Stars: Alyla Browne, Penelope Mitchell, Ryan Corr, Jett Berry, Kade Berry, Noni Hazlehurst, Robyn Nevin, Danny Kim, Silvia Colloca, Jermaine Fowler | Written and Directed by Kiah Roache-Turner
Sting is the new film from Australian writer/director Kiah Roache-Turner, the man behind the Mad Max meets Dawn of the Dead films Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead and its sequel Wyrmwood: Apocalypse as well as the over-the-top ghost hunting film Nekrotronic. All three of them were fun films that made good use of a small budget, so a big bug movie seemed like a good fit for his skills.
This time out, he’s traded his apocalyptic scenarios for the goings-on in the apartment building where an alien spider egg comes to rest after a trip through Earth’s atmosphere. It hatches, and its occupant is found by Charlotte, who dubs the creature Sting,
Charlotte is a rebellious twelve-year-old who lives there...
Sting is the new film from Australian writer/director Kiah Roache-Turner, the man behind the Mad Max meets Dawn of the Dead films Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead and its sequel Wyrmwood: Apocalypse as well as the over-the-top ghost hunting film Nekrotronic. All three of them were fun films that made good use of a small budget, so a big bug movie seemed like a good fit for his skills.
This time out, he’s traded his apocalyptic scenarios for the goings-on in the apartment building where an alien spider egg comes to rest after a trip through Earth’s atmosphere. It hatches, and its occupant is found by Charlotte, who dubs the creature Sting,
Charlotte is a rebellious twelve-year-old who lives there...
- 4/2/2024
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Anime and manga fans will know what the Gundam series is in that world. This long-running franchise has spanned numerous anime, manga, and video games and is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable titles from the world of manga and anime. The series has been evolving over the years, reaching new heights and exploring new realms. In light of that fact, we are happy to announce that Netflix’s upcoming Gundam series, Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance, has received its first trailer and confirmed a Fall 2024 release date.
As officially described by the streaming service, Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance will be a completely new take on the franchise’s history, as you can see from the official description:
“Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance” is an all-new original animation composed of six 30-minute episodes focusing on the European front of the One Year War, which was the setting of the first Gundam series,...
As officially described by the streaming service, Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance will be a completely new take on the franchise’s history, as you can see from the official description:
“Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance” is an all-new original animation composed of six 30-minute episodes focusing on the European front of the One Year War, which was the setting of the first Gundam series,...
- 3/23/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
Bye-bye Bunya
Australian TV producer Bunya Entertainment says that Sophia Zachariou will step down as co-managing director, after a five-year stint. Bunya Entertainment is one part the Bunya Group of companies and was established by Zachariou, David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin in 2019.
Zachariou is currently in post-production on “The Office” (Amazon) and “Ladies in Black” (ABC) and will deliver these series before she departs the company. Other productions from Bunya Entertainment include the six x half-hour sketch comedy series “The Moth Effect” (Amazon) and the comedy series “Nice Shorts.”
In 2020 Zachariou also created the Bunya Talent Indigenous Hub, in partnership with Netflix and Screen Australia, which funded and developed 10 First Nations writers and directors to further develop their TV projects. The Hub was later extended to include a partnership with Safc, Screen Nt and Screen Nsw.
Jowsey and Simpkin will continue as co-MDs of Bunya Entertainment. The separate Bunya Group entities,...
Australian TV producer Bunya Entertainment says that Sophia Zachariou will step down as co-managing director, after a five-year stint. Bunya Entertainment is one part the Bunya Group of companies and was established by Zachariou, David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin in 2019.
Zachariou is currently in post-production on “The Office” (Amazon) and “Ladies in Black” (ABC) and will deliver these series before she departs the company. Other productions from Bunya Entertainment include the six x half-hour sketch comedy series “The Moth Effect” (Amazon) and the comedy series “Nice Shorts.”
In 2020 Zachariou also created the Bunya Talent Indigenous Hub, in partnership with Netflix and Screen Australia, which funded and developed 10 First Nations writers and directors to further develop their TV projects. The Hub was later extended to include a partnership with Safc, Screen Nt and Screen Nsw.
Jowsey and Simpkin will continue as co-MDs of Bunya Entertainment. The separate Bunya Group entities,...
- 3/19/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Upcoming titles handled by Embankment, Protagonist, Goodfellas and Studiocanal to receive a share of production funding.
Screen Australia is to allocate more than Aud$10m ($6.4m) of production funding to a raft of upcoming film and TV projects.
The national screen body will support six features including Sophie Hyde’s An Ideal Woman, starring Emilia Clarke; Dario Russo’s The Fox, starring Jai Courtney and from the producers of horror hit Talk to Me; and Charles Williams’ Inside, starring Guy Pearce. Further films to receive a share of the funding include David Vincent Smith drama He Ain’t Heavy, John Sheedy...
Screen Australia is to allocate more than Aud$10m ($6.4m) of production funding to a raft of upcoming film and TV projects.
The national screen body will support six features including Sophie Hyde’s An Ideal Woman, starring Emilia Clarke; Dario Russo’s The Fox, starring Jai Courtney and from the producers of horror hit Talk to Me; and Charles Williams’ Inside, starring Guy Pearce. Further films to receive a share of the funding include David Vincent Smith drama He Ain’t Heavy, John Sheedy...
- 9/25/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Game Show Returns
The British version of the iconic reality TV series “Big Brother,” which first launched 23 years ago, is set to return to ITV screens on Oct. 8. The show is hosted by Aj Odudu and Will Best and produced by Initial, part of Banijay U.K. “Big Brother: The Launch” will air on ITV1, ITV2 and streamer Itvx, while the remainder of the series will be available nightly at 9pm on ITV2 and Itvx, except Saturdays.
“Big Brother” will be followed each night by “Big Brother: Late & Live,” hosted live by Odudu and Best from the site of the Big Brother house in front of a studio audience, where evictees will be interviewed. Following this, “Big Brother: Live Stream” will stream live footage seven nights a week on Itvx.
The Banijay format is popular globally with some 500 seasons of the show having aired around the world in 64 countries and regions.
The British version of the iconic reality TV series “Big Brother,” which first launched 23 years ago, is set to return to ITV screens on Oct. 8. The show is hosted by Aj Odudu and Will Best and produced by Initial, part of Banijay U.K. “Big Brother: The Launch” will air on ITV1, ITV2 and streamer Itvx, while the remainder of the series will be available nightly at 9pm on ITV2 and Itvx, except Saturdays.
“Big Brother” will be followed each night by “Big Brother: Late & Live,” hosted live by Odudu and Best from the site of the Big Brother house in front of a studio audience, where evictees will be interviewed. Following this, “Big Brother: Live Stream” will stream live footage seven nights a week on Itvx.
The Banijay format is popular globally with some 500 seasons of the show having aired around the world in 64 countries and regions.
- 9/25/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran and Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Twelve Times Two
Production is under way on season two of “The Twelve,” a crime drama which follows a controversial murder trial as seen through the lens of the 12 jury members, ordinary members of the public with their own realities and struggles. On completion, it will screen on Foxtel’s Binge streaming service. International distribution is by Fifth Season. Western Australia premier Roger Cook said that the “The Twelve S2” is the largest ever production in the state.
As previously announced, Sam Neill and Frances O’Connor (“The End,” “AI”) reprise their roles as senior lawyers.
Joining them is an all-star Australian cast including: Tasma Walton (“Mystery Road,” “Sweet As”), Kris McQuade (“Rosehaven”), Amy Mathews (“A Place to Call Home”), Erroll Shand (“The Clearing”), Fayssal Bazzi (“Shantaram”), Josh McKenzie (“La Brea”), Anthony Brandon Wong (“Queen of Oz”), Stefanie Caccamo (“Fighting Season”), Sharon Johal (“Neighbours,” “Shantaram”), Luke Pegler (“Ladies In Black”), Adriano Cappelletta...
Production is under way on season two of “The Twelve,” a crime drama which follows a controversial murder trial as seen through the lens of the 12 jury members, ordinary members of the public with their own realities and struggles. On completion, it will screen on Foxtel’s Binge streaming service. International distribution is by Fifth Season. Western Australia premier Roger Cook said that the “The Twelve S2” is the largest ever production in the state.
As previously announced, Sam Neill and Frances O’Connor (“The End,” “AI”) reprise their roles as senior lawyers.
Joining them is an all-star Australian cast including: Tasma Walton (“Mystery Road,” “Sweet As”), Kris McQuade (“Rosehaven”), Amy Mathews (“A Place to Call Home”), Erroll Shand (“The Clearing”), Fayssal Bazzi (“Shantaram”), Josh McKenzie (“La Brea”), Anthony Brandon Wong (“Queen of Oz”), Stefanie Caccamo (“Fighting Season”), Sharon Johal (“Neighbours,” “Shantaram”), Luke Pegler (“Ladies In Black”), Adriano Cappelletta...
- 8/31/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
British actors Julia Ormond (“Ladies in Black”) and Lydia Page (“Blue Jean”) are set to soon appear in psychological horror movie “Home Education” directed by Italy’s Andrea Niada.
Set in the scenic Sila plateau in Italy’s Southern Calabria region, “Home Education” revolves around a family that are followers of an esoteric cult and live in a secluded house deep in the woods.
Warner Bros Entertainment Italia, Italy’s Indiana Production and BlackBox Multimedia are producing with support from the Calabria Film Commission. Germany’s SquareOne Productions is co-producing and handling international sales. Warner Bros. Pictures will release the film in Italian theaters.
Page plays Rachel, a teenager raised according to the cult’s beliefs. When her father Philip dies, Rachel’s domineering mother, Carol, played by Ormond (see first look image), driven by the belief that Philip’s lifeless body will revive itself, forces her daughter to live with the corpse.
Set in the scenic Sila plateau in Italy’s Southern Calabria region, “Home Education” revolves around a family that are followers of an esoteric cult and live in a secluded house deep in the woods.
Warner Bros Entertainment Italia, Italy’s Indiana Production and BlackBox Multimedia are producing with support from the Calabria Film Commission. Germany’s SquareOne Productions is co-producing and handling international sales. Warner Bros. Pictures will release the film in Italian theaters.
Page plays Rachel, a teenager raised according to the cult’s beliefs. When her father Philip dies, Rachel’s domineering mother, Carol, played by Ormond (see first look image), driven by the belief that Philip’s lifeless body will revive itself, forces her daughter to live with the corpse.
- 6/13/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Edward James Olmos, his son Michael Olmos and Morris Ruskin’s MoJo Global Arts have pacted with Ecuador’s 2bLatam to make an English-language premium TV version of the YouTube phenomenon, “Mortal Glitch.” This is the first project in English for the Ecuadorian company as it seeks to expand its global reach.
To date, “Mortal Glitch” has been the only fiction series produced in Latin America for YouTube Premium. The web series has notched up to 37 million views, with 13.3 million views in Mexico, 5.1 million views in Colombia and 4.1 million views in Argentina.
Produced by 2bLatam’s production arm 2bOriginals, the web series was written and directed by Christian Moya, a partner at 2bLatam and co-founder of 2bLatam’s Enchufe.tv, the leading Spanish-language comedy channel.
“I never thought that ‘Mortal Glitch’ would have an international audience or, at least, generate curiosity among foreign producers who recognized its potential,” he said,...
To date, “Mortal Glitch” has been the only fiction series produced in Latin America for YouTube Premium. The web series has notched up to 37 million views, with 13.3 million views in Mexico, 5.1 million views in Colombia and 4.1 million views in Argentina.
Produced by 2bLatam’s production arm 2bOriginals, the web series was written and directed by Christian Moya, a partner at 2bLatam and co-founder of 2bLatam’s Enchufe.tv, the leading Spanish-language comedy channel.
“I never thought that ‘Mortal Glitch’ would have an international audience or, at least, generate curiosity among foreign producers who recognized its potential,” he said,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Production scheduled to commence in Australia in September.
Icon Film Distribution has acquired all Australia and New Zealand rights to Alex Proyas’ upcoming dark sci-fi comedy Heaven as the producers continue with buyers at EFM.
Sci-fi specialist Proyas, whose credits include Will Smith starrer I, Robot and Dark City, wrote the story about a man whose life is going nowhere who agrees to be uploaded to an A.I. metaverse afterlife and discovers it more closely resembles hell than heaven.
Production is scheduled to commence in Australia in September and Icon plans a theatrical release in 2024.
Jim Robison and Proyas...
Icon Film Distribution has acquired all Australia and New Zealand rights to Alex Proyas’ upcoming dark sci-fi comedy Heaven as the producers continue with buyers at EFM.
Sci-fi specialist Proyas, whose credits include Will Smith starrer I, Robot and Dark City, wrote the story about a man whose life is going nowhere who agrees to be uploaded to an A.I. metaverse afterlife and discovers it more closely resembles hell than heaven.
Production is scheduled to commence in Australia in September and Icon plans a theatrical release in 2024.
Jim Robison and Proyas...
- 2/18/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
French sales agency Elle Driver is giving a Cannes Market launch to “Kid Snow,” a West Australian-produced tale of redemption set in the 1970s world of tent boxing. Production starts on Monday in Australia’s Goldfields-Esperance region, making it the first feature film to kick off production in the state since its border re-opened.
Boxing tents toured Australia’s small towns from the early 1900s until the 1970s, and were venues where professional fighters faced off against local challengers. The troupes criss-crossed the outback, boasted a carnival-like atmosphere and were places where Indigenous fighters could become heroes.
Penned by writers John Brumpton and Stephen Cleary, the story involves a washed-up Irish boxer named Kid Snow who is finally given a chance to redeem himself when he is offered a rematch against the man he fought a decade prior, on a night that changed his life forever. When Kid Snow meets single mother Sunny,...
Boxing tents toured Australia’s small towns from the early 1900s until the 1970s, and were venues where professional fighters faced off against local challengers. The troupes criss-crossed the outback, boasted a carnival-like atmosphere and were places where Indigenous fighters could become heroes.
Penned by writers John Brumpton and Stephen Cleary, the story involves a washed-up Irish boxer named Kid Snow who is finally given a chance to redeem himself when he is offered a rematch against the man he fought a decade prior, on a night that changed his life forever. When Kid Snow meets single mother Sunny,...
- 5/22/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
LevelK has boarded the buzzed-about Australian horror movie “Sissy” which have its world premiere at SXSW’s Midnighters section. The company is handling international sales on “Sissy,” while XYZ films is representing North American rights.
Penned and directed by Hannah Barlow (For Now) and Kane Senes, the film stars Aisha Dee (The Bold Type) as Cecilia, aka Sissy, a twenty-something girl whose best friend is Emma. The two were inseparable until Emma’s new friend Alex got in the way. Twelve years later, Cecilia is a successful social media influencer living the dream of an independent, modern millennial woman, until she runs into Emma for the first time in over a decade. Emma invites Cecilia away on her bachelorette weekend at a remote cabin in the mountains, where Alex proceeds to make Cecilia’s weekend a living hell.
“Sissy is a satirical nightmare directed at the self-victimizing child within all of us,...
Penned and directed by Hannah Barlow (For Now) and Kane Senes, the film stars Aisha Dee (The Bold Type) as Cecilia, aka Sissy, a twenty-something girl whose best friend is Emma. The two were inseparable until Emma’s new friend Alex got in the way. Twelve years later, Cecilia is a successful social media influencer living the dream of an independent, modern millennial woman, until she runs into Emma for the first time in over a decade. Emma invites Cecilia away on her bachelorette weekend at a remote cabin in the mountains, where Alex proceeds to make Cecilia’s weekend a living hell.
“Sissy is a satirical nightmare directed at the self-victimizing child within all of us,...
- 3/4/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
In a bid to see marketing thought about earlier in the production process,
Carnival Studio has put together a best practice guide to creating key art. Creative director Demi Hopkins chats to Jackie Keast about the impetus behind it.
Often an audience’s first introduction to a film or TV show is via its poster. Equally, it can be a project’s most enduring image.
Key art may be regarded as a project’s public face. If it’s strong and eye-catching, it should pique interest and communicate to an audience what it is about.
However, Carnival Studio creative director Demi Hopkins has identified that often planning for key art and other marketing collateral starts not at the beginning of the pre-production process, but after a project has wrapped.
At that stage, he and his team might be handed a hard drive of images and asked to piece together the poster from unit photography.
Carnival Studio has put together a best practice guide to creating key art. Creative director Demi Hopkins chats to Jackie Keast about the impetus behind it.
Often an audience’s first introduction to a film or TV show is via its poster. Equally, it can be a project’s most enduring image.
Key art may be regarded as a project’s public face. If it’s strong and eye-catching, it should pique interest and communicate to an audience what it is about.
However, Carnival Studio creative director Demi Hopkins has identified that often planning for key art and other marketing collateral starts not at the beginning of the pre-production process, but after a project has wrapped.
At that stage, he and his team might be handed a hard drive of images and asked to piece together the poster from unit photography.
- 11/23/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Outgoing Screen Australia head of First Nations Penny Smallacombe is set to join Bunya Media Group as a producer.
Smallacombe will produce a number of the company’s upcoming projects, including Sbs drama series Copping It Black, working with directors Erica Glynn and Steven McGregor, who both penned the script with Danielle Maclean.
While at Screen Australia, Smallacombe helped shepherd to screen several Bunya Productions projects, including ABC series Mystery Road, Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country and Ivan Sen’s Goldstone, as well as helping to facilitate Bunya Talent Hub LA.
Smallacombe, a Maramanindji woman from the Northern Territory, tells If she has loved Bunya’s “big, bold” output over the past few years, and considers it a privilege to join the team. She is keen to use her new role to continue to bring authentic First Nations stories to screen, particularly from exciting new talent.
“They’re a trusted...
Smallacombe will produce a number of the company’s upcoming projects, including Sbs drama series Copping It Black, working with directors Erica Glynn and Steven McGregor, who both penned the script with Danielle Maclean.
While at Screen Australia, Smallacombe helped shepherd to screen several Bunya Productions projects, including ABC series Mystery Road, Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country and Ivan Sen’s Goldstone, as well as helping to facilitate Bunya Talent Hub LA.
Smallacombe, a Maramanindji woman from the Northern Territory, tells If she has loved Bunya’s “big, bold” output over the past few years, and considers it a privilege to join the team. She is keen to use her new role to continue to bring authentic First Nations stories to screen, particularly from exciting new talent.
“They’re a trusted...
- 5/26/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Federal funding body Screen Australia confirmed its backing for a trio of Australian film projects that will now move forward into production. Director Robert Connolly (“The Dry”) is behind two of them as producer.
The funding decisions ensure that a steady stream of local films move into production, alongside the large volume of international films and TV series that are currently in Australia, taking advantage of generous incentives and good coronavirus control conditions.
Set in 1970’s Western Australia, “Kid Snow” is a drama about a washed-up Irish boxer who is offered a rematch against a man he fought 10 years ago, on a night that changed his life forever. He is faced with a chance to redeem himself when he meets a single mother and is forced to contemplate a future beyond boxing.
The film is directed by Paul Goldman (“Suburban Mayhem”) and written by John Brumpton (“Life”), Phillip Gwynne (“Australian Rules...
The funding decisions ensure that a steady stream of local films move into production, alongside the large volume of international films and TV series that are currently in Australia, taking advantage of generous incentives and good coronavirus control conditions.
Set in 1970’s Western Australia, “Kid Snow” is a drama about a washed-up Irish boxer who is offered a rematch against a man he fought 10 years ago, on a night that changed his life forever. He is faced with a chance to redeem himself when he meets a single mother and is forced to contemplate a future beyond boxing.
The film is directed by Paul Goldman (“Suburban Mayhem”) and written by John Brumpton (“Life”), Phillip Gwynne (“Australian Rules...
- 5/17/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Screen Australia has announced $5.6 million of production funding for three feature films and returning seasons of Stan’s Bump and 10’s The Secret She Keeps.
The films include two Arenamedia projects: an new animation from the Oscar-winning Adam Elliot and a second feature from writer/director Alena Lodkina (Strange Colours), titled Petrol. The other film is Paul Goldman’s Western Australian feature film Kid Snow, produced by Unicorn Films.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said: “We have been blown away by the volume of applications for production funding and are heartened at the breadth of distinct Australian stories that continue to come through.
“Adam Elliot is set to delight audiences around the world with a remarkable new drama in his signature claymation style; and we’re thrilled to support writer/director Alena Lodkina whose 2017 feature Strange Colours premiered at the Venice Film Festival, as she expands on her unique voice with striking follow up Petrol.
The films include two Arenamedia projects: an new animation from the Oscar-winning Adam Elliot and a second feature from writer/director Alena Lodkina (Strange Colours), titled Petrol. The other film is Paul Goldman’s Western Australian feature film Kid Snow, produced by Unicorn Films.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said: “We have been blown away by the volume of applications for production funding and are heartened at the breadth of distinct Australian stories that continue to come through.
“Adam Elliot is set to delight audiences around the world with a remarkable new drama in his signature claymation style; and we’re thrilled to support writer/director Alena Lodkina whose 2017 feature Strange Colours premiered at the Venice Film Festival, as she expands on her unique voice with striking follow up Petrol.
- 5/16/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Leading producers Tony Ayres and Belinda Chayko have assembled an extraordinary Australian cast for Fires, a drama series that presents personal tales from the front lines of the country’s recent catastrophic fire season.
The series, which is now shooting in Victoria state is produced by NBCUniversal -backed Tony Ayres Productions and Matchbox Pictures. Australian Broadcasting Corporation is on board as local broadcaster. International rights are handled by NBCUniversal Global Distribution.
The project is helmed by three leading film directors: Michael Rymer, Ana Kokkinos and Kim Mordaunt.
The ensemble cast includes: Eliza Scanlen, Sam Worthington, Richard Roxburgh, Sullivan Stapleton, Miranda Otto (“Homeland”), Hunter Page-Lochard, Anna Torv, Kate Box, Helana Sawires, Daniel Henshall and Noni Hazlehurst.
They are joined by newcomers Ameshol Ajang, Stacy Clausen and Nyawuda Chuol.
Fires” is structured as an anthology that weaves character studies inspired by true stories into a narrative about the Australian bushfires of 2019-...
The series, which is now shooting in Victoria state is produced by NBCUniversal -backed Tony Ayres Productions and Matchbox Pictures. Australian Broadcasting Corporation is on board as local broadcaster. International rights are handled by NBCUniversal Global Distribution.
The project is helmed by three leading film directors: Michael Rymer, Ana Kokkinos and Kim Mordaunt.
The ensemble cast includes: Eliza Scanlen, Sam Worthington, Richard Roxburgh, Sullivan Stapleton, Miranda Otto (“Homeland”), Hunter Page-Lochard, Anna Torv, Kate Box, Helana Sawires, Daniel Henshall and Noni Hazlehurst.
They are joined by newcomers Ameshol Ajang, Stacy Clausen and Nyawuda Chuol.
Fires” is structured as an anthology that weaves character studies inspired by true stories into a narrative about the Australian bushfires of 2019-...
- 4/9/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
A television adaptation of 2018’s Ladies in Black, a feature film from Bryan Brown, and a television drama from one of the creators of Offspring are among the 21 projects to share in more than $730,000 in development funding from Screen Australia.
Of the projects to receive funding, 10 have been supported through the Generate fund and 11 through the Premium fund.
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said the agency was impressed by the “rigorous creativity” of Australian creators as the industry continued to rebound from Covid-19.
“It’s great to see a number of engaging stories set around iconic milestones in Australian history, from the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to the social change that took place in the 60s or the recession in the 80s, and I look forward to seeing these projects develop further,” she said.
Features:
Premium:
1989
Sewing Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Writer...
Of the projects to receive funding, 10 have been supported through the Generate fund and 11 through the Premium fund.
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said the agency was impressed by the “rigorous creativity” of Australian creators as the industry continued to rebound from Covid-19.
“It’s great to see a number of engaging stories set around iconic milestones in Australian history, from the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to the social change that took place in the 60s or the recession in the 80s, and I look forward to seeing these projects develop further,” she said.
Features:
Premium:
1989
Sewing Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Writer...
- 3/1/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Mark Warner receives his award from Karen Eastmure.
The editors of Ladies in Black, Bloom and The Final Quarter were among the honorees of the Australian Screen Editors’ annual Ellie Awards presented on Saturday night at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst.
Mark Warner’s work on Ladies in Black won best editing in a feature drama, James Manché’s episode 5 of Bloom was recognised as best editing in a drama and Sally Fryer’s The Final Quarter took the feature documentary editing prize.
That followed Fryer’s win at the Aacta Awards while the Adam Goodes doco directed by Ian Darling was named best documentary program at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore last Friday night.
The other recipients included Sara Edwards’ Gatwick – The Last Chance Hotel (documentary), Julie-Anne De Ruvo’s The Letdown (comedy), Nicholas Dunlop and Lawrie Silvestrin’s Don’t Stop the Music (factual entertainment) and...
The editors of Ladies in Black, Bloom and The Final Quarter were among the honorees of the Australian Screen Editors’ annual Ellie Awards presented on Saturday night at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst.
Mark Warner’s work on Ladies in Black won best editing in a feature drama, James Manché’s episode 5 of Bloom was recognised as best editing in a drama and Sally Fryer’s The Final Quarter took the feature documentary editing prize.
That followed Fryer’s win at the Aacta Awards while the Adam Goodes doco directed by Ian Darling was named best documentary program at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore last Friday night.
The other recipients included Sara Edwards’ Gatwick – The Last Chance Hotel (documentary), Julie-Anne De Ruvo’s The Letdown (comedy), Nicholas Dunlop and Lawrie Silvestrin’s Don’t Stop the Music (factual entertainment) and...
- 12/8/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Steven Jones-Evans with Rod Allan, CEO Docklands Studios.
Hotel Mumbai received the accolade for best feature film production design at the 2019 Australian Production Design Guild Awards held at Melba Spiegeltent, Collingwood, on Sunday night.
The other feature film honorees were Judy & Punch, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, Aquaman and Ladies in Black.
The winners in the TV categories were Tidelands, A Place to Call Home season 6 and Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.
The Twist won the screen animation design prize at the show compered by Adam Elliot, the Academy Award winning creator of Harvie Krumpet.
Grant Slotboom, construction manager of Illusions, was presented with the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement for Screen.
The 2019 Apdg Award winners in the screen categories:
Aftrs Award for Student and Emerging Designer for Screen
Sweet Tooth
Emma Bourke, Production Designer
Sabina Myers, Costume Designer
Barry Jarrot, Art Director
Title...
Hotel Mumbai received the accolade for best feature film production design at the 2019 Australian Production Design Guild Awards held at Melba Spiegeltent, Collingwood, on Sunday night.
The other feature film honorees were Judy & Punch, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, Aquaman and Ladies in Black.
The winners in the TV categories were Tidelands, A Place to Call Home season 6 and Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.
The Twist won the screen animation design prize at the show compered by Adam Elliot, the Academy Award winning creator of Harvie Krumpet.
Grant Slotboom, construction manager of Illusions, was presented with the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement for Screen.
The 2019 Apdg Award winners in the screen categories:
Aftrs Award for Student and Emerging Designer for Screen
Sweet Tooth
Emma Bourke, Production Designer
Sabina Myers, Costume Designer
Barry Jarrot, Art Director
Title...
- 12/2/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Tidelands’.
The nominees for this year’s Australian Production Design Guild (Apdg) Awards have been unveiled, with 140 nominees across 19 categories.
Those behind the worlds of Hotel Mumbai, Judy and Punch, Ladies in Black and Storm Boy are in contention for the best production design on a feature film award, while those who helped to put together A Place To Call Home (Season 6), Black Mirror: Striking Vipers, Bloom and Tidelands will vie for the equivalent award in TV/web series.
Overall, Netflix series Tidelands leads with four nominations, while feature films I Am Mother and Ladies In Black have three each.
Apdg president George Liddle said: ‘The guild is thrilled to represent all the talent from the diverse areas of design and to highlight and award the outstanding work produced over the last year in our annual awards.”
Hosted by Mc Adam Eliot, the Apdg Awards will be held on December...
The nominees for this year’s Australian Production Design Guild (Apdg) Awards have been unveiled, with 140 nominees across 19 categories.
Those behind the worlds of Hotel Mumbai, Judy and Punch, Ladies in Black and Storm Boy are in contention for the best production design on a feature film award, while those who helped to put together A Place To Call Home (Season 6), Black Mirror: Striking Vipers, Bloom and Tidelands will vie for the equivalent award in TV/web series.
Overall, Netflix series Tidelands leads with four nominations, while feature films I Am Mother and Ladies In Black have three each.
Apdg president George Liddle said: ‘The guild is thrilled to represent all the talent from the diverse areas of design and to highlight and award the outstanding work produced over the last year in our annual awards.”
Hosted by Mc Adam Eliot, the Apdg Awards will be held on December...
- 11/17/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Ride Like a Girl’.
Rachel Griffiths’ Ride Like a Girl will take the crown of highest grossing Australian film on home soil this year.
Meanwhile the low visibility and modest returns from limited releases including Kim Farrant’s Angel of Mine, Sophie Hyde’s Animals and Rodd Rathjen’s Buoyancy have prompted renewed calls from exhibitors to address the challenges facing most Aussie films in the crowded theatrical market.
Griffiths’ biopic starring Teresa Palmer as ground-breaking jockey Michelle Payne pocketed nearly $4 million in its first eight days, including $317,000 on Thursday.
So the Transmission Films release co-starring Sam Neill as Payne’s father Paddy and her brother Stevie Payne as himself will overtake Palm Beach’s $4.4 million this weekend and will zoom past Top End Wedding’s $5.2 million and Storm Boy’s $5 million.
Exhibitors are confident the film is heading for upwards of $10 million and could reach Ladies in Black’s $12 million.
Rachel Griffiths’ Ride Like a Girl will take the crown of highest grossing Australian film on home soil this year.
Meanwhile the low visibility and modest returns from limited releases including Kim Farrant’s Angel of Mine, Sophie Hyde’s Animals and Rodd Rathjen’s Buoyancy have prompted renewed calls from exhibitors to address the challenges facing most Aussie films in the crowded theatrical market.
Griffiths’ biopic starring Teresa Palmer as ground-breaking jockey Michelle Payne pocketed nearly $4 million in its first eight days, including $317,000 on Thursday.
So the Transmission Films release co-starring Sam Neill as Payne’s father Paddy and her brother Stevie Payne as himself will overtake Palm Beach’s $4.4 million this weekend and will zoom past Top End Wedding’s $5.2 million and Storm Boy’s $5 million.
Exhibitors are confident the film is heading for upwards of $10 million and could reach Ladies in Black’s $12 million.
- 10/4/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Platform will screen features The Elephant Queen, Hala at Sicilian festival.
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in on behalf of Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.
The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and highlight the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
Apple will screen two of its films at the festival. Mark Deeble...
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in on behalf of Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.
The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and highlight the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
Apple will screen two of its films at the festival. Mark Deeble...
- 6/14/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Platform will screen features The Elephant Queen, Hala at Sicilian festival.
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in to discuss Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.
The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and talk about the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in to discuss Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.
The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and talk about the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
- 6/14/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Sicilian festival will screen the first TV series in its 65-year history.
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will screen the first TV series in its 65-year history, Apple TV+’s forthcoming drama Truth Be Told.
Apple will offer a first-look at the series, which will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Octavia Spencer will come to Taormina to present the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
Apple will also show preview footage of See starring Alfre Woodard, and The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston,...
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will screen the first TV series in its 65-year history, Apple TV+’s forthcoming drama Truth Be Told.
Apple will offer a first-look at the series, which will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Octavia Spencer will come to Taormina to present the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
Apple will also show preview footage of See starring Alfre Woodard, and The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston,...
- 6/14/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
‘2040’.
Five months into the year, 18 Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas since the start of the year, plus holdovers, have racked up a modest $14.3 million.
That compares with $37.6 million generated in the same period last year, led by Peter Rabbit’s $26.4 million, Breath’s $3.6 million in four weeks (finishing with $4.6 million) and Sweet Country’s $2 million.
Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy is the top title with nearly $5 million, a creditable result. But almost certainly that would have been rather higher if Sony Pictures had been able to use Geoffrey Rush in the publicity campaign.
Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding has grossed $4.7 million through Sunday, its sixth weekend, and could finish with $5.5 million.
Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai collected $3.3 million, knee-capped by the dreadful co-incidence of opening on the same weekend as the Christchurch massacre.
Damon Gameau’s 2040 has earned $568,000 after its second weekend and, buoyed by word-of-mouth, distributor...
Five months into the year, 18 Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas since the start of the year, plus holdovers, have racked up a modest $14.3 million.
That compares with $37.6 million generated in the same period last year, led by Peter Rabbit’s $26.4 million, Breath’s $3.6 million in four weeks (finishing with $4.6 million) and Sweet Country’s $2 million.
Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy is the top title with nearly $5 million, a creditable result. But almost certainly that would have been rather higher if Sony Pictures had been able to use Geoffrey Rush in the publicity campaign.
Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding has grossed $4.7 million through Sunday, its sixth weekend, and could finish with $5.5 million.
Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai collected $3.3 million, knee-capped by the dreadful co-incidence of opening on the same weekend as the Christchurch massacre.
Damon Gameau’s 2040 has earned $568,000 after its second weekend and, buoyed by word-of-mouth, distributor...
- 6/3/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
In today’s film news roundup, Shania Twain has a new role, the Russo Brothers board an action comedy, MoJo launches, the Academy names three new governors and a Canadian film fund is unveiled.
Castings
Shania Twain, Britt Robertson, Melissa Roxburgh, and Nathan Dean Parsons will star opposite Kj Apa in “I Still Believe,” Lionsgate’s faith-based biopic about Christian music star Jeremy Camp.
Twain will play Jeremy Camp’s mother Terry Camp. Robertson will play Melissa Henning, who married Jeremy Camp in 2000, while Roxburgh will play Melissa Hennning’s older sister and Parsons will play a rock star friend who mentors Jeremy Camp.
Brothers Jon and Andrew Erwin, and producing partner Kevin Downes are reteaming with the studio following the success of their 2018 faith-based film “I Can Only Imagine,” which grossed $85 million worldwide. It’s the first project coming out of their film and TV first-look deal with Lionsgate,...
Castings
Shania Twain, Britt Robertson, Melissa Roxburgh, and Nathan Dean Parsons will star opposite Kj Apa in “I Still Believe,” Lionsgate’s faith-based biopic about Christian music star Jeremy Camp.
Twain will play Jeremy Camp’s mother Terry Camp. Robertson will play Melissa Henning, who married Jeremy Camp in 2000, while Roxburgh will play Melissa Hennning’s older sister and Parsons will play a rock star friend who mentors Jeremy Camp.
Brothers Jon and Andrew Erwin, and producing partner Kevin Downes are reteaming with the studio following the success of their 2018 faith-based film “I Can Only Imagine,” which grossed $85 million worldwide. It’s the first project coming out of their film and TV first-look deal with Lionsgate,...
- 5/14/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Sony must have been pretty bummed when making the upcoming film “Ladies in Black.” Not that the content of the film is bad, as the first trailer shows viewers that they’re in for a fun, thought-provoking, good time. But the studio was probably a little upset that the film couldn’t be called “The Women in Black,” to match the best-selling novel the film is based on, written by author Madeleine St John.
Continue reading ‘Ladies In Black’ Trailer: Director Of ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ Returns With A Heartfelt Story Of Young Women in 1959 Australia at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Ladies In Black’ Trailer: Director Of ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ Returns With A Heartfelt Story Of Young Women in 1959 Australia at The Playlist.
- 5/1/2019
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
In today’s film news roundup, New Line’s Misty Copeland biopic moves ahead, Rapman’s “Blue Story” is becoming a feature film and “Muriel’s Wedding” is getting a 25th anniversary showing.
Director Attached
New Line has hired “Tall Girl” helmer Nzingha Stewart to direct its feature adaptation of Misty Copeland’s biography “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.”
Copeland was the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Michelle Rosenfarb is writing the screenplay.
Producers are Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot from Offspring Entertainment, and Philip Sandhaus. Stewart is currently in production on the film “Tall Girl” for Netflix and served as executive producer on Lionsgate’s “For Colored Girls.”
“As an African American woman, I know firsthand that when Misty Copeland leaps, we all soar,” Stewart said. “As a filmmaker, I am thrilled to bring this hopeful, triumphant, and...
Director Attached
New Line has hired “Tall Girl” helmer Nzingha Stewart to direct its feature adaptation of Misty Copeland’s biography “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.”
Copeland was the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Michelle Rosenfarb is writing the screenplay.
Producers are Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot from Offspring Entertainment, and Philip Sandhaus. Stewart is currently in production on the film “Tall Girl” for Netflix and served as executive producer on Lionsgate’s “For Colored Girls.”
“As an African American woman, I know firsthand that when Misty Copeland leaps, we all soar,” Stewart said. “As a filmmaker, I am thrilled to bring this hopeful, triumphant, and...
- 3/1/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Jason Blum.
Jason Blum, one of Hollywood’s hottest producers, will be among the speakers at the second annual Australian International Screen Forum in New York this month.
The founder of Blumhouse Productions, he specialises in highly profitable low-budget genre films including Get Out, Glass, Split, Halloween and The Purge,. Insidious and Paranormal Activity franchises.
According to The Numbers, he has produced or exec produced 66 films with a worldwide aggregate box office of nearly $US4 billion.
Comprising workshops, panel conversations and screenings, the event for Us and Australian professionals will run from March 19-22 at the Lincoln Centre’s Francesca Beale Theatre.
Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale will screen on opening night and Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding will be the closing night attraction.
There will be sessions on financing, audience development, casting and creative relationships and festivals and markets, with a specific focus on international independent feature film and television production.
Jason Blum, one of Hollywood’s hottest producers, will be among the speakers at the second annual Australian International Screen Forum in New York this month.
The founder of Blumhouse Productions, he specialises in highly profitable low-budget genre films including Get Out, Glass, Split, Halloween and The Purge,. Insidious and Paranormal Activity franchises.
According to The Numbers, he has produced or exec produced 66 films with a worldwide aggregate box office of nearly $US4 billion.
Comprising workshops, panel conversations and screenings, the event for Us and Australian professionals will run from March 19-22 at the Lincoln Centre’s Francesca Beale Theatre.
Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale will screen on opening night and Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding will be the closing night attraction.
There will be sessions on financing, audience development, casting and creative relationships and festivals and markets, with a specific focus on international independent feature film and television production.
- 2/28/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Event runs in New York from March 19-22.
Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale will open the second annual Australian International Screen Forum, a four-day gathering in New York City that will include workshops and a panel discussion with producer Jason Blum.
Recent Sundance premiere Top End Wedding will close the event showcasing Australian talent, which runs from March 19-22 and will also present workshops, panel conversations and showcases.
This year’s topics include sessions related to financing, audience development, casting, creative relationships, and festivals and markets, with a specific focus on international independent feature film and television production, devised in...
Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale will open the second annual Australian International Screen Forum, a four-day gathering in New York City that will include workshops and a panel discussion with producer Jason Blum.
Recent Sundance premiere Top End Wedding will close the event showcasing Australian talent, which runs from March 19-22 and will also present workshops, panel conversations and showcases.
This year’s topics include sessions related to financing, audience development, casting, creative relationships, and festivals and markets, with a specific focus on international independent feature film and television production, devised in...
- 2/28/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Gross theatrical box office in Australia grew by 3.6% in 2018, to $890 million (A$1.25 billion). The score was propelled by a rebound in the performance of the top local films.
Data from the Motion Picture Distributors Assn. of Australia published Tuesday showed aggregate cinema revenues recovering after a dip in 2017. While the 2018 nationwide score is the second-highest on record, recent years are in a tight range, with 2015-2018 representing a plateau.
Australian-made films increased their share of the market, from 4.1% in 2017 to 4.5% in 2018. Their combined A$57.4 million (Us$41 million) is the third-highest total on record. But data showed that just two titles – “Peter Rabbit” with A$26.7 million (Us$19.1 million) and Ladies in Black” with A$12 million (Us$8.58 million) – accounted for 70% of that. Some 39 out of the 61 Australian films released last year achieved less than A$100,000, earlier Mpdaa data show.
The Mpdaa report showed that Australian cinemas are having to work harder to stand still.
Data from the Motion Picture Distributors Assn. of Australia published Tuesday showed aggregate cinema revenues recovering after a dip in 2017. While the 2018 nationwide score is the second-highest on record, recent years are in a tight range, with 2015-2018 representing a plateau.
Australian-made films increased their share of the market, from 4.1% in 2017 to 4.5% in 2018. Their combined A$57.4 million (Us$41 million) is the third-highest total on record. But data showed that just two titles – “Peter Rabbit” with A$26.7 million (Us$19.1 million) and Ladies in Black” with A$12 million (Us$8.58 million) – accounted for 70% of that. Some 39 out of the 61 Australian films released last year achieved less than A$100,000, earlier Mpdaa data show.
The Mpdaa report showed that Australian cinemas are having to work harder to stand still.
- 1/22/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
‘Avengers: Infinity War’
Australian box office takings last year totaled $1.245 billion, up 3.6 per cent on the previous year, as a record 758 titles flooded the market.
So 2018 ranks as the industry’s second biggest year ever, trailing 2016’s $1.259 billion.
Australian features and feature docs collectively rang up $55.9 million, a market share of 4.5 per cent, an improvement on 2017’s $49.4 million and 4.1 per cent share.
The overall market increase occurred in the face of widespread discounting, which means the average ticket price fell from $14.13 in 2017 to $13.86.
“Given there are a lot of in-home and out-of-home options, it’s remarkable and exciting to see cinema do so well,” Lori Flekser, executive director of the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia, tells If. “That’s due to the great slate and the improvement in the quality of cinemas.”
Mpdaa members released 97 films. The number of Indian releases hit 179, nearly double 2015’s 90, and there were 88 alternate content releases.
Australian box office takings last year totaled $1.245 billion, up 3.6 per cent on the previous year, as a record 758 titles flooded the market.
So 2018 ranks as the industry’s second biggest year ever, trailing 2016’s $1.259 billion.
Australian features and feature docs collectively rang up $55.9 million, a market share of 4.5 per cent, an improvement on 2017’s $49.4 million and 4.1 per cent share.
The overall market increase occurred in the face of widespread discounting, which means the average ticket price fell from $14.13 in 2017 to $13.86.
“Given there are a lot of in-home and out-of-home options, it’s remarkable and exciting to see cinema do so well,” Lori Flekser, executive director of the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia, tells If. “That’s due to the great slate and the improvement in the quality of cinemas.”
Mpdaa members released 97 films. The number of Indian releases hit 179, nearly double 2015’s 90, and there were 88 alternate content releases.
- 1/22/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ryan Corr and Rachael Taylor in ‘Ladies in Black.’
The good news for Australian cinema: Last year ranks as the third biggest ever for Oz films and feature docs released theatrically in the home market.
Another encouraging trend: Eight of the top 30 grossing titles were feature docs, led by Paul Damien Williams’ Gurrumul, Mark Joffe’s Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy, Ray Argall’s Midnight Oil 1984, Naina Sen’s The Song Keepers and Catherine Scott’s Backtrack Boys.
The not-so-good news: The top two films, Will Gluck’s Peter Rabbit and Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black accounted for nearly 70 per cent of total revenues, while 39 of the 61 new releases each made less than $100,000.
Collectively, local titles including holdovers racked up $57.4 million in 2018, trailing the 2001 total of $63.1 million, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (Mpdaa)
The all-time record is 2015’s $88.1 million, the year of Mad Max: Fury Road,...
The good news for Australian cinema: Last year ranks as the third biggest ever for Oz films and feature docs released theatrically in the home market.
Another encouraging trend: Eight of the top 30 grossing titles were feature docs, led by Paul Damien Williams’ Gurrumul, Mark Joffe’s Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy, Ray Argall’s Midnight Oil 1984, Naina Sen’s The Song Keepers and Catherine Scott’s Backtrack Boys.
The not-so-good news: The top two films, Will Gluck’s Peter Rabbit and Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black accounted for nearly 70 per cent of total revenues, while 39 of the 61 new releases each made less than $100,000.
Collectively, local titles including holdovers racked up $57.4 million in 2018, trailing the 2001 total of $63.1 million, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (Mpdaa)
The all-time record is 2015’s $88.1 million, the year of Mad Max: Fury Road,...
- 1/6/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
(L-r) Andrew Goldsmith, Lucy Hayes and Bradley Slabe.
Bradley Slabe, the co-director with Andrew Goldsmith of the Academy Award-shortlisted animated short Lost & Found, looks set for a major career boost after securing representation in the Us.
The writer-director signed with Los Angeles-based Verve after being introduced to the talent and literary agency by Jonathan Hludzinski, Animal Logic’s senior VP, production.
On the same trip to La he met with four management companies and is yet to decide which one to take on. “My dream is to create my own content but Verve has showed me the IP properties on their roster and asked me which ones I’d like to pitch for,” he tells If.
Slabe, Goldsmith and producer Lucy Hayes are keen to develop a TV series spin-off of Lost & Found, which would look at the community of knitted creatures before their ranks were thinned to two.
Bradley Slabe, the co-director with Andrew Goldsmith of the Academy Award-shortlisted animated short Lost & Found, looks set for a major career boost after securing representation in the Us.
The writer-director signed with Los Angeles-based Verve after being introduced to the talent and literary agency by Jonathan Hludzinski, Animal Logic’s senior VP, production.
On the same trip to La he met with four management companies and is yet to decide which one to take on. “My dream is to create my own content but Verve has showed me the IP properties on their roster and asked me which ones I’d like to pitch for,” he tells If.
Slabe, Goldsmith and producer Lucy Hayes are keen to develop a TV series spin-off of Lost & Found, which would look at the community of knitted creatures before their ranks were thinned to two.
- 1/6/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Australian director Bruce Beresford was part of a new wave of helmers who emerged Down Under in the 1970s and went on to have distinguished careers. Now, almost four decades since his 1980 feature Breaker Morant put him on the global map (his other films have included Driving Miss Daisy and Tender Mercies), Beresford, 78, has a new movie, Ladies in Black, based on Madeleine St. John's 1993 novel The Women in Black, about workers in a Sydney department store in the late 1950s.
Beresford spoke to THR ahead of his film's U.S. premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
It took you decades ...
Beresford spoke to THR ahead of his film's U.S. premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
It took you decades ...
Australian director Bruce Beresford was part of a new wave of helmers who emerged Down Under in the 1970s and went on to have distinguished careers. Now, almost four decades since his 1980 feature Breaker Morant put him on the global map (his other films have included Driving Miss Daisy and Tender Mercies), Beresford, 78, has a new movie, Ladies in Black, based on Madeleine St. John's 1993 novel The Women in Black, about workers in a Sydney department store in the late 1950s.
Beresford spoke to THR ahead of his film's U.S. premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
It took you decades ...
Beresford spoke to THR ahead of his film's U.S. premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
It took you decades ...
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Photo: Sony Pictures Animation).
Sony Animation’s Spider-Man reboot swung into Australian cinemas last weekend but trailed Universal/Illumination’s powerhouse The Grinch, which ruled again in its third frame.
Andre Rieu fans turned out for his concert filmed at Sydney Town Hall while Fox’s M-rated Once Upon a Deadpool had a middling start, in line with its Us debut.
Meanwhile Peter Jackson, Universal Pictures and co-financiers Media Rights Capital and Perfect World Pictures are facing a write-off of $100 million or more on Mortal Engines, which bombed in the Us.
Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black is winding down after 13 weeks, having generated $11.9 million for Sony.
Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, which chronicles a turbulent year in the lives of a middle-class family in 1970s Mexico City, is having a brief run in a handful of cinemas including the Ritz, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne and...
Sony Animation’s Spider-Man reboot swung into Australian cinemas last weekend but trailed Universal/Illumination’s powerhouse The Grinch, which ruled again in its third frame.
Andre Rieu fans turned out for his concert filmed at Sydney Town Hall while Fox’s M-rated Once Upon a Deadpool had a middling start, in line with its Us debut.
Meanwhile Peter Jackson, Universal Pictures and co-financiers Media Rights Capital and Perfect World Pictures are facing a write-off of $100 million or more on Mortal Engines, which bombed in the Us.
Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black is winding down after 13 weeks, having generated $11.9 million for Sony.
Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, which chronicles a turbulent year in the lives of a middle-class family in 1970s Mexico City, is having a brief run in a handful of cinemas including the Ritz, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne and...
- 12/16/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The 30th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival will open on Jan. 3 with historical drama “All Is True,” starring Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, and Ian McKellen.
Branagh, who will be in attendance at the opening night screening, directed from Ben Elton’s script about the little-known period in the final years of William Shakespeare. Branagh portrays the playwright with Dench as his wife Anne, while McKellen plays the Earl of Southampton. Sony Classics bought worldwide rights in October.
The festival will close with “Ladies in Black,” directed by Bruce Beresford, on Jan. 13. The movie, starring Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Julia Ormond, Ryan Corr and Shane Jacobson, centers on a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney. Beresford will attend.
The festival will screen 223 films from 78 countries, including 48 premieres. It will screen 43 of the 87 official submissions in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the 91st Academy Awards. A jury of...
Branagh, who will be in attendance at the opening night screening, directed from Ben Elton’s script about the little-known period in the final years of William Shakespeare. Branagh portrays the playwright with Dench as his wife Anne, while McKellen plays the Earl of Southampton. Sony Classics bought worldwide rights in October.
The festival will close with “Ladies in Black,” directed by Bruce Beresford, on Jan. 13. The movie, starring Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Julia Ormond, Ryan Corr and Shane Jacobson, centers on a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney. Beresford will attend.
The festival will screen 223 films from 78 countries, including 48 premieres. It will screen 43 of the 87 official submissions in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the 91st Academy Awards. A jury of...
- 12/14/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare tale All Is True has been selected to open the Palm Springs Film Festival, which Friday unveiled its full lineup of films for the 30th edition that runs January 3-14. The fest also said that Bruce Bereford’s Ladies in Black will be the closing-night film, with the director and cast members expected to be in attendance.
In all, the fest will screen 223 films from 78 countries, and as usual will screen a slew of Oscar Foreign Language Film entries, this year numbering 43 of the 87 official submissions. Also on the docket: a 30-film retrospective of past fest selections, dubbed the Palm Springs Canon; special focuses on cinema from France, India and Mexico, and Jewish and queer cinema; and the new Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award, named for actor and magician Ricky Jay who died last month.
In addition to the film lineup, the opening awards gala...
In all, the fest will screen 223 films from 78 countries, and as usual will screen a slew of Oscar Foreign Language Film entries, this year numbering 43 of the 87 official submissions. Also on the docket: a 30-film retrospective of past fest selections, dubbed the Palm Springs Canon; special focuses on cinema from France, India and Mexico, and Jewish and queer cinema; and the new Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award, named for actor and magician Ricky Jay who died last month.
In addition to the film lineup, the opening awards gala...
- 12/14/2018
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The sprawling fest, which will screen 223 films from 78 countries, will conclude with closing night film Ladies in Black, directed by Bruce Beresford, which is set in the upscale department stores of 1959 Sydney, Australia.
The fest, which will hand out juried awards in five categories — including the New Voices New Visions Award for first- and second-time directors, and the Schlesinger Documentary Award for first- or second-time documentary filmmakers — will introduce a new honor this year, the Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award, named for the recently-deceased actor and magician Ricky Jay, which will honor a film made ...
The fest, which will hand out juried awards in five categories — including the New Voices New Visions Award for first- and second-time directors, and the Schlesinger Documentary Award for first- or second-time documentary filmmakers — will introduce a new honor this year, the Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award, named for the recently-deceased actor and magician Ricky Jay, which will honor a film made ...
- 12/14/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The sprawling fest, which will screen 223 films from 78 countries, will conclude with closing night film Ladies in Black, directed by Bruce Beresford, which is set in the upscale department stores of 1959 Sydney, Australia.
The fest, which will hand out juried awards in five categories — including the New Voices New Visions Award for first- and second-time directors, and the Schlesinger Documentary Award for first- or second-time documentary filmmakers — will introduce a new honor this year, the Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award, named for the recently-deceased actor and magician Ricky Jay, which will honor a film made ...
The fest, which will hand out juried awards in five categories — including the New Voices New Visions Award for first- and second-time directors, and the Schlesinger Documentary Award for first- or second-time documentary filmmakers — will introduce a new honor this year, the Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award, named for the recently-deceased actor and magician Ricky Jay, which will honor a film made ...
- 12/14/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
‘Sweet Country,” the tale of an Aboriginal man who shoots a white man in self defense, swept the major awards at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) Awards.
The film collected the best film award, and the best director award for Warwick Thornton. In other major categories, it won best original screenplay, best cinematography, best editing, and best lead actor for Hamilton Morris.
The film debuted some 15 months ago at the Venice festival where it won the jury prize. In Toronto the same year it won the Platform section prize. And at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards last year it was named best film.
The Aacta prizes were presented at a ceremony on Wednesday in Sydney. Other significant winners were Nicole Kidman as best supporting actress in “Boy Erased” and Joel Egerton as its screenwriter. Simon Baker won for his on-screen role in “Breath.” “Ladies in Black” earned four awards.
The film collected the best film award, and the best director award for Warwick Thornton. In other major categories, it won best original screenplay, best cinematography, best editing, and best lead actor for Hamilton Morris.
The film debuted some 15 months ago at the Venice festival where it won the jury prize. In Toronto the same year it won the Platform section prize. And at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards last year it was named best film.
The Aacta prizes were presented at a ceremony on Wednesday in Sydney. Other significant winners were Nicole Kidman as best supporting actress in “Boy Erased” and Joel Egerton as its screenwriter. Simon Baker won for his on-screen role in “Breath.” “Ladies in Black” earned four awards.
- 12/6/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
‘Sweet Country’.
Sweet Country was named Best Film at last night’s Aacta Award Ceremony, with the period Western also taking home Best Direction for Warwick Thornton and Best Lead Actor for Hamilton Morris.
Produced by Bunya Productions, Sweet Country beat out Boy Erased, Cargo, Ladies in Black and Breath. Based on real events, the 1929-set film follows an Aboriginal stockman (Morris) who a kills white station owner in self-defence and goes on the run. It was Morris’ first film role – he previously had only a small part in ABC series 8Mmm Aboriginal Radio.
Accepting the award for best film, producer David Jowsey said: “Sweet Country is a Trojan horse. We drive through your gate, and there in our belly is a story about our history, a story about the birth of our nation. Sweet Country is really about our identity.”
Last night’s accolades join the three awards Sweet Country...
Sweet Country was named Best Film at last night’s Aacta Award Ceremony, with the period Western also taking home Best Direction for Warwick Thornton and Best Lead Actor for Hamilton Morris.
Produced by Bunya Productions, Sweet Country beat out Boy Erased, Cargo, Ladies in Black and Breath. Based on real events, the 1929-set film follows an Aboriginal stockman (Morris) who a kills white station owner in self-defence and goes on the run. It was Morris’ first film role – he previously had only a small part in ABC series 8Mmm Aboriginal Radio.
Accepting the award for best film, producer David Jowsey said: “Sweet Country is a Trojan horse. We drive through your gate, and there in our belly is a story about our history, a story about the birth of our nation. Sweet Country is really about our identity.”
Last night’s accolades join the three awards Sweet Country...
- 12/5/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
ABC miniseries Riot wins best telefeature or miniseries with Mystery Road taking out best drama series
Indigenous talent and queer politics dominated the Australian film and television industry awards in Sydney on Wednesday night.
The Warwick Thornton-directed Sweet Country swept the film categories, winning a total of six gongs at the 60th annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) awards, including the coveted award for best film, beating Boy Erased, Breath, Cargo and Ladies in Black for the top award, while Thornton won the award for best direction.
Indigenous talent and queer politics dominated the Australian film and television industry awards in Sydney on Wednesday night.
The Warwick Thornton-directed Sweet Country swept the film categories, winning a total of six gongs at the 60th annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) awards, including the coveted award for best film, beating Boy Erased, Breath, Cargo and Ladies in Black for the top award, while Thornton won the award for best direction.
- 12/5/2018
- by Stephanie Convery
- The Guardian - Film News
Sweet Country, Warwick Thornton’s neo-western film, and Ladies In Black, starring Rachael Taylor, pick up three awards each
Warwick Thornton’s neo-western film has been recognised for its stunning visuals of Australia’s outback, winning three gongs at the first half of the Aacta awards – the highest accolades in Australia’s film and TV industries, which are split over two days this week.
Sweet Country was nominated in 11 categories at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards, and has been making waves around the world, picking up prizes at international film festivals in Venice and Toronto.
Warwick Thornton’s neo-western film has been recognised for its stunning visuals of Australia’s outback, winning three gongs at the first half of the Aacta awards – the highest accolades in Australia’s film and TV industries, which are split over two days this week.
Sweet Country was nominated in 11 categories at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards, and has been making waves around the world, picking up prizes at international film festivals in Venice and Toronto.
- 12/3/2018
- by AAP and Steph Harmon
- The Guardian - Film News
The passion projects of the Australian film industry are overwhelmingly produced by men – and overwhelmingly tell stories that debase women
As a member of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, I, along with hundreds of other members, have had the opportunity to watch all 38 films eligible for the 2018 best feature film category at this year’s Aacta awards.
Most of the attention will be on films that received a wide theatrical release, such as Sweet Country, Ladies in Black, Breath and Boy Erased, and showcases for Australia’s visual effects teams such as The Lego Ninjago Movie, Black Panther and Peter Rabbit.
As a member of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, I, along with hundreds of other members, have had the opportunity to watch all 38 films eligible for the 2018 best feature film category at this year’s Aacta awards.
Most of the attention will be on films that received a wide theatrical release, such as Sweet Country, Ladies in Black, Breath and Boy Erased, and showcases for Australia’s visual effects teams such as The Lego Ninjago Movie, Black Panther and Peter Rabbit.
- 11/29/2018
- by Andy Hazel
- The Guardian - Film News
‘Robin Hood.’
Lionsgate’s $100 million Robin Hood reboot is shaping as one of the biggest busts of 2018 while See-Saw Films/Regency Enterprises’ female-led heist movie Widows had a respectable debut on the back of rave reviews.
Among the other openers last weekend, Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms mirrored its weak Us bow while the ethical and legal dilemma at the heart of Roadshow’s The Children Act proved too challenging for mainstream audiences.
Given the lacklustre new entries, takings for the top 20 titles unsurprisingly slumped by 16 per cent to $14.7 million, according to Numero.
Warner Bros’ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald easily retained the top spot, commanding $4.2 million in its second weekend, elevating its total to $15.8 million.
The David Yates-directed adventure fantasy scripted by J.K. Rowling has hauled in $117 million in the Us and $322.6 million in the rest of the world, for a global total of $439.7 million.
Lionsgate’s $100 million Robin Hood reboot is shaping as one of the biggest busts of 2018 while See-Saw Films/Regency Enterprises’ female-led heist movie Widows had a respectable debut on the back of rave reviews.
Among the other openers last weekend, Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms mirrored its weak Us bow while the ethical and legal dilemma at the heart of Roadshow’s The Children Act proved too challenging for mainstream audiences.
Given the lacklustre new entries, takings for the top 20 titles unsurprisingly slumped by 16 per cent to $14.7 million, according to Numero.
Warner Bros’ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald easily retained the top spot, commanding $4.2 million in its second weekend, elevating its total to $15.8 million.
The David Yates-directed adventure fantasy scripted by J.K. Rowling has hauled in $117 million in the Us and $322.6 million in the rest of the world, for a global total of $439.7 million.
- 11/26/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Nicole Kidman and Simon Baker.
Nicole Kidman, Simon Baker, Deborah Mailman, Bruce Beresford, Nash Edgerton, Celia Pacquola, Aaron Pedersen, Tina Bursill, Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell are among the nominees who will attend the 2018 Aacta Awards in Sydney on December 5.
Host Stephen Curry will be joined by an array of presenters including Rebecca Gibney, Marta Dusseldorp, Jack Thompson, Sigrid Thornton, Shane Jacobson, Rodger Corser, Erik Thomson, Nazeem Hussain, Kat Stewart, Julia Zemiro, Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Magda Szubanski.
Among other attendees at The Star Event Centre will be Phoebe Tonkin, Isabel Lucas, David Berry, Shaynna Blaze, Susie Porter, Nicole Da Silva, Daniel Henshall, Melina Vidler, Sara Wiseman, Ada Nicodemou, Gracie Otto, Matt Okine, Madeleine Madden and Lily Sullivan.
After wrapping his 8-month, 83-date ‘Nation of Two’ world tour, Vance Joy will perform, as will five-time Aria Award winner Katie Noonan in an ‘In Memoriam’ tribute.
Joel Edgerton and Simon...
Nicole Kidman, Simon Baker, Deborah Mailman, Bruce Beresford, Nash Edgerton, Celia Pacquola, Aaron Pedersen, Tina Bursill, Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell are among the nominees who will attend the 2018 Aacta Awards in Sydney on December 5.
Host Stephen Curry will be joined by an array of presenters including Rebecca Gibney, Marta Dusseldorp, Jack Thompson, Sigrid Thornton, Shane Jacobson, Rodger Corser, Erik Thomson, Nazeem Hussain, Kat Stewart, Julia Zemiro, Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Magda Szubanski.
Among other attendees at The Star Event Centre will be Phoebe Tonkin, Isabel Lucas, David Berry, Shaynna Blaze, Susie Porter, Nicole Da Silva, Daniel Henshall, Melina Vidler, Sara Wiseman, Ada Nicodemou, Gracie Otto, Matt Okine, Madeleine Madden and Lily Sullivan.
After wrapping his 8-month, 83-date ‘Nation of Two’ world tour, Vance Joy will perform, as will five-time Aria Award winner Katie Noonan in an ‘In Memoriam’ tribute.
Joel Edgerton and Simon...
- 11/22/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Photo: Warner Bros).
Warner Bros’ Fantastic Beasts sequel worked its magic on moviegoers last weekend, ringing up $253.6 million worldwide as the Australian opening outshone the Us debut.
It was a buoyant frame in Oz, boosted by Trafalgar Releasing’s Burn the Stage: The Movie, while another alternate content release, Rialto’s Spitfire was less successful.
The Old Man & the Gun, which could be Robert Redford’s final screen role, is playing on limited screens in the Us but went out far wider here via eOne with modest results.
Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black reached $11.7 million after earning $74,000 in its ninth frame for Sony Pictures. Meanwhile Catherine Scott’s Backtrack Boys has generated $104,000 and Heath Davis’ comedy-drama Book Week has collected $34,000.
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters, which won the Palme d’Or in Cannes, stole a respectable $52,000 on 15 screens and $161,000 including festival screenings and previews for Rialto.
Warner Bros’ Fantastic Beasts sequel worked its magic on moviegoers last weekend, ringing up $253.6 million worldwide as the Australian opening outshone the Us debut.
It was a buoyant frame in Oz, boosted by Trafalgar Releasing’s Burn the Stage: The Movie, while another alternate content release, Rialto’s Spitfire was less successful.
The Old Man & the Gun, which could be Robert Redford’s final screen role, is playing on limited screens in the Us but went out far wider here via eOne with modest results.
Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black reached $11.7 million after earning $74,000 in its ninth frame for Sony Pictures. Meanwhile Catherine Scott’s Backtrack Boys has generated $104,000 and Heath Davis’ comedy-drama Book Week has collected $34,000.
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters, which won the Palme d’Or in Cannes, stole a respectable $52,000 on 15 screens and $161,000 including festival screenings and previews for Rialto.
- 11/19/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Sue Milliken and Bruce Beresford (centre) with the cast of ‘Ladies in Black.’
Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black has grossed $11.4 million in seven weeks, encouraging Sony Pictures, which acquired the worldwide rights, to start devising plans to release the comedy-drama in offshore markets.
“The film was always required to establish itself here first before leveraging that success internationally,” Sony Pictures Releasing executive VP Stephen Basil-Jones tells If.
Produced by Sue Milliken and Allanah Zitserman, the 1959-set film is heading for $13 million here and in New Zealand is about to surpass $NZ1 million, which Basil-Jones rates as a superb result, particularly considering Oz films often struggle when they cross the ditch.
In Los Angeles last week he discussed with his colleagues rolling out the film, which stars Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Ryan Corr, Alison McGirr, Noni Hazlehurst and Vincent Perez, in the UK and North America. Also he...
Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black has grossed $11.4 million in seven weeks, encouraging Sony Pictures, which acquired the worldwide rights, to start devising plans to release the comedy-drama in offshore markets.
“The film was always required to establish itself here first before leveraging that success internationally,” Sony Pictures Releasing executive VP Stephen Basil-Jones tells If.
Produced by Sue Milliken and Allanah Zitserman, the 1959-set film is heading for $13 million here and in New Zealand is about to surpass $NZ1 million, which Basil-Jones rates as a superb result, particularly considering Oz films often struggle when they cross the ditch.
In Los Angeles last week he discussed with his colleagues rolling out the film, which stars Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Ryan Corr, Alison McGirr, Noni Hazlehurst and Vincent Perez, in the UK and North America. Also he...
- 11/7/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
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