Screen Australia has announced $300,000 of story development funding for six features, four TV dramas and two online series.
The slate includes feature film Memoir of a Snail from Oscar-winner Adam Elliot; Aleph, a science-fiction series from Porchlight Films about a mother who faces the unthinkable decision of saving her daughter or humanity; and online dark comedy Plushed, which explores mental illness through the eyes of a toy.
This is the the second round of funding announced since Screen Australia’s changes to development funding guidelines last July. Recently the agency has made further clarifications to the guidelines to improve the application process, which include increasing the pitch video length to up to four minutes, adding budget level limits to more clearly differentiate the Generate and Premium funds adding an opportunity to provide a paragraph synopsis to a proof of concept.
- 2/4/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Recipient of $20,000 Alfred P. Sloan Fast Track Grant named.
Film Independent has announced the 10 projects and 24 filmmakers selected for the 14th annual Fast Track film finance market.
The programme, held during the imminent Los Angeles Film Festival (June 14-22), helps producer-director teams advance their projects through meetings with industry executives, financiers, agents and managers, distributors, production companies, and granting organisations.
Participants will spend three days attending meetings with the aim of building relationships and gaining exposure for their projects.
2017 Fast Track Projects and Fellows are:
Blow The Man Down Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy (co-writers,co-directors), Drew Houpt (producer)
Cantering Hikari (writer,director,producer) Peter Maestrey (producer)
Farewell Tour Sean Hackett (writer,director), Frederick Thornton (producer)
Followers Tim Marshall (writer,director), Christina Radburn (producer)
Maybe Tomorrow Eliza Lee (writer,director), Michelle Sy (producer), Sophia Chang (executive producer)
Radiant Annika Glac (writer,director), Robyn Kershaw (producer)
Son Of A Very Important Man Najwa Najjar (writer,director), Hani...
Film Independent has announced the 10 projects and 24 filmmakers selected for the 14th annual Fast Track film finance market.
The programme, held during the imminent Los Angeles Film Festival (June 14-22), helps producer-director teams advance their projects through meetings with industry executives, financiers, agents and managers, distributors, production companies, and granting organisations.
Participants will spend three days attending meetings with the aim of building relationships and gaining exposure for their projects.
2017 Fast Track Projects and Fellows are:
Blow The Man Down Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy (co-writers,co-directors), Drew Houpt (producer)
Cantering Hikari (writer,director,producer) Peter Maestrey (producer)
Farewell Tour Sean Hackett (writer,director), Frederick Thornton (producer)
Followers Tim Marshall (writer,director), Christina Radburn (producer)
Maybe Tomorrow Eliza Lee (writer,director), Michelle Sy (producer), Sophia Chang (executive producer)
Radiant Annika Glac (writer,director), Robyn Kershaw (producer)
Son Of A Very Important Man Najwa Najjar (writer,director), Hani...
- 6/6/2017
- ScreenDaily
Screen Australia will provide $1.35 million in funding for ten emerging screen professionals as part of a $10 million suite of enterprise programs.
The industry placement scheme will allow the selected candidates to work alongside the best and brightest in the sector..
Screen Australia.s Enterprise People provides individuals with a wage of up to $70,000 a year for full-time employment for one to two years.
The program, Enterprise People, gives on-the-job training and a critical bridge to long-term and sustainable employment for a new generation of screen practitioners.
Enterprise People is part of Screen Australia.s three-year, $10 million suite of Enterprise programs that aim to facilitate screen businesses to invest in development, talent and innovation for the benefit of the sector.
The 2015 program attracted applicants with a diverse range of talent..
While all were looking for hands-on opportunities in the screen sector, they had a variety of objectives, including: seeking to move...
The industry placement scheme will allow the selected candidates to work alongside the best and brightest in the sector..
Screen Australia.s Enterprise People provides individuals with a wage of up to $70,000 a year for full-time employment for one to two years.
The program, Enterprise People, gives on-the-job training and a critical bridge to long-term and sustainable employment for a new generation of screen practitioners.
Enterprise People is part of Screen Australia.s three-year, $10 million suite of Enterprise programs that aim to facilitate screen businesses to invest in development, talent and innovation for the benefit of the sector.
The 2015 program attracted applicants with a diverse range of talent..
While all were looking for hands-on opportunities in the screen sector, they had a variety of objectives, including: seeking to move...
- 12/2/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia today named the eight new Hot Shots teams who will share in funding of more than $545,000 to produce short films and develop distinctive storytelling and creative production skills.
These shorts will be used as proof of concept for longer form projects to get traction in the market place, part of building career pathways towards.. storytelling across film, television, online and interactive platforms. The teams will also attend two-day Hot Shops workshops and seminars this month at Screen Australia which will immerse writers, directors and producers in a craft-based learning environment to further their filmmaking skills.
The Hot Shops program will connect teams with mentors including director Sophie Hyde (52 Tuesdays), editor Drew Thompson (Down Under), sound designer Jed Palmer (The Infinite Man), and Felicity Abbott (Secret City, Bran Nue Day).
The eight teams are working on a diverse group of projects across genres including drama, thriller, action, horror, romantic and coming-of age stories,...
These shorts will be used as proof of concept for longer form projects to get traction in the market place, part of building career pathways towards.. storytelling across film, television, online and interactive platforms. The teams will also attend two-day Hot Shops workshops and seminars this month at Screen Australia which will immerse writers, directors and producers in a craft-based learning environment to further their filmmaking skills.
The Hot Shops program will connect teams with mentors including director Sophie Hyde (52 Tuesdays), editor Drew Thompson (Down Under), sound designer Jed Palmer (The Infinite Man), and Felicity Abbott (Secret City, Bran Nue Day).
The eight teams are working on a diverse group of projects across genres including drama, thriller, action, horror, romantic and coming-of age stories,...
- 11/18/2015
- by Staff writer
- IF.com.au
Add Sucker to the growing list of Australian films that will have event cinema screenings followed a month or so later by DVD and VOD release. The producers and Madman Entertainment are counting on the sizable YouTube following of lead actor John Luc to help drive awareness of the comedy-drama which co-stars Timothy Spall and Lily Sullivan. Directed by Ben Chessell, who co-wrote the screenplay with Lawrence Leung, the film will screen at Hoyts Cinemas in the mainland capitals early next month. Luc and Leung will attend the screenings. Madman will release the title on VOD and DVD on January 13. "There will only be more and more attempts to innovate around release strategy for films which have audiences more broadly spread across various channels," a Madman spokesman said. Luc plays Lawrence, an 18-year-old Chinese Australian who cheats in his high school final year exams and fails to get into medicine.
- 11/10/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Roy Billing.s plea to his union Actors. Equity to ease the restrictions on importing actors for Australian films has triggered a wave of support from producers, directors, writers and other industry figures.
Some believe Equity should have no role in vetoing foreign actors and that producers and directors should be free to cast whoever they think is right for particular roles.
Odin.s Eye Entertainment.s Michael Favelle says, .There should not be any kind of arbiter in respect of who a director, producer and financier need in their movie to make it financially viable and audience friendly..
In a similar vein, producer-distributor Antony I. Ginnane contends, .The industry push should be to take Equity out of the mix completely and leave casting decisions to the producers and investors who are taking the entrepreneurial and financial risks..
Hoodlum Entertainment.s Tracey Robertson, who is in the Us producing the...
Some believe Equity should have no role in vetoing foreign actors and that producers and directors should be free to cast whoever they think is right for particular roles.
Odin.s Eye Entertainment.s Michael Favelle says, .There should not be any kind of arbiter in respect of who a director, producer and financier need in their movie to make it financially viable and audience friendly..
In a similar vein, producer-distributor Antony I. Ginnane contends, .The industry push should be to take Equity out of the mix completely and leave casting decisions to the producers and investors who are taking the entrepreneurial and financial risks..
Hoodlum Entertainment.s Tracey Robertson, who is in the Us producing the...
- 9/18/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Blu-ray Release Date: July 8, 2014
Price: Blu-ray $24.95
Studio: Twilight Time
Stephen Curry (l.) and Damon Gameau prepare for a cricket match in Save Your Legs!
The 2012 Australian sports comedy Save Your Legs! tells the (mostly) true story of a rag-tag team of all-too-swiftly aging Australian cricket players, determined to go for the gusto one last time.
In the movie, Teddy (Stephen Curry) and his best pals Rick (Brendan Cowell) and Stavros (Damon Gameau) engineer an “international tour” for their stumbling club, focusing on three matches in exotic, cricket-mad India and a chance to meet their idol, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Fish-out-of-water adventures ensue, along with a tribute to the goofy glories of old mateship.
Directed by Boyd Hicklin and written by Brendan Cowell, Save Your Legs! makes its U.S. Blu-ray debut courtesy of Twilight Time.
The Blu-ray includes the following special features:
-Isolated Music & Effects Track
-Audio commentary with director Boyd Hicklin,...
Price: Blu-ray $24.95
Studio: Twilight Time
Stephen Curry (l.) and Damon Gameau prepare for a cricket match in Save Your Legs!
The 2012 Australian sports comedy Save Your Legs! tells the (mostly) true story of a rag-tag team of all-too-swiftly aging Australian cricket players, determined to go for the gusto one last time.
In the movie, Teddy (Stephen Curry) and his best pals Rick (Brendan Cowell) and Stavros (Damon Gameau) engineer an “international tour” for their stumbling club, focusing on three matches in exotic, cricket-mad India and a chance to meet their idol, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Fish-out-of-water adventures ensue, along with a tribute to the goofy glories of old mateship.
Directed by Boyd Hicklin and written by Brendan Cowell, Save Your Legs! makes its U.S. Blu-ray debut courtesy of Twilight Time.
The Blu-ray includes the following special features:
-Isolated Music & Effects Track
-Audio commentary with director Boyd Hicklin,...
- 6/30/2014
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Erotic drama sells to UK and Russia.
Danish sales company LevelK’s Aussie erotic drama My Mistress starring Emmanuelle Beart has been sold to the UK (House), Russia (Russian Report) and Hong Kong (Sundream Motion Pictures).
The Australian-produced film will receive its world premiere at the Melbourne Festival in August. Transmission are releasing in Australia this autumn.
My Mistress is the story of an affair between a vulnerable teenage romantic and a French S&M mistress that soon moves into more dangerous territory. Beart stars alongside Australian actor Harrison Gilbertson and Rachael Blake.
Directed by Stephen Lance, the film was made through Mini Studios and was produced by Leanne Tonkes. The executive producers are Robyn Kershaw and Bruno Charlesworth.
Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, Film Victoria, Miff Premiere Fund and Soundfirm provide the financing and the Australian release will be handled by Transmission.
Danish sales company LevelK’s Aussie erotic drama My Mistress starring Emmanuelle Beart has been sold to the UK (House), Russia (Russian Report) and Hong Kong (Sundream Motion Pictures).
The Australian-produced film will receive its world premiere at the Melbourne Festival in August. Transmission are releasing in Australia this autumn.
My Mistress is the story of an affair between a vulnerable teenage romantic and a French S&M mistress that soon moves into more dangerous territory. Beart stars alongside Australian actor Harrison Gilbertson and Rachael Blake.
Directed by Stephen Lance, the film was made through Mini Studios and was produced by Leanne Tonkes. The executive producers are Robyn Kershaw and Bruno Charlesworth.
Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, Film Victoria, Miff Premiere Fund and Soundfirm provide the financing and the Australian release will be handled by Transmission.
- 5/19/2014
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Director Ben Chessell finishes principal photography on Sucker, his debut feature, in Melbourne today, full of praise for the chemistry between his young lead, YouTube star John Luc, and veteran English actor Timothy Spall.
Luc plays Lawrence, an 18-year-old Chinese Australian who cheats in his high school final year exams and fails to get into medicine. Banished to stay with his uncle for the summer, Lawrence meets Spall.s the Professor, a colourful, ageing conman.
Lawrence begins a road trip with the Professor and his daughter Sarah (Lily Sullivan) as the Professor teaches him the art of swindling and cheating, while from Sarah he learns a hard lesson in unrequited love.
.John, Tim and Lily showed a real chemistry and camaraderie which comes across in their scenes," said Chessell, who was one of 10 directors on the 2007 comedy Little Deaths and has since directed episodes of Offspring, Rush, Rescue Special Ops and Camp,...
Luc plays Lawrence, an 18-year-old Chinese Australian who cheats in his high school final year exams and fails to get into medicine. Banished to stay with his uncle for the summer, Lawrence meets Spall.s the Professor, a colourful, ageing conman.
Lawrence begins a road trip with the Professor and his daughter Sarah (Lily Sullivan) as the Professor teaches him the art of swindling and cheating, while from Sarah he learns a hard lesson in unrequited love.
.John, Tim and Lily showed a real chemistry and camaraderie which comes across in their scenes," said Chessell, who was one of 10 directors on the 2007 comedy Little Deaths and has since directed episodes of Offspring, Rush, Rescue Special Ops and Camp,...
- 5/7/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
LevelK to handle international distribution on feature adapted from con artist stage show.
British actor Timothy Spall and YouTube star John Luc are to star in Sucker, which has begun principal photography in Melbourne, Australia.
Spall, best known for his roles in the Harry Potter franchise and Mike Leigh’s films including the upcoming Mr Turner, will play an conman in the feature.
Luc, who has more than 2 million subscribers on YouTube, will play Lawrence, an 18-year-old Chinese Australian who cheats in his high school final year exams and fails to get into medicine.
Banished to stay with his uncle for the summer, Lawrence meets the Professor (Spall), a colourful, ageing conman and so begins a road-trip with the Professor and his daughter Sarah, played by Lily Sullivan. Other cast members include Kat Stewart and Jacek Koman.
It marks the feature directorial debut of Ben Chessell and is an adaptation of Lawrence Leung’s stage show that...
British actor Timothy Spall and YouTube star John Luc are to star in Sucker, which has begun principal photography in Melbourne, Australia.
Spall, best known for his roles in the Harry Potter franchise and Mike Leigh’s films including the upcoming Mr Turner, will play an conman in the feature.
Luc, who has more than 2 million subscribers on YouTube, will play Lawrence, an 18-year-old Chinese Australian who cheats in his high school final year exams and fails to get into medicine.
Banished to stay with his uncle for the summer, Lawrence meets the Professor (Spall), a colourful, ageing conman and so begins a road-trip with the Professor and his daughter Sarah, played by Lily Sullivan. Other cast members include Kat Stewart and Jacek Koman.
It marks the feature directorial debut of Ben Chessell and is an adaptation of Lawrence Leung’s stage show that...
- 4/8/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Young YouTube star John Luc and veteran English actor Timothy Spall are playing the odd couple at the centre of Sucker, director Ben Chessell.s. feature which is shooting in Melbourne.
Luc plays Lawrence, an 18-year-old Chinese Australian who cheats in his high school final year exams and fails to get into medicine. Banished to stay with his uncle for the summer, Lawrence meets Spall.s the Professor, a colourful, ageing conman.
Lawrence begins a road trip with the Professor and his daughter Sarah (Lily Sullivan) as the Professor teaches Lawrence the art of swindling and cheating, while from Sarah he learns a hard lesson in unrequited love.
As Lawrence and the Professor plan their biggest scam, the teenager and Sarah plan a swindle of their own. and Lawrence is forced to make a choice between love, life and lies. Kat Stewart is cast as Sarah.s mother and Jacek Koman...
Luc plays Lawrence, an 18-year-old Chinese Australian who cheats in his high school final year exams and fails to get into medicine. Banished to stay with his uncle for the summer, Lawrence meets Spall.s the Professor, a colourful, ageing conman.
Lawrence begins a road trip with the Professor and his daughter Sarah (Lily Sullivan) as the Professor teaches Lawrence the art of swindling and cheating, while from Sarah he learns a hard lesson in unrequited love.
As Lawrence and the Professor plan their biggest scam, the teenager and Sarah plan a swindle of their own. and Lawrence is forced to make a choice between love, life and lies. Kat Stewart is cast as Sarah.s mother and Jacek Koman...
- 4/6/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Launched less than a year ago, Jake Film Finance has put money into two Australian features and has signed letters of intent with a number of producers.
The Perth-based film is cash flowing the producer offset and pre-sales, drawing on funds from high-net worth individuals.
Its first investment was in Kriv Stenders. crime thriller Kill Me Three Times. The second is Sucker, writer-director Ben Chessell.s saga of a 17-year-old Chinese-Australian boy who embarks on a road trip with the Professor, a colourful, aging conman, and his daughter.
Jake Film Finance founders and directors are Jarod Stone and Michael O.Donnell. They hired entertainment lawyer Joan Peters as executive producer.
.I am the interface between producers and the money, " said Peters, who is also a member of Screen Australia.s board. .The fund is gearing up and we.re open to new projects. We would like to grow to the...
The Perth-based film is cash flowing the producer offset and pre-sales, drawing on funds from high-net worth individuals.
Its first investment was in Kriv Stenders. crime thriller Kill Me Three Times. The second is Sucker, writer-director Ben Chessell.s saga of a 17-year-old Chinese-Australian boy who embarks on a road trip with the Professor, a colourful, aging conman, and his daughter.
Jake Film Finance founders and directors are Jarod Stone and Michael O.Donnell. They hired entertainment lawyer Joan Peters as executive producer.
.I am the interface between producers and the money, " said Peters, who is also a member of Screen Australia.s board. .The fund is gearing up and we.re open to new projects. We would like to grow to the...
- 3/20/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Judy Davis has joined Kate Winslet on The Dressmaker, which has received backing from Screen Australia and is Jocelyn Moorhouse’s first film since 1997.
The board of Screen Australia has approved financing of The Dressmaker, which marks the return of Jocelyn Moorhouse to the director’s chair for the first time in 15 years.
The film will star Kate Winslet, as first reported by ScreenDaily in May, and Judy Davis in “a gothic tale of love, revenge and haute couture”
Written and directed by Moorhouse, it marks her return to filmmaking since Michelle Pfeiffer drama A Thousand Acres in 1997.
“Kate only makes two or three pictures a year and gets sent hundreds of scripts,” producer Sue Maslin (Japanese Story) told ScreenDaily. “She chose The Dressmaker because of Jocelyn’s stunning script.”
The film, set in the 1950s, tells the story of a talented couture dressmaker who returns home from Europe to a small town in country Australia with revenge...
The board of Screen Australia has approved financing of The Dressmaker, which marks the return of Jocelyn Moorhouse to the director’s chair for the first time in 15 years.
The film will star Kate Winslet, as first reported by ScreenDaily in May, and Judy Davis in “a gothic tale of love, revenge and haute couture”
Written and directed by Moorhouse, it marks her return to filmmaking since Michelle Pfeiffer drama A Thousand Acres in 1997.
“Kate only makes two or three pictures a year and gets sent hundreds of scripts,” producer Sue Maslin (Japanese Story) told ScreenDaily. “She chose The Dressmaker because of Jocelyn’s stunning script.”
The film, set in the 1950s, tells the story of a talented couture dressmaker who returns home from Europe to a small town in country Australia with revenge...
- 8/8/2013
- by Sandy.George@me.com (Sandy George)
- ScreenDaily
Films directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, Michael Rowe and Ben Chessell received a total of $4.4 million in funding at Screen Australia.s board meeting on Wednesday.
The agency said the three features will generate almost $25 million in production investment. The casts include Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Melissa George and Canadian Roy Dupuis.
Winslet and Davis will star in writer/director Moorhouse and producer Sue Maslin.s comic drama The Dressmaker.. Adapted from Rosalie Ham.s novel, it.s described as a Gothic tale of love, revenge and haute couture.. Winslet will play Tilly, a glamorous young woman who returns after many years in Europe to her small home town in rural Australia aiming to right some wrongs from the past as she was accused of murder when she was a child. She also falls unexpectedly in love, which leads to her greatest loss and her most destructive deed. Davis will play her eccentric mother.
The agency said the three features will generate almost $25 million in production investment. The casts include Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Melissa George and Canadian Roy Dupuis.
Winslet and Davis will star in writer/director Moorhouse and producer Sue Maslin.s comic drama The Dressmaker.. Adapted from Rosalie Ham.s novel, it.s described as a Gothic tale of love, revenge and haute couture.. Winslet will play Tilly, a glamorous young woman who returns after many years in Europe to her small home town in rural Australia aiming to right some wrongs from the past as she was accused of murder when she was a child. She also falls unexpectedly in love, which leads to her greatest loss and her most destructive deed. Davis will play her eccentric mother.
- 8/7/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Australia is abuzz with long-awaited news: Graeme Mason is the new chief executive of government agency Screen Australia.
Mason [pictured] is currently chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) and has held executive roles at PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Channel 4. He will take up the role in November.
“After so many years away I am delighted to be coming home to Australia to take on such an exciting role and to build on the great work of Ruth Harley and her team,” said Mason in Screen Australia’s statement. “I am really looking forward to working as part of the Australian screen industry to help tell our stories to domestic and global audiences and to continue to build a vibrant and sustainable screen sector.”
The joke that is rolling off everyone’s tongue is that the Nzfc will soon be as famous for producing chief executives for Screen Australia as it is for...
Mason [pictured] is currently chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) and has held executive roles at PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Channel 4. He will take up the role in November.
“After so many years away I am delighted to be coming home to Australia to take on such an exciting role and to build on the great work of Ruth Harley and her team,” said Mason in Screen Australia’s statement. “I am really looking forward to working as part of the Australian screen industry to help tell our stories to domestic and global audiences and to continue to build a vibrant and sustainable screen sector.”
The joke that is rolling off everyone’s tongue is that the Nzfc will soon be as famous for producing chief executives for Screen Australia as it is for...
- 7/24/2013
- by Sandy.George@me.com (Sandy George)
- ScreenDaily
Australia is abuzz with long-awaited news: Graeme Mason is the new chief executive of government agency Screen Australia.
Mason [pictured] is currently chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) and has held executive roles at PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Channel 4. He will take up the role in November.
“After so many years away I am delighted to be coming home to Australia to take on such an exciting role and to build on the great work of Ruth Harley and her team,” said Mason in Screen Australia’s statement. “I am really looking forward to working as part of the Australian screen industry to help tell our stories to domestic and global audiences and to continue to build a vibrant and sustainable screen sector.”
The joke that is rolling off everyone’s tongue is that the Nzfc will soon be as famous for producing chief executives for Screen Australia as it is for...
Mason [pictured] is currently chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) and has held executive roles at PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Channel 4. He will take up the role in November.
“After so many years away I am delighted to be coming home to Australia to take on such an exciting role and to build on the great work of Ruth Harley and her team,” said Mason in Screen Australia’s statement. “I am really looking forward to working as part of the Australian screen industry to help tell our stories to domestic and global audiences and to continue to build a vibrant and sustainable screen sector.”
The joke that is rolling off everyone’s tongue is that the Nzfc will soon be as famous for producing chief executives for Screen Australia as it is for...
- 7/24/2013
- by Sandy.George@me.com (Sandy George)
- ScreenDaily
Screen Australia says it has not mismanaged its finances by spending its annual production funding in just six months - a state of affairs which it says reflects the strength of the local film industry.
The government screen agency revealed in mid-December 2012 that it had spent its entire annual $42 million drama production allocation due to the unprecedented number of quality feature film and television projects seeking support. The shock announcement was reminiscent of the agency's abrupt decision to cut its investment cap in 2009 while several films were mid-financed. That decision.threw several major Australian productions into dissaray including The Tree and the biggest box office hit of.2010, Tomorrow When the War Began (Omnilab Media had to increase its investment at the last minute to ensure production).
Overspending on such a scale has never occurred before, even going back to the era of Screen Australia.s predecessor funding arm, the Film Finance Corporation.
The government screen agency revealed in mid-December 2012 that it had spent its entire annual $42 million drama production allocation due to the unprecedented number of quality feature film and television projects seeking support. The shock announcement was reminiscent of the agency's abrupt decision to cut its investment cap in 2009 while several films were mid-financed. That decision.threw several major Australian productions into dissaray including The Tree and the biggest box office hit of.2010, Tomorrow When the War Began (Omnilab Media had to increase its investment at the last minute to ensure production).
Overspending on such a scale has never occurred before, even going back to the era of Screen Australia.s predecessor funding arm, the Film Finance Corporation.
- 2/6/2013
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Sydney -- French actress Emmanuelle Béart (A Heart in Winter, Nathalie) will play a French S&M mistress opposite young Australian actor Harrison Gilbertson (Haunt, Beneath Hill 60 and Conspiracy 365) and Rachael Blake in Stephen Lance’s debut feature, My Mistress. The story, developed by Lance and written by Gerard Lee – Jane Campion’s co-writer on her upcoming TV series Top Of The Lake -- follows a beautiful and strangely innocent affair between a vulnerable teenage romantic and a French S&M mistress, which ultimately turns dangerous. Leanne Tonkes of Mini Studios and Steve Kearney will produce the contemporary drama. Robyn Kershaw (Bran
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read more...
- 1/10/2013
- by Pip Bulbeck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
French actress Emmanuelle Béart has been added to the cast of Australian film My Mistress alongside Harrison Gilbertson and Rachael Blake ahead of shooting later this month on the Gold Coast.
The film received Screen Australia funding in November. It’s directed by Stephen Lance and written by Top of the Lake’s Gerard Lee with production by Bran Nue Dae’s Robyn Kershaw and distributed by Transmission Films.
The announcement:
Internationally acclaimed French actress Emmanuelle Béart (A Heart in Winter, Nathalie, Manon of the Spring, Mission: Impossible) will join one of Australia’s rising international stars, AFI Award‐winning Harrison Gilbertson (U.S. independent film Haunt – in the title role opposite Jacki Weaver, Accidents Happen, Blessed, Beneath Hill 60, Conspiracy 365) and AFI Award‐winning actress Rachael Blake (Sleeping Beauty, Lantana, Hawke) in the seductive and touching new film My Mistress.
What starts as a beautiful and strangely innocent...
The film received Screen Australia funding in November. It’s directed by Stephen Lance and written by Top of the Lake’s Gerard Lee with production by Bran Nue Dae’s Robyn Kershaw and distributed by Transmission Films.
The announcement:
Internationally acclaimed French actress Emmanuelle Béart (A Heart in Winter, Nathalie, Manon of the Spring, Mission: Impossible) will join one of Australia’s rising international stars, AFI Award‐winning Harrison Gilbertson (U.S. independent film Haunt – in the title role opposite Jacki Weaver, Accidents Happen, Blessed, Beneath Hill 60, Conspiracy 365) and AFI Award‐winning actress Rachael Blake (Sleeping Beauty, Lantana, Hawke) in the seductive and touching new film My Mistress.
What starts as a beautiful and strangely innocent...
- 1/10/2013
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Films & Casting Temple’s Anupam Sharma, Lauren Edwards of Goalpost Pictures and Robyn Kershaw are among 10 producers heading to India for the Goa Film Bazaar to help create tighter links between the Australian and Indian film industries. The delegation is lead by Screen Australia and the screen Producers Association of Australia.
The announcement:
Screen Australia and the Screen Producers Association of Australia (Spaa) will lead a delegation of Australian producers to the Goa Film Bazaar to develop new and reinforce existing screen industry partnerships in India.
India is now Australia’s third biggest export market and the two countries have a strong and growing bilateral relationship. With a population of 1.2 billion, a prolific film industry and millions of passionate cinema-goers, India has many potential opportunities for Australian screen content. Australian producers have a growing interest in developing projects with Indian partners and an official co-production treaty is in negotiation.
Organised...
The announcement:
Screen Australia and the Screen Producers Association of Australia (Spaa) will lead a delegation of Australian producers to the Goa Film Bazaar to develop new and reinforce existing screen industry partnerships in India.
India is now Australia’s third biggest export market and the two countries have a strong and growing bilateral relationship. With a population of 1.2 billion, a prolific film industry and millions of passionate cinema-goers, India has many potential opportunities for Australian screen content. Australian producers have a growing interest in developing projects with Indian partners and an official co-production treaty is in negotiation.
Organised...
- 11/21/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Actor/director Leah Purcell added to writing team for Redfern Now series two
Screen Australia is to fund a second series of gritty indigenous drama Redfern Now as part of a $5.5m funding round.
The public funding body has also announced that it is to invest in feature films Son of a Gun - by Julius Avery and starring Ewan McGregor – and My Mistress, to be produced Leanne Tonkes, directed Stephen Lance and written by Gerard Lee.
Joining Redfern Now’s writing team of last year; Jon Bell, Steven McGregor and Adrian Wills, is first series directors Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell.
The series, made up of six standalone episodes, is produced by Darren Dale and Miranda Dear for Blackfella Films. Redfern Now debuted on ABC1 on Thursday 1 November rating 721,000.
Jimmy McGovern, creator of the UK’s Cracker and The Street will again lead the development process of the series.
Screen Australia is to fund a second series of gritty indigenous drama Redfern Now as part of a $5.5m funding round.
The public funding body has also announced that it is to invest in feature films Son of a Gun - by Julius Avery and starring Ewan McGregor – and My Mistress, to be produced Leanne Tonkes, directed Stephen Lance and written by Gerard Lee.
Joining Redfern Now’s writing team of last year; Jon Bell, Steven McGregor and Adrian Wills, is first series directors Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell.
The series, made up of six standalone episodes, is produced by Darren Dale and Miranda Dear for Blackfella Films. Redfern Now debuted on ABC1 on Thursday 1 November rating 721,000.
Jimmy McGovern, creator of the UK’s Cracker and The Street will again lead the development process of the series.
- 11/12/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Screen Australia has invested almost $5.5 million in two feature films, My Mistress and Son of a Gun, as well as a second series of indigenous TV program Redfern Now.
The second, six-part series of Redfern Now will once again tell the stories of six indigenous families whose lives are changed by a seemingly insignificant incident. Acclaimed writer Jimmy McGovern (The Street, Cracker) will take Redfern Now writers Steven McGregor, Adrian Wills and Jon Bell, as well as new writers Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell, through an intense development process. The series will be produced by Blackfella Films. Darren Dale and Miranda Dear.
.Redfern Now is one of several partnerships between ABC TV and Screen Australia.s Indigenous department and I.m very proud of the work we.re achieving together,. said Screen Australia.s chief executive Ruth Harley in a statement. .This is compelling television drama at its very best,...
The second, six-part series of Redfern Now will once again tell the stories of six indigenous families whose lives are changed by a seemingly insignificant incident. Acclaimed writer Jimmy McGovern (The Street, Cracker) will take Redfern Now writers Steven McGregor, Adrian Wills and Jon Bell, as well as new writers Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell, through an intense development process. The series will be produced by Blackfella Films. Darren Dale and Miranda Dear.
.Redfern Now is one of several partnerships between ABC TV and Screen Australia.s Indigenous department and I.m very proud of the work we.re achieving together,. said Screen Australia.s chief executive Ruth Harley in a statement. .This is compelling television drama at its very best,...
- 11/12/2012
- by Staff Reporter
- IF.com.au
Save Your Legs!, a comedy film about a group of amateur Australian cricket players in India has been announced to open on Thursday January 24 2013, ahead of Australia Day.
The film has released its first teaser ahead of its world premiere at Melbourne International Film Festival tomorrow with the intention to benefit from a long lead campaign.
The film is directed by Boyd Hicklin, written by Brendan Cowell and produced by Robyn Kershaw and Nick Batzias, and distributed locally through Madman Entertainment. Batzias told Encore: “It gives us time to let people know what the film will deliver. We know it will deliver, its just about getting people into that dark room with it.”
Batzias who is in licensing and business affairs Madman Entertainment said the film would be a big release for the indie distributor locally and is well-placed with a number of feel-good Australian films with broad appeal such as The Sapphires,...
The film has released its first teaser ahead of its world premiere at Melbourne International Film Festival tomorrow with the intention to benefit from a long lead campaign.
The film is directed by Boyd Hicklin, written by Brendan Cowell and produced by Robyn Kershaw and Nick Batzias, and distributed locally through Madman Entertainment. Batzias told Encore: “It gives us time to let people know what the film will deliver. We know it will deliver, its just about getting people into that dark room with it.”
Batzias who is in licensing and business affairs Madman Entertainment said the film would be a big release for the indie distributor locally and is well-placed with a number of feel-good Australian films with broad appeal such as The Sapphires,...
- 8/10/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
ScreenWest is to invest $750,000 in The Children, writer/director Claire McCarthy.s follow-up to the debut film The Waiting City.
The drama is adapted from a novel of the same by Charlotte Wood and it.s focus is a character called Mandy Connelly, a war correspondent who returns from Afghanistan to a small country town to join her siblings at their father.s bedside.
Dark family secrets are uncovered but the tone is light heartedly similar to that of The Descendants says Melissa Kelly, who is producing alongside McCarthy and cinematographer Denson Baker.
.It is about the love, joy and friction that occurs in all families,. says Kelly.
The film is the fifth to have received an injection of money from the West Coast Visions scheme, which aims to develop distinctive, creative projects by Western Australians.
The producers Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae) and Nelson Woss (Red Dog), and ScreenWest...
The drama is adapted from a novel of the same by Charlotte Wood and it.s focus is a character called Mandy Connelly, a war correspondent who returns from Afghanistan to a small country town to join her siblings at their father.s bedside.
Dark family secrets are uncovered but the tone is light heartedly similar to that of The Descendants says Melissa Kelly, who is producing alongside McCarthy and cinematographer Denson Baker.
.It is about the love, joy and friction that occurs in all families,. says Kelly.
The film is the fifth to have received an injection of money from the West Coast Visions scheme, which aims to develop distinctive, creative projects by Western Australians.
The producers Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae) and Nelson Woss (Red Dog), and ScreenWest...
- 7/17/2012
- by Sandy George
- IF.com.au
Anupam Sharma
Bill Bennett
A new Australian film set in India has cast Aussie actress Toni Collette and Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel.
Defiant is written and directed by Kiss or Kill’s Bill Bennett and produced by Bennett and Anupam Sharma.
The Australian-based Sharma told Encore that the production is aiming to have a global perspective and operate despite the lack of a co-production treaty between Australia and India.
However, this suits Sharma’s plan: “I’ve always propagated that we should use the Australian producer offset, and use private Indian finance.”
“At the end of the day, these stories work because they’ve got something to tell, not a doctored story to make a co-production. You have to find the right team. When I look at the team, I’ve constantly screamed we need a global perspective.”
The film is based on a newspaper article Bennett read about...
Bill Bennett
A new Australian film set in India has cast Aussie actress Toni Collette and Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel.
Defiant is written and directed by Kiss or Kill’s Bill Bennett and produced by Bennett and Anupam Sharma.
The Australian-based Sharma told Encore that the production is aiming to have a global perspective and operate despite the lack of a co-production treaty between Australia and India.
However, this suits Sharma’s plan: “I’ve always propagated that we should use the Australian producer offset, and use private Indian finance.”
“At the end of the day, these stories work because they’ve got something to tell, not a doctored story to make a co-production. You have to find the right team. When I look at the team, I’ve constantly screamed we need a global perspective.”
The film is based on a newspaper article Bennett read about...
- 4/24/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Though the Indian cricket team fared poorly against Australia in Perth Friday, Indian cities Varanasi, Kolkata and Mumbai are serving as a pitch for an Australian comedy movie .Save Your Legs!..The movie is being described as a wild ride from the suburbs of Australia to India. It narrates the story of Edward .Teddy. Brown, who is in a desperate bid to wind back the clock and cling to his childhood dreams. Teddy leads his two best mates and their D-Grade cricket club on a tour of India, winning friends but losing matches all the way..Cricket is very much part of the relationship which binds Australia and India together in so many ways,. acting Australian high commissioner Lachlan Strahan, said in a press statement..It.s wonderful to see the best of Australia.s film industry taking the sporting and cultural relationship in a new direction, telling a very...
- 1/13/2012
- Filmicafe
Screen Australia has announced a new round of funding for 18 filmmaking teams to develop feature projects including teams led by producer Emile Sherman (The King’s Speech), director Kriv Stenders (Red Dog) and director Gillian Armstrong.
The funding totals $500,000.
Sherman is working with Clayton Jacobsen (Kenny) to develop crime film The Docks with writers Jamie Browne and Kris Mrksa.
Auteur director and cancer sufferer Paul Cox is working with executive producer Shaun Miller and producer Maggie Miles to develop his own memoir Tales from the Cancer Ward into drama script Force of Destiny.
Screen Australia also continues its investment in producer Marian Macgowan’s The Great, with writer Tony McNamara and director Gillian Armstrong on the adaptation of McNamara’s play of the same name.
Red Dog director Kriv Stenders works with his Lucky Country writer Andy Cox to develop their comic romance script F*****! A Romance.
Screen Australia has...
The funding totals $500,000.
Sherman is working with Clayton Jacobsen (Kenny) to develop crime film The Docks with writers Jamie Browne and Kris Mrksa.
Auteur director and cancer sufferer Paul Cox is working with executive producer Shaun Miller and producer Maggie Miles to develop his own memoir Tales from the Cancer Ward into drama script Force of Destiny.
Screen Australia also continues its investment in producer Marian Macgowan’s The Great, with writer Tony McNamara and director Gillian Armstrong on the adaptation of McNamara’s play of the same name.
Red Dog director Kriv Stenders works with his Lucky Country writer Andy Cox to develop their comic romance script F*****! A Romance.
Screen Australia has...
- 12/12/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Principal photography for Australian cricket tale, Save Your Legs! will begin on 12 December in Melbourne before an extensive shoot in India.
The feature film is directed by Boyd Hicklin, who directed a documentary of the same name, and is written by Brendan Cowell (The Slap, Love My Way) who will also star in the film alongside Stephen Curry and Damon Gameau. The film will be produced by Nick Batzias (Not Quite Hollywood) and Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae).
Described as a ‘coming of middle-aged’ bromance the film follows three long-time friends who try to play for Australia.
The film comes as Film Victoria tightens their relationship with the Indian film industry.
Louise Asher, Minister for innovation, services and small businesses, responsible for the Victorian film industry said: “The Coalition Government’s support for Save Your Legs is just one of the many initiatives in 2012 associated with the Government’s Trade...
The feature film is directed by Boyd Hicklin, who directed a documentary of the same name, and is written by Brendan Cowell (The Slap, Love My Way) who will also star in the film alongside Stephen Curry and Damon Gameau. The film will be produced by Nick Batzias (Not Quite Hollywood) and Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae).
Described as a ‘coming of middle-aged’ bromance the film follows three long-time friends who try to play for Australia.
The film comes as Film Victoria tightens their relationship with the Indian film industry.
Louise Asher, Minister for innovation, services and small businesses, responsible for the Victorian film industry said: “The Coalition Government’s support for Save Your Legs is just one of the many initiatives in 2012 associated with the Government’s Trade...
- 11/25/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
The Victorian government has invested in local cricket comedy Save Your Legs!, which will be shot in Australia and India. The film, inspired by a 2005 documentary of the same name, is about a Melbourne Cricket team: in a desperate bid to wind back the clock and cling to his childhood dreams, Edward Teddy Brown leads his two best mates and their cowboy cricket club on an audacious tour of India, winning friends but losing matches all the way. It will be directed by Boyd Hicklin (who also directed the original documentary) produced by Nick Batzias and Robyn Kershaw, and shot by Mark Wareham Acs. Save Your Legs! will also star Australian actors Stephen Curry, Brendan Cowell and Damon Gameau. The Coalition government's investment forms part of its trade engagement program with...
- 11/24/2011
- by Andre Fenby
- IF.com.au
Seventeen feature films have received support for development by Screen Australia, with a spend totalling $500,000.
The productions include projects involving Emile Sherman, Johnathan Teplitzky, Helen Pankhurst and Jan Sardi.
Martha Coleman, Screen Australia’s head of development, said: “I’m proud of our association with this compelling group of feature projects by such talented filmmaking teams. The quality and range of projects we are seeing is hugely inspiring and our development team care passionately about assisting the filmmakers we are working with to achieve the best possible version of their story. This is a very exciting time.”
Projects include:
Tim Winton’s best selling surfing story, Breath will get an adaptation by Simon Baker producing with Jamie Hilton and Mark Johnson and written by Peter Duncan. Four comedies have received funding including Ali’s Wedding, written by Osamah Sami and Andrew Knight will be developed by producers Helen Panckhurst, Michael McMahon...
The productions include projects involving Emile Sherman, Johnathan Teplitzky, Helen Pankhurst and Jan Sardi.
Martha Coleman, Screen Australia’s head of development, said: “I’m proud of our association with this compelling group of feature projects by such talented filmmaking teams. The quality and range of projects we are seeing is hugely inspiring and our development team care passionately about assisting the filmmakers we are working with to achieve the best possible version of their story. This is a very exciting time.”
Projects include:
Tim Winton’s best selling surfing story, Breath will get an adaptation by Simon Baker producing with Jamie Hilton and Mark Johnson and written by Peter Duncan. Four comedies have received funding including Ali’s Wedding, written by Osamah Sami and Andrew Knight will be developed by producers Helen Panckhurst, Michael McMahon...
- 10/14/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Every year, fewer and fewer Australian films and television shows are releasing soundtrack albums. Once considered a valuable promotional tool, changes in both the screen and music industries are threatening their existence. Aravind Balasubramaniam reports.
It is a sign of the times when the #1 Australian film of the year, aimed at a young demographic, chooses not to release a soundtrack album. Ten years ago, it would have been seen as an excellent opportunity to promote both the film and a record company’s selection of up and coming bands, but in 2010 Omnilab Media’s Tomorrow, When the War Began was only released a single on iTunes.
“When you walk into a record store that used to have a soundtrack section, it has become highly evident that the section has shrunk remarkably over the last few years” said Underbelly score composer Burkhard Dallwitz.
ABC Music is the label that has published...
It is a sign of the times when the #1 Australian film of the year, aimed at a young demographic, chooses not to release a soundtrack album. Ten years ago, it would have been seen as an excellent opportunity to promote both the film and a record company’s selection of up and coming bands, but in 2010 Omnilab Media’s Tomorrow, When the War Began was only released a single on iTunes.
“When you walk into a record store that used to have a soundtrack section, it has become highly evident that the section has shrunk remarkably over the last few years” said Underbelly score composer Burkhard Dallwitz.
ABC Music is the label that has published...
- 4/28/2011
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
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