Off the back of Screen Australia’s pledge to support the next homegrown Breaking Bad, the creative funding body has announced their $5.4 million slate of upcoming films.
Despite the Australian film industry often copping an awful rap, the six upcoming features are remarkably diverse and genuinely promising, albeit glaringly Aussie-centric—with generous sprinkles of Down Under traits with a road trip to Darwin, a desert mystery and an epic game of backyard cricket.
A feature documentary, an animated 3D children’s film and an impressive cast of Aussie stalwarts in Strangerland make up a great lineup of wise Australian investments.
Receiving the most hype is Kim Farrant‘s Strangerland, led by Nicole Kidman returning home for the production, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce, which will follow a couple’s search for their two children lost in the Australian desert. Seems like Australia meets IRL tragedy of Azaria Chamerlain, aka the most occa story to ever be told.
The $5.4 million investment may well pay impressive dividends, as their contribution, according to Screen Australia, will trigger $32.3 million in production expenditure. That figure certainly sounds fairly impressive; but when mega hits like Gravity budgeted a casual $100 million in to their production, Australia’s financial commitment to supporting quality cinema seems alarmingly modest. While seeing the upcoming projects (listed below) is definitely always a cause for celebration, it’s a shame that the list hasn’t been made more extensive – we can always dream.
BACKYARD ASHES
Crow Crow Productions
Producers Anne Robinson, Mark Grentell, Peter Cox
Writers Mark Grentell, Peter Cox
Director Mark Grentell
International Sales Level K
Australian Distributor Umbrella Entertainment
Synopsis Aussie versus Pom rivalry peaks when Dougie
and Edward fight it out in the cricketing challenge of the century…
the ‘Backyard Ashes’.
FORCE OF DESTINY
Paul’s Next Feature Pty Ltd
Producers Mark Patterson, Maggie Miles, Paul Cox
Writer Paul Cox
Director Paul Cox
International Sales Arrow Entertainment
Australian Distributor CinemaPlus
Synopsis Established artist Robert is told he has
cancer of the liver and limited time to live… And so begins a love
story. Another screen gem from veteran director Paul Cox, invested with
the poignancy of an almost-true story.
LAST CAB TO DARWIN
Hydra Hamlet Pty Ltd
Producers Greg Duffy, Lisa Duff, Jeremy Sims
Executive Producers Ned Lander, Edward Simpson, Ian Darling, Mark Nelson, Andrew Myer, Jon Adgemis
Writer Reg Cribb
Director Jeremy Sims
International Sales Films Boutique/Films Distribution
Australian Distributor Icon Film Distribution
Synopsis Rex is a loner, and when he’s told he doesn’t
have long to live, he embarks on an epic drive from Broken Hill to
Darwin to die on his own terms; but his journey reveals to him that
before you can end your life you have to live it, and to live it, you’ve
got to share it.
MAYA THE BEE MOVIE
Official Germany–Australia Co-production
Buzz Studios Pty Ltd in association with Flying Bark Productions
Producer Barbara Stephen
Executive Producer Jim Ballantine
Writer Fin Edquist
Director Alexs Stadermann
International Sales Wavery Productions BV
Australian Distributor Buzz Studios/Hoyts Jnr.
Synopsis Maya is a little bee with a big personality.
But in a hive where fitting in is the most important thing, being
different isn’t easy.
STRANGERLAND
Dragonfly Pictures Pty Ltd and Fastnet Films
Gap funding Worldview Entertainment
Producers Naomi Wenck, Macdara Kelleher
Executive Producers Christopher Woodrow, Molly Conners, Maria Cestone, Sarah E. Johnson, Andrew Mackie, Richard Payten
Writers Fiona Seres, Michael Kinirons
Director Kim Farrant
Cast Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving
International Sales Wild Bunch
Australian Distributor Transmission
Synopsis When Catherine and Matthew Parker’s two
teenage children disappear into the remote Australian desert, their
relationship is pushed to the brink as they confront the mystery of
their children’s fate.
WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED
Damien Parer Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Damien Parer
Executive Producer Michael Wrenn
Director Gillian Armstrong
Writer Katherine Thomson
International Sales Hollywood Classics
Australian Distributor Rialto Films, Pay TV Rights – Foxtel Broadcasting
Synopsis Orry-Kelly designed costumes for Marilyn
Monroe, Jane Fonda, Bette Davis and Ava Gardner during the boom years of
Hollywood. His films included Some Like It Hot, Casablanca, Now Voyager and Oklahoma. This feature-length documentary celebrates the colourful life of Australia’s greatest Oscar® winner.
– See more at: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2013/mr_131018_features.aspx#sthash.OtBr2DLN.dpuf
BACKYARD ASHES
Crow Crow Productions
Producers Anne Robinson, Mark Grentell, Peter Cox
Writers Mark Grentell, Peter Cox
Director Mark Grentell
Synopsis: Aussie versus Pom rivalry peaks when Dougie and Edward fight it out in the cricketing challenge of the century… the ‘Backyard Ashes’.
FORCE OF DESTINY
Paul’s Next Feature Pty Ltd
Producers Mark Patterson, Maggie Miles, Paul Cox
Writer Paul Cox
Director Paul Cox
Synopsis: Established artist Robert is told he has cancer of the liver and limited time to live… And so begins a love story. Another screen gem from veteran director Paul Cox, invested with the poignancy of an almost-true story.
LAST CAB TO DARWIN
Hydra Hamlet Pty Ltd
Producers Greg Duffy, Lisa Duff, Jeremy Sims
Executive Producers Ned Lander, Edward Simpson, Ian Darling, Mark Nelson, Andrew Myer, Jon Adgemis
Writer Reg Cribb
Director Jeremy Sims
Synopsis: Rex is a loner, and when he’s told he doesn’t have long to live, he embarks on an epic drive from Broken Hill to Darwin to die on his own terms; but his journey reveals to him that before you can end your life you have to live it, and to live it, you’ve got to share it.
MAYA THE BEE MOVIE
Official Germany–Australia Co-production
Buzz Studios Pty Ltd in association with Flying Bark Productions
Producer Barbara Stephen
Executive Producer Jim Ballantine
Writer Fin Edquist
Director Alexs Stadermann
Synopsis Maya is a little bee with a big personality. But in a hive where fitting in is the most important thing, being different isn’t easy.
STRANGERLAND
Dragonfly Pictures Pty Ltd and Fastnet Films
Gap funding Worldview Entertainment
Producers Naomi Wenck, Macdara Kelleher
Executive Producers Christopher Woodrow, Molly Conners, Maria Cestone, Sarah E. Johnson, Andrew Mackie, Richard Payten
Writers Fiona Seres, Michael Kinirons
Director Kim Farrant
Cast Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving
Synopsis: When Catherine and Matthew Parker’s two teenage children disappear into the remote Australian desert, their relationship is pushed to the brink as they confront the mystery of their children’s fate.
WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED
Damien Parer Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Damien Parer
Executive Producer Michael Wrenn
Director Gillian Armstrong
Writer Katherine Thomson
Synopsis: Orry-Kelly designed costumes for Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda, Bette Davis and Ava Gardner during the boom years of Hollywood. His films included Some Like It Hot, Casablanca, Now Voyager and Oklahoma. This feature-length documentary celebrates the colourful life of Australia’s greatest Oscar® winner.
BACKYARD ASHES
Crow Crow Productions
Producers Anne Robinson, Mark Grentell, Peter Cox
Writers Mark Grentell, Peter Cox
Director Mark Grentell
International Sales Level K
Australian Distributor Umbrella Entertainment
Synopsis Aussie versus Pom rivalry peaks when Dougie
and Edward fight it out in the cricketing challenge of the century…
the ‘Backyard Ashes’.
FORCE OF DESTINY
Paul’s Next Feature Pty Ltd
Producers Mark Patterson, Maggie Miles, Paul Cox
Writer Paul Cox
Director Paul Cox
International Sales Arrow Entertainment
Australian Distributor CinemaPlus
Synopsis Established artist Robert is told he has
cancer of the liver and limited time to live… And so begins a love
story. Another screen gem from veteran director Paul Cox, invested with
the poignancy of an almost-true story.
LAST CAB TO DARWIN
Hydra Hamlet Pty Ltd
Producers Greg Duffy, Lisa Duff, Jeremy Sims
Executive Producers Ned Lander, Edward Simpson, Ian Darling, Mark Nelson, Andrew Myer, Jon Adgemis
Writer Reg Cribb
Director Jeremy Sims
International Sales Films Boutique/Films Distribution
Australian Distributor Icon Film Distribution
Synopsis Rex is a loner, and when he’s told he doesn’t
have long to live, he embarks on an epic drive from Broken Hill to
Darwin to die on his own terms; but his journey reveals to him that
before you can end your life you have to live it, and to live it, you’ve
got to share it.
MAYA THE BEE MOVIE
Official Germany–Australia Co-production
Buzz Studios Pty Ltd in association with Flying Bark Productions
Producer Barbara Stephen
Executive Producer Jim Ballantine
Writer Fin Edquist
Director Alexs Stadermann
International Sales Wavery Productions BV
Australian Distributor Buzz Studios/Hoyts Jnr.
Synopsis Maya is a little bee with a big personality.
But in a hive where fitting in is the most important thing, being
different isn’t easy.
STRANGERLAND
Dragonfly Pictures Pty Ltd and Fastnet Films
Gap funding Worldview Entertainment
Producers Naomi Wenck, Macdara Kelleher
Executive Producers Christopher Woodrow, Molly Conners, Maria Cestone, Sarah E. Johnson, Andrew Mackie, Richard Payten
Writers Fiona Seres, Michael Kinirons
Director Kim Farrant
Cast Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving
International Sales Wild Bunch
Australian Distributor Transmission
Synopsis When Catherine and Matthew Parker’s two
teenage children disappear into the remote Australian desert, their
relationship is pushed to the brink as they confront the mystery of
their children’s fate.
WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED
Damien Parer Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Damien Parer
Executive Producer Michael Wrenn
Director Gillian Armstrong
Writer Katherine Thomson
International Sales Hollywood Classics
Australian Distributor Rialto Films, Pay TV Rights – Foxtel Broadcasting
Synopsis Orry-Kelly designed costumes for Marilyn
Monroe, Jane Fonda, Bette Davis and Ava Gardner during the boom years of
Hollywood. His films included Some Like It Hot, Casablanca, Now Voyager and Oklahoma. This feature-length documentary celebrates the colourful life of Australia’s greatest Oscar® winner.
– See more at: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2013/mr_131018_features.aspx#sthash.OtBr2DLN.dpuf
Via Mumbrella.
