Nearly 30 projects will share in $975,000 of story development funding from Screen Australia, including a television series inspired by the 1999 film Two Hands from director Gregor Jordan, and a family feature film from the producers of Bluey.
The 28 recipients for the final round of development funding in the 2020/21 financial year comprise 12 feature films, 13 television dramas, and three online projects.
Screen Australia head of development Nerida Moore said there was no shortage of variety across the projects.
“Screen Australia is really proud to be supporting this impressive mix of projects,” she said.
“This includes fresh genre-bending comedies Home and Our Haunt, and beautiful romantic drama 10 Moments that will bring together 10 chapters from a great team of exciting creative voices.
“It’s also wonderful to support more children’s content with Big Serious Studios’ Goo Zoo set to invite children into the world of microbiology as part of the company’s aims to...
The 28 recipients for the final round of development funding in the 2020/21 financial year comprise 12 feature films, 13 television dramas, and three online projects.
Screen Australia head of development Nerida Moore said there was no shortage of variety across the projects.
“Screen Australia is really proud to be supporting this impressive mix of projects,” she said.
“This includes fresh genre-bending comedies Home and Our Haunt, and beautiful romantic drama 10 Moments that will bring together 10 chapters from a great team of exciting creative voices.
“It’s also wonderful to support more children’s content with Big Serious Studios’ Goo Zoo set to invite children into the world of microbiology as part of the company’s aims to...
- 7/26/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Looking for Leonard
IFP/West Los Angeles Film Festival
A Montreal movie from beginning to end and proud of it, "Looking for Leonard" is a low-budget noir looker, written and directed by Canadians Matt Bissonnette and Steven Clark. Accidental killings, hidden treasure, life on the streets, this film has a metaphorical mission that is aptly alluded to in the title.
Finding a sizable audience is the real trick, however, with projects competing for Bohemian audiences everywhere you look. From the performances and wry dialogue to the sets and cinematography, "Looking" is a film with a lot of things going for it.
Canadian actress Kim Huffman as Jo longs to just once see Montrealer Leonard Cohen. As if to grant her wish for our pleasure, the film occasionally inserts silent footage of novelist Cohen, from public appearances to more intimate material. Meanwhile, with the help of Mac McCaughan's score, one easily gets into Jo's and the film's bored-but-expectant mood as we learn she is one of a successful three-person stickup team and is hardly leading a fulfilling existence.
Jo's partners are tough-talking, TV-addicted amateurs Ted (Ben Rainer), also her boyfriend, and his brother Johnny (Darcy Belsher). Determined to move up to robbing banks, which Jo bluntly tries to talk them out of, the brothers leave her alone for a weekend and she meets a just-arrived Czech computer programmer, Luka (Joel Bissonnette), at the store where she's shoplifting seemingly out of boredom.
They have chemistry, with his upright but hapless character fatefully falling in love. Making out at her place, they're surprised by Johnny. A vicious fight starts and Jo hits Johnny with an ashtray. He dies and she sends Luka away.
Luka dumbly leaves his wallet behind, and she self-defensively tells the police he was the killer. Drunk and a wanted man, Luka hits the streets, where he hides in the shadows with opinionated urban scarecrow Chevy (the late Justin Pierce of "Kids" in his final role). Jo lies to Ted and confides with nice girl Monica (Molly Parker) in some of the film's best scenes. Eventually, Jo decides to leave town with a stash of cash, and her fondness for reading Cohen helps Ted uncover her duplicity. Heading for tragedy, the film instead agreeably comes in for a happy landing.
LOOKING FOR LEONARD
Frustrated Films
Boneyard Film Co.
Credits:
Screenwriters-directors: Matt Bissonnette, Steven Clark
Producer: Sylvia Wilson
Executive producers: Lynne Stopkewich, Jessica Fraser, Dean English, Molly Parker
Director of photography: Brian Pearson
Production designer: Patricia Christie
Editors: Annie Ilkow, Andrew Kowalchuk, Michael Dowse
Costume designer: Janine Metcalfe
Music: Mac McCaughan
Cast:
Jo: Kim Huffman
Ted: Ben Rainer
Johnny: Darcy Belsher
Luka: Joel Bissonnette
Monica: Molly Parker
Chevy: Justin Pierce
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
A Montreal movie from beginning to end and proud of it, "Looking for Leonard" is a low-budget noir looker, written and directed by Canadians Matt Bissonnette and Steven Clark. Accidental killings, hidden treasure, life on the streets, this film has a metaphorical mission that is aptly alluded to in the title.
Finding a sizable audience is the real trick, however, with projects competing for Bohemian audiences everywhere you look. From the performances and wry dialogue to the sets and cinematography, "Looking" is a film with a lot of things going for it.
Canadian actress Kim Huffman as Jo longs to just once see Montrealer Leonard Cohen. As if to grant her wish for our pleasure, the film occasionally inserts silent footage of novelist Cohen, from public appearances to more intimate material. Meanwhile, with the help of Mac McCaughan's score, one easily gets into Jo's and the film's bored-but-expectant mood as we learn she is one of a successful three-person stickup team and is hardly leading a fulfilling existence.
Jo's partners are tough-talking, TV-addicted amateurs Ted (Ben Rainer), also her boyfriend, and his brother Johnny (Darcy Belsher). Determined to move up to robbing banks, which Jo bluntly tries to talk them out of, the brothers leave her alone for a weekend and she meets a just-arrived Czech computer programmer, Luka (Joel Bissonnette), at the store where she's shoplifting seemingly out of boredom.
They have chemistry, with his upright but hapless character fatefully falling in love. Making out at her place, they're surprised by Johnny. A vicious fight starts and Jo hits Johnny with an ashtray. He dies and she sends Luka away.
Luka dumbly leaves his wallet behind, and she self-defensively tells the police he was the killer. Drunk and a wanted man, Luka hits the streets, where he hides in the shadows with opinionated urban scarecrow Chevy (the late Justin Pierce of "Kids" in his final role). Jo lies to Ted and confides with nice girl Monica (Molly Parker) in some of the film's best scenes. Eventually, Jo decides to leave town with a stash of cash, and her fondness for reading Cohen helps Ted uncover her duplicity. Heading for tragedy, the film instead agreeably comes in for a happy landing.
LOOKING FOR LEONARD
Frustrated Films
Boneyard Film Co.
Credits:
Screenwriters-directors: Matt Bissonnette, Steven Clark
Producer: Sylvia Wilson
Executive producers: Lynne Stopkewich, Jessica Fraser, Dean English, Molly Parker
Director of photography: Brian Pearson
Production designer: Patricia Christie
Editors: Annie Ilkow, Andrew Kowalchuk, Michael Dowse
Costume designer: Janine Metcalfe
Music: Mac McCaughan
Cast:
Jo: Kim Huffman
Ted: Ben Rainer
Johnny: Darcy Belsher
Luka: Joel Bissonnette
Monica: Molly Parker
Chevy: Justin Pierce
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 7/16/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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