Art, activism and attitude collide in Larissa Behrendt’s exuberantly splashy film about a provocateur who can’t be predicted or pigeonholed
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Every documentarian exploring the life of a visual artist should consider how that artist’s work can inform the aesthetic of their production. If successfully broached, this challenge – as Larissa Behrendt demonstrates in her fabulously festive portrait of Richard Bell – becomes a blessing, infusing the work with the flavour and flair of its subject.
In the case of Bell – a member of the Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang communities – it’s not just about indulging his art but his activism, both inseparably entwined, intrinsic to his story and cultural imprint. The necessarily pointy and polemical You Can Go Now captures a man who, according to one interviewee, “knows no boundaries”, “is gangster as fuck” and “unashamedly, unapologetically black”.
Continue reading.
Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email
Every documentarian exploring the life of a visual artist should consider how that artist’s work can inform the aesthetic of their production. If successfully broached, this challenge – as Larissa Behrendt demonstrates in her fabulously festive portrait of Richard Bell – becomes a blessing, infusing the work with the flavour and flair of its subject.
In the case of Bell – a member of the Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang communities – it’s not just about indulging his art but his activism, both inseparably entwined, intrinsic to his story and cultural imprint. The necessarily pointy and polemical You Can Go Now captures a man who, according to one interviewee, “knows no boundaries”, “is gangster as fuck” and “unashamedly, unapologetically black”.
Continue reading.
- 9/23/2023
- by Luke Buckmaster
- The Guardian - Film News
It's been two years since Maya Newell, Sophie Hyde, Larissa Behrendt, Alex Kelly, Rachel Naŋinaaq Edwardson and Lisa Sherrard came together to form the Unquiet Collective, a group designed to help others bridge the gap between a film’s distribution and its wider social impact.
The post Unquiet Collective makes itself heard with ethics-based approach to impact filmmaking appeared first on If Magazine.
The post Unquiet Collective makes itself heard with ethics-based approach to impact filmmaking appeared first on If Magazine.
- 8/3/2023
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Freedom Finds Favor
ITN Distribution has picked up distribution rights in North and Latin America for the live action fantasy epic, “Fight For Freedom” from Incredible Film.
The completed film, which is also available as a 5×30 mins. mini-series, is a live action fantasy epic about Friesland’s greatest hero known as Grutte Pier. Fabled Frisian freedom fighter, Peer Gerlofs Donia, is a gentle giant who turns into a blood-thirsty, revenge-driven killer when his family is brutally murdered. His quest for revenge forges him into a beacon for his people as he becomes their leader in a fight for independence. The film is directed by Steven de Jong.
The film’s cast is headed by Milan van Weelden alongside songwriter and actress Elske DeWall (“Grutte Pier”) and composer and actor Syb van der Ploeg (“Bak”).
“ ‘Fight for Freedom’ is a fascinating story that needs to be shared […] It will be dubbed into English,...
ITN Distribution has picked up distribution rights in North and Latin America for the live action fantasy epic, “Fight For Freedom” from Incredible Film.
The completed film, which is also available as a 5×30 mins. mini-series, is a live action fantasy epic about Friesland’s greatest hero known as Grutte Pier. Fabled Frisian freedom fighter, Peer Gerlofs Donia, is a gentle giant who turns into a blood-thirsty, revenge-driven killer when his family is brutally murdered. His quest for revenge forges him into a beacon for his people as he becomes their leader in a fight for independence. The film is directed by Steven de Jong.
The film’s cast is headed by Milan van Weelden alongside songwriter and actress Elske DeWall (“Grutte Pier”) and composer and actor Syb van der Ploeg (“Bak”).
“ ‘Fight for Freedom’ is a fascinating story that needs to be shared […] It will be dubbed into English,...
- 7/12/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Mother of all Lies, a docu-drama film that probes the secrets of Morocco’s 1981 Bread Riots, was Sunday named the best picture at the Sydney Film Festival.
The jury, headed by Anurag Kashyap, called the Asmae El Moudir-directed film “audacious, cutting-edge and courageous.” It presented the A$60,000 cash prize film ahead at the State Theatre ahead of the Australian premiere screening of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”
The film, which uses doll-like figurines, recently premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes, where it earned the section’s best director prize. “Juxtaposing evidence from barely existent public materials with private family memory, this film reconstructs the history of the state, the family and the individual, in three distinct levels,” said the jury of Kashyap, actor Mia Wasikowska (Australia), film curator and journalist Dorothee Wenner (Germany), writer and director Larissa Behrendt (Australia) and filmmaker Visakesa Chandrasekaram (Australia – Sri...
The jury, headed by Anurag Kashyap, called the Asmae El Moudir-directed film “audacious, cutting-edge and courageous.” It presented the A$60,000 cash prize film ahead at the State Theatre ahead of the Australian premiere screening of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”
The film, which uses doll-like figurines, recently premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes, where it earned the section’s best director prize. “Juxtaposing evidence from barely existent public materials with private family memory, this film reconstructs the history of the state, the family and the individual, in three distinct levels,” said the jury of Kashyap, actor Mia Wasikowska (Australia), film curator and journalist Dorothee Wenner (Germany), writer and director Larissa Behrendt (Australia) and filmmaker Visakesa Chandrasekaram (Australia – Sri...
- 6/19/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Women Wolves
Netflix is to launch a new Japanese reality show “Is She the Wolf?” which was developed with broadcaster Abema and adapted from the original show “Who Is the Wolf” which previously ran for 13 seasons. The show follows five men and five women on a quest for love through dates and a group project. However, some female participants are “lying wolves” who cannot fall in love. They must navigate the entire season without being discovered or accepting any declarations of love. It includes a diverse group of participants aged 22 to 32, including actors, artists, models, and athletes.
“Is She the Wolf?” streams exclusively on Netflix in Japan beginning June 11, with new episodes streaming each Sunday. Outside Japan, all episodes will be released on Netflix in September 2023.
A trailer can be seen here:
Jury Duty
Indian multihyphenate Anurag Kashyap will head the main competition jury at the Sydney Film Festival, which...
Netflix is to launch a new Japanese reality show “Is She the Wolf?” which was developed with broadcaster Abema and adapted from the original show “Who Is the Wolf” which previously ran for 13 seasons. The show follows five men and five women on a quest for love through dates and a group project. However, some female participants are “lying wolves” who cannot fall in love. They must navigate the entire season without being discovered or accepting any declarations of love. It includes a diverse group of participants aged 22 to 32, including actors, artists, models, and athletes.
“Is She the Wolf?” streams exclusively on Netflix in Japan beginning June 11, with new episodes streaming each Sunday. Outside Japan, all episodes will be released on Netflix in September 2023.
A trailer can be seen here:
Jury Duty
Indian multihyphenate Anurag Kashyap will head the main competition jury at the Sydney Film Festival, which...
- 6/2/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
"He has a passion for art, but a love for protests." Madman Films in Australia has revealed a trailer for a documentary film called You Can Go Now, from filmmaker Larissa Behrendt. Covering fifty years of First Nations activism in Australia through the lens of contemporary artist and provocateur Richard Bell. The film recently premiered at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival in Australia, with no international release or premiere confirmed yet. The festival adds more context to the story of Bell: "Through this collaboration with Emory Douglas, a Black Panther known as the ‘Revolutionary Artist’ Bell's work links the fight for rights in Australia and the U.S. He has profoundly challenged the Australian art world with his scorching manifesto, Bell's Theorem [more here], that labelled the Aboriginal Art industry as ‘a white thing’ defined by colonial power structures that profit most from it. At a time when Australia is contemplating voice, truth and treaty,...
- 11/20/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Indonesian thriller ‘Autobiography’ and Mexican documentary ‘Sanson And Me’ among line-up.
Australia’s Adelaide Film Festival (Oct 19-30) has unveiled its first line-up since shifting from a biennial to an annual event, including 12 titles in competition.
This year’s event comprises 129 films, of which 22 world premieres, from more than 40 countries.
The competition features include Indonesian thriller Autobiography, which scooped a Fipresci prize at the weekend after playing in the Horizons strand of the Venice Film Festival. The debut feature of film critic-turned-director Makbul Mubarak is about a young man who keeps house for a retired general, finding himself torn between...
Australia’s Adelaide Film Festival (Oct 19-30) has unveiled its first line-up since shifting from a biennial to an annual event, including 12 titles in competition.
This year’s event comprises 129 films, of which 22 world premieres, from more than 40 countries.
The competition features include Indonesian thriller Autobiography, which scooped a Fipresci prize at the weekend after playing in the Horizons strand of the Venice Film Festival. The debut feature of film critic-turned-director Makbul Mubarak is about a young man who keeps house for a retired general, finding himself torn between...
- 9/12/2022
- by Sandy George
- ScreenDaily
A French comedy following an oddball duo on an unconventional road trip and an Australian documentary about four refugees that compete in the World Wine Blind Tasting Championships have topped the audience awards at this year’s Sydney Film Festival.
Bernard Campan and Alexandre Jollien’s Beautiful Minds and Robert Coe and Warwick Ross’ Blind Ambition were voted number one feature film and documentary respectively, following the announcement of the official awards on Sunday.
Inspired by the real-life experiences of Jollien, Beautiful Minds details an unlikely friendship between workaholic funeral director Louis (Campan) and Igor (Jollien), a grocery worker with cerebral palsy, as a chance encounter leads them on a journey across France, during which they discuss everything from Nietzsche to being pigeon-holed.
France also features heavily in Blind Ambition as the setting for World Wine Blind Tasting Championships that Zimbabweans Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin, and Pardon set out to attend.
Bernard Campan and Alexandre Jollien’s Beautiful Minds and Robert Coe and Warwick Ross’ Blind Ambition were voted number one feature film and documentary respectively, following the announcement of the official awards on Sunday.
Inspired by the real-life experiences of Jollien, Beautiful Minds details an unlikely friendship between workaholic funeral director Louis (Campan) and Igor (Jollien), a grocery worker with cerebral palsy, as a chance encounter leads them on a journey across France, during which they discuss everything from Nietzsche to being pigeon-holed.
France also features heavily in Blind Ambition as the setting for World Wine Blind Tasting Championships that Zimbabweans Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin, and Pardon set out to attend.
- 11/16/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
A spirit of optimism pervades this compelling film about trying to create an Indigenous Australian haka
It’s been a wonderful year for documentaries about Indigenous Australian artists, with Firestarter: Story of Bangarra charting the evolution of the magical Bangarra Dance Theatre and My Name is Gulpilil presenting a portrait, in the spirit of a living wake, of the great Yolŋu actor David Gulpilil.
Now comes director Larissa Behrendt’s Araatika: Rise Up! – which isn’t about artists per se but certainly about creative expression, poised at the intersection of art and sport, following a group of Nrl players as they create the First Nations equivalent of a haka.
It’s been a wonderful year for documentaries about Indigenous Australian artists, with Firestarter: Story of Bangarra charting the evolution of the magical Bangarra Dance Theatre and My Name is Gulpilil presenting a portrait, in the spirit of a living wake, of the great Yolŋu actor David Gulpilil.
Now comes director Larissa Behrendt’s Araatika: Rise Up! – which isn’t about artists per se but certainly about creative expression, poised at the intersection of art and sport, following a group of Nrl players as they create the First Nations equivalent of a haka.
- 11/15/2021
- by Luke Buckmaster
- The Guardian - Film News
Screen Australia has unveiled 13 titles that will share in $3.7 million of production funding, with six documentaries to be supported through the Producer Program and seven projects via the Commissioned Program.
They include a feature documentary from Stranger Than Fiction that follows an Indigenous figure skater from Western Sydney, Harley Windsor, on his quest to compete in the Winter Olympics; a series going inside the Sydney Opera House for the ABC; and a feature documentary about a grandmother with dementia who became an internet sensation in Everybody’s Oma.
Screen Australia head of documentary Alex West said the documentaries were a testament to the talented filmmakers creating local stories with great impact.
“These projects will explore contemporary social issues including how First Nations artist Richard Bell’s work uses art to effect change in War & Order, as well as the complexities of teen parenting in Kids Raising Kids,” he said.
“They...
They include a feature documentary from Stranger Than Fiction that follows an Indigenous figure skater from Western Sydney, Harley Windsor, on his quest to compete in the Winter Olympics; a series going inside the Sydney Opera House for the ABC; and a feature documentary about a grandmother with dementia who became an internet sensation in Everybody’s Oma.
Screen Australia head of documentary Alex West said the documentaries were a testament to the talented filmmakers creating local stories with great impact.
“These projects will explore contemporary social issues including how First Nations artist Richard Bell’s work uses art to effect change in War & Order, as well as the complexities of teen parenting in Kids Raising Kids,” he said.
“They...
- 11/2/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
The second season of Total Control will launch on the ABC November 7.
In the first season, political newcomer Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman) engineered a coup against Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate.
In season two, both Alex and Rachel find themselves treading different political paths. After being dumped by her own party, Rachel relies on strategist Nick Pearce (Alex Dimitriades) to guide her political ambitions, while Alex finds herself surrounded by a new team, led by her brother Charlie (Rob Collins). But politics can be a nasty business. Will Alex’s determination and the tenacity of her grass-roots driven team be enough? Can she survive a system determined to shake everything she values? And can these political adversaries become political allies?
Reprising their roles in the Blackfella Films series are Rob Collins, Wes Patten, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson and Lisa Flanagan,...
In the first season, political newcomer Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman) engineered a coup against Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate.
In season two, both Alex and Rachel find themselves treading different political paths. After being dumped by her own party, Rachel relies on strategist Nick Pearce (Alex Dimitriades) to guide her political ambitions, while Alex finds herself surrounded by a new team, led by her brother Charlie (Rob Collins). But politics can be a nasty business. Will Alex’s determination and the tenacity of her grass-roots driven team be enough? Can she survive a system determined to shake everything she values? And can these political adversaries become political allies?
Reprising their roles in the Blackfella Films series are Rob Collins, Wes Patten, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson and Lisa Flanagan,...
- 10/7/2021
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Larissa Behrendt’s documentary Araatika: Rise Up!, to make its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival, explores how a group of Nrl greats came together to invent a new pre-game ceremony in response to the Maori Haka – one that could celebrate First Nation cultures.
After fellow Indigenous players Preston Campbell, Timana Tahu and George Rose devised their own pre-game performance, Dean Widders began a journey to bring this dance – and First Nations pride more broadly – to the game.
So far, his advocacy has garnered support from the Indigenous All Stars league, but his dream is to have Australia’s national team adopt this unifying battle cry.
Araatika: Rise Up! will be released theatrically via Madman Entertainment, before airing on Nitv. It is produced by Sam Griffin for Eq Media Group, and executive produced by Brendan Dahill and Paul Wiegard. Financed with support Screen Australia, Screen Nsw and the Nrl.
After fellow Indigenous players Preston Campbell, Timana Tahu and George Rose devised their own pre-game performance, Dean Widders began a journey to bring this dance – and First Nations pride more broadly – to the game.
So far, his advocacy has garnered support from the Indigenous All Stars league, but his dream is to have Australia’s national team adopt this unifying battle cry.
Araatika: Rise Up! will be released theatrically via Madman Entertainment, before airing on Nitv. It is produced by Sam Griffin for Eq Media Group, and executive produced by Brendan Dahill and Paul Wiegard. Financed with support Screen Australia, Screen Nsw and the Nrl.
- 7/29/2021
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Jen Peedom’s River and Ben Lawrence’s Ithaka add to the already strong contingent of local films bound for August’s Melbourne International Film Festival, which unveiled its full program today.
Miff 2021 will include a hefty 283 titles, including 199 features, 84 shorts and 10 Xr experiences. Among them are 40 world premieres; the most in the festival’s 69 year history.
Some 62 of those films will be available nationally via Miff Play, the festival’s online screening platform, with the festival reimagined this year as a hybrid event.
“This year, Miff continues to evolve — to meet the moment, and to meet audiences where they are,” said artistic director Al Cossar.
“What will not change is the extraordinary lineup of cinematic adventures, from home and afar, waiting for them. These are anticipated festival blockbusters, experimentations, breakthrough discoveries, and a huge lineup of incredible Australian talent. We will again share a world of cinema, reignited, to...
Miff 2021 will include a hefty 283 titles, including 199 features, 84 shorts and 10 Xr experiences. Among them are 40 world premieres; the most in the festival’s 69 year history.
Some 62 of those films will be available nationally via Miff Play, the festival’s online screening platform, with the festival reimagined this year as a hybrid event.
“This year, Miff continues to evolve — to meet the moment, and to meet audiences where they are,” said artistic director Al Cossar.
“What will not change is the extraordinary lineup of cinematic adventures, from home and afar, waiting for them. These are anticipated festival blockbusters, experimentations, breakthrough discoveries, and a huge lineup of incredible Australian talent. We will again share a world of cinema, reignited, to...
- 7/12/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
This year’s Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff) promises the Australian premieres of highly anticipated local features such as Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson and Justin Kurzel’s Nitram.
Miff unveiled the first slate of projects for its 69th iteration today, which sees it return to cinemas, with the full line-up to be announced July 13.
Purcell’s debut feature, which premiered at SXSW, will form the Opening Night Gala – marking the first time a film from an Indigenous female director has opened the event in its history.
“Leah Purcell’s monumental feature The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson will not just open Miff this year – it will kick the doors in,” said Miff artistic director Al Cossar.
“This is a film made for Miff’s return to cinema – an outback western of grand vision; a resonant, revisionist force of filmmaking that...
Miff unveiled the first slate of projects for its 69th iteration today, which sees it return to cinemas, with the full line-up to be announced July 13.
Purcell’s debut feature, which premiered at SXSW, will form the Opening Night Gala – marking the first time a film from an Indigenous female director has opened the event in its history.
“Leah Purcell’s monumental feature The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson will not just open Miff this year – it will kick the doors in,” said Miff artistic director Al Cossar.
“This is a film made for Miff’s return to cinema – an outback western of grand vision; a resonant, revisionist force of filmmaking that...
- 6/16/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths will be joined on screen by a host of new faces for the second season of the ABC/Blackfella Films’ Total Control, including Wayne Blair, who will also direct all six episodes.
Steph Tisdell stars in her first dramatic role, alongside other new cast members such as Alex Dimitriades, Colin Friels, Harry Greenwood, Rob Carlton, Daniella Farinacci, Brenna Harding, Benedict Hardie, and Anita Hegh.
Returning are Rob Collins, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson, Wes Patten, Lisa Flanagan and Harry Richardson.
Filming is currently underway, with production to take place across Sydney; Canberra, including at Parliament House, and Broken Hill.
The first season of the multiple Aacta Award-winning drama saw political newcomer Alex Irving (Mailman) engineer a coup against Rachel Anderson (Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate.
Season two sees Alex running as an independent. She’ll be ready for the...
Steph Tisdell stars in her first dramatic role, alongside other new cast members such as Alex Dimitriades, Colin Friels, Harry Greenwood, Rob Carlton, Daniella Farinacci, Brenna Harding, Benedict Hardie, and Anita Hegh.
Returning are Rob Collins, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson, Wes Patten, Lisa Flanagan and Harry Richardson.
Filming is currently underway, with production to take place across Sydney; Canberra, including at Parliament House, and Broken Hill.
The first season of the multiple Aacta Award-winning drama saw political newcomer Alex Irving (Mailman) engineer a coup against Rachel Anderson (Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate.
Season two sees Alex running as an independent. She’ll be ready for the...
- 3/25/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
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
Blackfella Films documentary Maralinga Tjarutja is the winner of the 2020 Screen Diversity Inclusion Network (Sdin) Award.
The Sdin Award was created to honour Australian producers and projects which have made a significant contribution to diversity and inclusion, on and off screen.
Maralinga Tjarutja was as the winner announced this morning by Sdin co-chair Benjamin Law during a session at Screen Forever.
Maralinga Tjarutja land, located in regional South Australia, was used for the British Nuclear Test Program between 1953 and 1963. The Maralinga Tjarutja people, who have lived on the land for 60,000 years, fought for the clean-up of contamination, for compensation and for the handback in 2009 of the Maralinga Village and test sites.
The ABC one-off documentary, directed by Larissa Behrendt and produced by Darren Dale, tells this story and that of colonisation and dispossession through the eyes of the Maralinga Tjarutja people.
“Maralinga Tjarutja gave voice to the Maralinga people to...
The Sdin Award was created to honour Australian producers and projects which have made a significant contribution to diversity and inclusion, on and off screen.
Maralinga Tjarutja was as the winner announced this morning by Sdin co-chair Benjamin Law during a session at Screen Forever.
Maralinga Tjarutja land, located in regional South Australia, was used for the British Nuclear Test Program between 1953 and 1963. The Maralinga Tjarutja people, who have lived on the land for 60,000 years, fought for the clean-up of contamination, for compensation and for the handback in 2009 of the Maralinga Village and test sites.
The ABC one-off documentary, directed by Larissa Behrendt and produced by Darren Dale, tells this story and that of colonisation and dispossession through the eyes of the Maralinga Tjarutja people.
“Maralinga Tjarutja gave voice to the Maralinga people to...
- 2/17/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Pursekey Productions director and principal producer Michaela Perske is the Australian International Documentary Conference (Aidc) Stanley Hawes Award recipient for 2021.
Perske’s recognition was announced today alongside the 20 nominees for the inaugural Aidc awards.
Designed to recognise the “outstanding completed works of new Australian documentary and factual content”, the awards will be presented in person across eight cities, as well as livestreamed to Aidc delegates.
Originally trained as a journalist, Perske has over 20 years of media experience across radio, print and TV.
Since turning her hand to factual content, she has produced films including Girls Can’t Surf, Black Divaz, After the Apology, and Destination Arnold.
In announcing the award, the Aidc said it wanted to acknowledge “her outstanding contribution to the Australian documentary and factual sector”.
Australian practitioners had the opportunity to submit across six categories for the Aidc Awards: Best Feature Documentary, with a $5,000 cash prize presented by Doc...
Perske’s recognition was announced today alongside the 20 nominees for the inaugural Aidc awards.
Designed to recognise the “outstanding completed works of new Australian documentary and factual content”, the awards will be presented in person across eight cities, as well as livestreamed to Aidc delegates.
Originally trained as a journalist, Perske has over 20 years of media experience across radio, print and TV.
Since turning her hand to factual content, she has produced films including Girls Can’t Surf, Black Divaz, After the Apology, and Destination Arnold.
In announcing the award, the Aidc said it wanted to acknowledge “her outstanding contribution to the Australian documentary and factual sector”.
Australian practitioners had the opportunity to submit across six categories for the Aidc Awards: Best Feature Documentary, with a $5,000 cash prize presented by Doc...
- 2/10/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Jane Campion, Larissa Behrendt and Baz Luhrmann helm some of next year’s big releases, with stars including Zac Efron, Naomi Watts and Elisabeth Moss
With the taste of Christmas lunch and festive beverages still lingering on our palettes, it’s time to embrace the possibilities of the new year and wash away memories of that rotten old 2020. In that spirit, here are 10 Australian films to look forward to that are slated for release in 2021.
Many more productions are in the works, of course, so this list is not exhaustive; think of it as a taste of what’s to come.
With the taste of Christmas lunch and festive beverages still lingering on our palettes, it’s time to embrace the possibilities of the new year and wash away memories of that rotten old 2020. In that spirit, here are 10 Australian films to look forward to that are slated for release in 2021.
Many more productions are in the works, of course, so this list is not exhaustive; think of it as a taste of what’s to come.
- 12/25/2020
- by Luke Buckmaster
- The Guardian - Film News
Cate Blanchett-produced mini series “Stateless” and Shannon Murphy’s feature film directing debut “Babyteeth” dominated proceedings at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (Aacta Awards).
At a ceremony on Monday night at The Star in Sydney, immigration drama “Stateless” grabbed 13 awards including best telefeature or miniseries, best screenplay in television and all four acting awards across television drama. Outback detective series, “Mystery Road” was named best drama. In film, “Babyteeth” received nine awards on Monday including best film and best direction for Murphy.
Neither Russell Crowe, recently named as president of Aacta, nor Nicole Kidman, appointed as VP, were able to attend. Crowe however sent a video message that encouraged ambition, spoke of green shoots both after the wildfires and the Covid crisis, and hope that the recent production sector recovery can be made sustainable.
“I want to encourage the federal government to use this time...
At a ceremony on Monday night at The Star in Sydney, immigration drama “Stateless” grabbed 13 awards including best telefeature or miniseries, best screenplay in television and all four acting awards across television drama. Outback detective series, “Mystery Road” was named best drama. In film, “Babyteeth” received nine awards on Monday including best film and best direction for Murphy.
Neither Russell Crowe, recently named as president of Aacta, nor Nicole Kidman, appointed as VP, were able to attend. Crowe however sent a video message that encouraged ambition, spoke of green shoots both after the wildfires and the Covid crisis, and hope that the recent production sector recovery can be made sustainable.
“I want to encourage the federal government to use this time...
- 11/30/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Matchbox Pictures/Dirty Films’ Stateless dominated the Aacta Industry Awards on Friday evening, scooping up all of the television drama prizes.
The six gongs the ABC production received were for: cinematography, for the work of Bonnie Elliott; costume design, to Mariot Kerr; editing, to Mark Atkin; production design, to Melinda Doring; score, to composer Cornel Wilczek, and sound, going to Tom Heuzenroeder, Pete Smith, Michael Darren and Des Kenneally.
This year’s craft and technical awards were a little different thanks to Covid-19, presented virtually in a ceremony hosted by Claire Hooper.
Presenters included Rachel Griffiths, Ed Kavalee, Rhys Nicholson, Dilruk Jayasinha, Celia Pacquola and Bernard Curry.
In film, The Invisible Man and True History of the Kelly Gang each scooped three awards, and Babyteeth two.
Kirsty McGregor and Stevie Ray took home Best Casting for assembling the cast of Babyteeth, which boasts Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Ben Mendelsohn and Essie Davis.
The six gongs the ABC production received were for: cinematography, for the work of Bonnie Elliott; costume design, to Mariot Kerr; editing, to Mark Atkin; production design, to Melinda Doring; score, to composer Cornel Wilczek, and sound, going to Tom Heuzenroeder, Pete Smith, Michael Darren and Des Kenneally.
This year’s craft and technical awards were a little different thanks to Covid-19, presented virtually in a ceremony hosted by Claire Hooper.
Presenters included Rachel Griffiths, Ed Kavalee, Rhys Nicholson, Dilruk Jayasinha, Celia Pacquola and Bernard Curry.
In film, The Invisible Man and True History of the Kelly Gang each scooped three awards, and Babyteeth two.
Kirsty McGregor and Stevie Ray took home Best Casting for assembling the cast of Babyteeth, which boasts Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Ben Mendelsohn and Essie Davis.
- 11/27/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
So hefty is the ABC’s slate in 2021, director entertainment and specialist Michael Carrington is confident audiences won’t even realise that many of the broadcaster’s productions faced shutdowns and delays during the pandemic.
As announced at the ABC’s upfronts this afternoon, the line-up for the new year includes new dramas Fires and The Newsreader, new comedies Fisk and Preppers, as well as the return of Total Control, Frayed, Jack Irish, Harrow and Superwog.
2021 will also see the premiere of Jungle Entertainment’s mental health drama Wakefield, with all eps planned to drop on ABC iview.
Also on the line-up is Closer Productions’ chef comedy Aftertaste, starring Erik Thomson, Natalie Abbott and Rachel Griffiths, and feature anthology Here Out West, penned by a group of emerging writers from Western Sydney.
“Seven or eight months ago we were in full production and overnight we stopped production all around Australia,...
As announced at the ABC’s upfronts this afternoon, the line-up for the new year includes new dramas Fires and The Newsreader, new comedies Fisk and Preppers, as well as the return of Total Control, Frayed, Jack Irish, Harrow and Superwog.
2021 will also see the premiere of Jungle Entertainment’s mental health drama Wakefield, with all eps planned to drop on ABC iview.
Also on the line-up is Closer Productions’ chef comedy Aftertaste, starring Erik Thomson, Natalie Abbott and Rachel Griffiths, and feature anthology Here Out West, penned by a group of emerging writers from Western Sydney.
“Seven or eight months ago we were in full production and overnight we stopped production all around Australia,...
- 11/25/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Greg Quail and Jesse Fawcett.
Greg Quail and Jesse Fawcett have re-branded their trans-national production company Essential Media and Entertainment as the Eq Media Group and are boosting their slate of unscripted and scripted content.
With development and production hubs in Los Angeles, Sydney, Dallas, Vancouver and Auckland, Eq Media Group has a core staff of 40, with a current run-of-show employee count of 70.
Quail and Fawcett bought the Essential companies in March from the collapsed Kew Media Group.
President and executive producer Fawcett said: “We have focused on staff retention and are proud to say we haven’t lost any employees. Our team’s focus on content development has now tripled our production slate with further North American show announcements in the pipeline.”
CEO and executive producer Quail said the name Eq was chosen to signify Emotional Quotient or Emotional Intelligence, the elements which they say drive the best storytelling.
Greg Quail and Jesse Fawcett have re-branded their trans-national production company Essential Media and Entertainment as the Eq Media Group and are boosting their slate of unscripted and scripted content.
With development and production hubs in Los Angeles, Sydney, Dallas, Vancouver and Auckland, Eq Media Group has a core staff of 40, with a current run-of-show employee count of 70.
Quail and Fawcett bought the Essential companies in March from the collapsed Kew Media Group.
President and executive producer Fawcett said: “We have focused on staff retention and are proud to say we haven’t lost any employees. Our team’s focus on content development has now tripled our production slate with further North American show announcements in the pipeline.”
CEO and executive producer Quail said the name Eq was chosen to signify Emotional Quotient or Emotional Intelligence, the elements which they say drive the best storytelling.
- 8/6/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Dean Widders.
With support from Screen Australia, Nitv has commissioned Nrl feature documentary The Fight Together, directed by Larissa Behrendt and produced by Sam Griffin for Essential Media.
The film will document how a group of Nrl greats came together to invent a new pre-game ceremony in response to the Maori Haka – one that could celebrate Aboriginal cultures and help to counter racism in rugby league.
Specifically, The Fight Together follows Nrl star Dean Widders’ journey to make that happen. His efforts have already culminated in the new Indigenous war cry being added to the start of the 2019 Nrl Indigenous All Stars – the first step in Widders aim to see the Australian Kangaroos perform the dance before their test matches.
The film will feature other Nrl greats Timana Tahu, Preston Campbell and George Rose, as well as Stan Grant, Adam Goodes and Russell Crowe.
The Fight Together will receive a theatrical release via Madman Entertainment,...
With support from Screen Australia, Nitv has commissioned Nrl feature documentary The Fight Together, directed by Larissa Behrendt and produced by Sam Griffin for Essential Media.
The film will document how a group of Nrl greats came together to invent a new pre-game ceremony in response to the Maori Haka – one that could celebrate Aboriginal cultures and help to counter racism in rugby league.
Specifically, The Fight Together follows Nrl star Dean Widders’ journey to make that happen. His efforts have already culminated in the new Indigenous war cry being added to the start of the 2019 Nrl Indigenous All Stars – the first step in Widders aim to see the Australian Kangaroos perform the dance before their test matches.
The film will feature other Nrl greats Timana Tahu, Preston Campbell and George Rose, as well as Stan Grant, Adam Goodes and Russell Crowe.
The Fight Together will receive a theatrical release via Madman Entertainment,...
- 7/16/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
For Charmaine Bingwa, the last eight minutes and 46 seconds of George Floyd’s life under the knee of a white cop is a powerful reminder to people everywhere to check their biases and consider the implications of what they are saying or silently condoning.
As an Indigenous woman, Larissa Behrendt felt a personal connection to police brutality in the Us, drawing a parallel with the death of David Dungay and more than 430 other Aboriginal deaths in custody since the 1991 Royal Commission.
Gemma Bird Matheson suggests five ways in which a white person can deal with guilt, including telling white friends how he or she is contributing to anti-blackness and white supremacy; learning about Australia’s black history; and donating to families of First Nations who have suffered at the hands of Australian police.
Striking a similar tone, Eka Darville declares: “White Australia now it’s your turn – it starts with you.
As an Indigenous woman, Larissa Behrendt felt a personal connection to police brutality in the Us, drawing a parallel with the death of David Dungay and more than 430 other Aboriginal deaths in custody since the 1991 Royal Commission.
Gemma Bird Matheson suggests five ways in which a white person can deal with guilt, including telling white friends how he or she is contributing to anti-blackness and white supremacy; learning about Australia’s black history; and donating to families of First Nations who have suffered at the hands of Australian police.
Striking a similar tone, Eka Darville declares: “White Australia now it’s your turn – it starts with you.
- 6/14/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Top: Larissa Behrendt, Mitchell Stanley. Bottom: Lucy Hayes, Nora Niasari.
Writer/directors Nora Niasari and Larissa Behrendt and producers Lucy Hayes and Mitchell Stanley have been selected to participate in Australians in Film (AiF) and Screen Australia’s Mentor La program.
The participants will be matched mentors writer Luke Davies director Alethea Jones, Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian and director of creative development, Columbia Pictures Jiao Chen (Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Unchartered).
Each participant will receive four one-hour sessions with their mentor; three online, and one face-to-face in Los Angeles once international travel restrictions are lifted. Each receives return airfares, and living expenses for five days in La.
The meetings are designed to provide recipients with personalised, first-hand experience of the challenges and knowledge these mentors have learnt from working in the highly competitive Hollywood system. The knowledge provided will help not only bolster their careers, but the professional capacity of the broader Australian screen sector.
Writer/directors Nora Niasari and Larissa Behrendt and producers Lucy Hayes and Mitchell Stanley have been selected to participate in Australians in Film (AiF) and Screen Australia’s Mentor La program.
The participants will be matched mentors writer Luke Davies director Alethea Jones, Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian and director of creative development, Columbia Pictures Jiao Chen (Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Unchartered).
Each participant will receive four one-hour sessions with their mentor; three online, and one face-to-face in Los Angeles once international travel restrictions are lifted. Each receives return airfares, and living expenses for five days in La.
The meetings are designed to provide recipients with personalised, first-hand experience of the challenges and knowledge these mentors have learnt from working in the highly competitive Hollywood system. The knowledge provided will help not only bolster their careers, but the professional capacity of the broader Australian screen sector.
- 6/9/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Prince Albert II with Alick Tipoti (© Monaco Expeditions/Ariel Fuchs).
Screen Australia’s Indigenous department is contributing $745,000 in production funding to four documentary projects including two for Nitv and one for the ABC.
Co-funded by Stan, Freshwater Pictures’ Alick and Albert looks at the unlikely friendship between art activist Alick Tipoti and Prince Albert of Monaco.
Commissioned by Nitv, Tamarind Tree Pictures and Roar Film’s Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky is billed as a fresh, funny and provocative look at Captain Cook’s arrival from a First Nations’ perspective.
Also for Nitv, Kalori Productions and Jotz Productions’ feature documentary Kindred explores friendship, adoption and belonging through the relationship between filmmakers Gillian Moody and Adrian Russell Wills.
Commissioned by the ABC, Blackfella Films’ Maralinga Tjarutja will chronicle the history of the Maralinga Tjarutja people and the impact the British nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s had on their land and community.
Screen Australia’s Indigenous department is contributing $745,000 in production funding to four documentary projects including two for Nitv and one for the ABC.
Co-funded by Stan, Freshwater Pictures’ Alick and Albert looks at the unlikely friendship between art activist Alick Tipoti and Prince Albert of Monaco.
Commissioned by Nitv, Tamarind Tree Pictures and Roar Film’s Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky is billed as a fresh, funny and provocative look at Captain Cook’s arrival from a First Nations’ perspective.
Also for Nitv, Kalori Productions and Jotz Productions’ feature documentary Kindred explores friendship, adoption and belonging through the relationship between filmmakers Gillian Moody and Adrian Russell Wills.
Commissioned by the ABC, Blackfella Films’ Maralinga Tjarutja will chronicle the history of the Maralinga Tjarutja people and the impact the British nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s had on their land and community.
- 3/25/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘No Visible Trauma’.
The Australian International Documentary Conference (Aidc) has announced 18 feature documentary and factual series projects that take part in its revamped FACTory pitching forum in March.
This year the FACTory will feature separate Forum pitches divided by genre categories, alongside a New Talent pitch, and a Rough Cut pitch.
The restructure has resulted in the largest ever number of FACTory projects accepted for pitching, with 18 projects spanning 12 different countries of production, including Canada, China, and India.
Producer and director teams in each Forum category and the New Talent pitch will present their projects in open forum sessions to curated groups of buyers, commissioners and distributors during Aidc 2020. Forum and New Talent pitches will be open to all Aidc pass-holders, while Rough Cut sessions will be accessible by decision makers only.
All projects in FACTory 2020 will also be eligible to win pitch prizes, including:
● A complete opening titles...
The Australian International Documentary Conference (Aidc) has announced 18 feature documentary and factual series projects that take part in its revamped FACTory pitching forum in March.
This year the FACTory will feature separate Forum pitches divided by genre categories, alongside a New Talent pitch, and a Rough Cut pitch.
The restructure has resulted in the largest ever number of FACTory projects accepted for pitching, with 18 projects spanning 12 different countries of production, including Canada, China, and India.
Producer and director teams in each Forum category and the New Talent pitch will present their projects in open forum sessions to curated groups of buyers, commissioners and distributors during Aidc 2020. Forum and New Talent pitches will be open to all Aidc pass-holders, while Rough Cut sessions will be accessible by decision makers only.
All projects in FACTory 2020 will also be eligible to win pitch prizes, including:
● A complete opening titles...
- 1/22/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson (Photo: Fran Moore).
Screen Australia has announced $1.9 million in production funding for 10 documentaries through the Producer program and one through the Commissioned program.
The slate includes a feature documentary celebrating fashion designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson; a three-part exploration of contemporary Indigenous art from Wildbear/Frame Up Films; and a new series from Northern Pictures for Sbs about domestic violence in Australia.
Head of documentary Bernadine Lim said: “We are thrilled to support these documentaries from around the country, with stories that celebrate iconic Australians including retailer Franco Cozzo, designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, and tennis champion Jelena Dokic.”
“This slate is set to shine a light on crucial and timely issues of family violence and the environment, and explore art and science through innovative storytelling technology.”
Producer Program projects:
Art of Australia and the Pacific (working title): A three-part series from...
Screen Australia has announced $1.9 million in production funding for 10 documentaries through the Producer program and one through the Commissioned program.
The slate includes a feature documentary celebrating fashion designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson; a three-part exploration of contemporary Indigenous art from Wildbear/Frame Up Films; and a new series from Northern Pictures for Sbs about domestic violence in Australia.
Head of documentary Bernadine Lim said: “We are thrilled to support these documentaries from around the country, with stories that celebrate iconic Australians including retailer Franco Cozzo, designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, and tennis champion Jelena Dokic.”
“This slate is set to shine a light on crucial and timely issues of family violence and the environment, and explore art and science through innovative storytelling technology.”
Producer Program projects:
Art of Australia and the Pacific (working title): A three-part series from...
- 12/10/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge.’
Two climate change documentaries fronted by Craig Reucassel, a factual entertainment series which looks at public shaming and teetotaller Shaun Micallef’s expose on the effects of alcohol will premiere on the ABC next year.
Among the other highlights of the 2020 schedule unveiled today, Blackfella Films will chronicle how the Maralinga Tjarutja people overcame the 1950s nuclear weapon tests and WildBear Entertainment will deliver documentaries detailing threats to humanity and ground-breaking scientific advances.
Flying Kite Pictures and Sticky Pictures are co-producing the 10-part series Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors?, which sees children leave their modern comforts and spend 24 hours re-creating the lives of kids from another era.
Created and produced by Vanna Morisini, the series will celebrate the diversity of Australia’s shared history. At the end of each episode viewers will find out if the kids were up to the task.
Two climate change documentaries fronted by Craig Reucassel, a factual entertainment series which looks at public shaming and teetotaller Shaun Micallef’s expose on the effects of alcohol will premiere on the ABC next year.
Among the other highlights of the 2020 schedule unveiled today, Blackfella Films will chronicle how the Maralinga Tjarutja people overcame the 1950s nuclear weapon tests and WildBear Entertainment will deliver documentaries detailing threats to humanity and ground-breaking scientific advances.
Flying Kite Pictures and Sticky Pictures are co-producing the 10-part series Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors?, which sees children leave their modern comforts and spend 24 hours re-creating the lives of kids from another era.
Created and produced by Vanna Morisini, the series will celebrate the diversity of Australia’s shared history. At the end of each episode viewers will find out if the kids were up to the task.
- 11/7/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Screen Producers Australia has named the 12 members of the Screen Forever advisory board for this year’s event, including chair Bunya Productions CEO Sophia Zachariou.
Among the other members are Netflix’s newly appointed Australian head of public policy and government affairs, Nick O’Donnell, Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher, Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira and Screen Australia head of Indigenous Penny Smallacombe and head of documentary Bernadine Lim.
The board helps to set the strategic of the conference, and according to a statement, aids in the creation of “an engaging, inspirational and business-focused program that reflects the broad spectrum of modern Australian screen content in a time when the industry is in a state of flux.”
“Each year around 850 delegates travel from over a dozen countries to do business on the Screen Forever floor. In the current regulatory and economic climate, the importance of an event that allows the...
Among the other members are Netflix’s newly appointed Australian head of public policy and government affairs, Nick O’Donnell, Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher, Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira and Screen Australia head of Indigenous Penny Smallacombe and head of documentary Bernadine Lim.
The board helps to set the strategic of the conference, and according to a statement, aids in the creation of “an engaging, inspirational and business-focused program that reflects the broad spectrum of modern Australian screen content in a time when the industry is in a state of flux.”
“Each year around 850 delegates travel from over a dozen countries to do business on the Screen Forever floor. In the current regulatory and economic climate, the importance of an event that allows the...
- 7/5/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
The AFI Docs Festival has selected the Steven Bognar-Julia Reichert documentary “American Factory” as its centerpiece film, screening on June 21.
The event will take place at the Warner Bros. Theater at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
“American Factory” centers on the aftermath of the 2014 purchase of a General Motors plant in Dayton, Ohio, which had closed in 2008. A Chinese billionaire reopened the facility as Fuyao Glass America, with the promise of giving work to more than 2,000 local residents, along with bringing hundreds of Chinese workers to Ohio. Tensions mount among the Americans due to low wages and concerns about safety.
The festival revealed its full slate of films Wednesday for the 2019 edition, the 17th year, with 72 films representing 17 countries. The festival runs June 19–23 in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, Md.
As previously announced, the festival will open with the world premiere of...
The event will take place at the Warner Bros. Theater at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
“American Factory” centers on the aftermath of the 2014 purchase of a General Motors plant in Dayton, Ohio, which had closed in 2008. A Chinese billionaire reopened the facility as Fuyao Glass America, with the promise of giving work to more than 2,000 local residents, along with bringing hundreds of Chinese workers to Ohio. Tensions mount among the Americans due to low wages and concerns about safety.
The festival revealed its full slate of films Wednesday for the 2019 edition, the 17th year, with 72 films representing 17 countries. The festival runs June 19–23 in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, Md.
As previously announced, the festival will open with the world premiere of...
- 5/15/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Seac co-chair Simon Crean.
Screen Producers Australia (Spa) has established the Screen Export Advisory Council (Seac) with the aim to promote and advance the export potential of the Australia screen industry.
The council will be co-chaired by former Labor leader and Arts and Trade Minister Simon Crean and former Nsw Minister for Tourism and former trade commissioner in Germany and New York Bruce Baird.
Seac co-chair Bruce Baird.
Other members include:
Alina Bain, CEO, Export Council of Australia; Barbara Stephens, managing director, Flying Bark and vice-president of Spa; Bryan Brown, Australian actor and founder, New Town Films; Emile Sherman, founder, See Saw Films; Fiona de Jong, head of Australia’s nation brand, Austrade; Larissa Behrendt, filmmaker and Indigenous business leader, Lavarch Productions; and Russel Howcroft, chair of Aftrs and chief creative officer, Pwc.
Spa CEO Matthew Deaner said: “As the recent Senate inquiry into Australian content has highlighted, screen exports...
Screen Producers Australia (Spa) has established the Screen Export Advisory Council (Seac) with the aim to promote and advance the export potential of the Australia screen industry.
The council will be co-chaired by former Labor leader and Arts and Trade Minister Simon Crean and former Nsw Minister for Tourism and former trade commissioner in Germany and New York Bruce Baird.
Seac co-chair Bruce Baird.
Other members include:
Alina Bain, CEO, Export Council of Australia; Barbara Stephens, managing director, Flying Bark and vice-president of Spa; Bryan Brown, Australian actor and founder, New Town Films; Emile Sherman, founder, See Saw Films; Fiona de Jong, head of Australia’s nation brand, Austrade; Larissa Behrendt, filmmaker and Indigenous business leader, Lavarch Productions; and Russel Howcroft, chair of Aftrs and chief creative officer, Pwc.
Spa CEO Matthew Deaner said: “As the recent Senate inquiry into Australian content has highlighted, screen exports...
- 4/4/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
The cast of ‘The Heights’.
With the exception of flagship serials Home and Away and Neighbours, for the last few years, long-form adult drama has all but disappeared from our screens, replaced by high budget, short-run shows.
With that has also come a reduced number of training opportunities for emerging writers and directors, something that producers, writers and directors alike have lamented.
Given the landscape, it was somewhat of a surprise to see the ABC announce last June that it had commissioned a 30 x 30” serial drama in The Heights.
Produced by Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions, The Heights is set in the fictional suburb of Arcadia Heights and explores the relationships, work lives and everyday challenges of six families living in a social housing tower and the rapidly gentrifying inner-city community that surrounds it.
The diverse ensemble cast includes Marcus Graham, Shari Sebbens, Roz Hammond, Fiona Press, Dan Paris,...
With the exception of flagship serials Home and Away and Neighbours, for the last few years, long-form adult drama has all but disappeared from our screens, replaced by high budget, short-run shows.
With that has also come a reduced number of training opportunities for emerging writers and directors, something that producers, writers and directors alike have lamented.
Given the landscape, it was somewhat of a surprise to see the ABC announce last June that it had commissioned a 30 x 30” serial drama in The Heights.
Produced by Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions, The Heights is set in the fictional suburb of Arcadia Heights and explores the relationships, work lives and everyday challenges of six families living in a social housing tower and the rapidly gentrifying inner-city community that surrounds it.
The diverse ensemble cast includes Marcus Graham, Shari Sebbens, Roz Hammond, Fiona Press, Dan Paris,...
- 2/20/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Kamila Andini.
There’s an Australian connection among each of the competition winning films at this year’s Adelaide Film Festival.
The prizes for the best fiction feature, documentary and Vr films were presented yesterday evening at the festival, ahead of the Australian premiere of Felix Van Groeningen’s Beautiful Boy.
Indonesian writer-director Kamila Andini’s The Seen and Unseen, a co-production between Indonesia, the Netherlands, Australia and Qatar, took out the $20,000 prize for International Feature Fiction Competition. Set in Bali, the film follows a young girl who seeks out imaginative ways to cope with the death of her twin brother, and it has also won 2017 Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Youth Feature and the Crystal Bear in Berlin.
The award was presented by director Scott Hicks, on behalf of the International Jury, which also comprised of Paolo Bertolin, filmmaker and selector for Venice and selection committee for Cannes Directors Fortnight,...
There’s an Australian connection among each of the competition winning films at this year’s Adelaide Film Festival.
The prizes for the best fiction feature, documentary and Vr films were presented yesterday evening at the festival, ahead of the Australian premiere of Felix Van Groeningen’s Beautiful Boy.
Indonesian writer-director Kamila Andini’s The Seen and Unseen, a co-production between Indonesia, the Netherlands, Australia and Qatar, took out the $20,000 prize for International Feature Fiction Competition. Set in Bali, the film follows a young girl who seeks out imaginative ways to cope with the death of her twin brother, and it has also won 2017 Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Youth Feature and the Crystal Bear in Berlin.
The award was presented by director Scott Hicks, on behalf of the International Jury, which also comprised of Paolo Bertolin, filmmaker and selector for Venice and selection committee for Cannes Directors Fortnight,...
- 10/16/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Malina Maria Mackiewicz's.Driftwood Dustmites.
Five Aftrs films have been selected to screen at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival.
One Aftrs student film will also screen at Hot Docs in Canada, the most prestigious documentary festival in North America.
At Midnight is directed by Amber McBride (2014) and will screen at Hot Docs following its world premiere at the Academy-Award qualifying Sheffield Doc/Fest in the UK..
McBride's film has also been selected for the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival in the Us alongside Larissa Behrendt.s documentary Clan (2013), which is also playing at the Athens International Film and Video Festival in Ohio.
The five films headed to Houston are Foal (directed by Vanessa Gazy 2014), The Drover.s Boy (directed by Margaret McHugh 2014), Silent Night (directed by Nastassja Djalog 2014) and two films by director Malina Maria Mackiewicz - Deszcz and Driftwood Dustmites (2014).
Deszcz had its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto...
Five Aftrs films have been selected to screen at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival.
One Aftrs student film will also screen at Hot Docs in Canada, the most prestigious documentary festival in North America.
At Midnight is directed by Amber McBride (2014) and will screen at Hot Docs following its world premiere at the Academy-Award qualifying Sheffield Doc/Fest in the UK..
McBride's film has also been selected for the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival in the Us alongside Larissa Behrendt.s documentary Clan (2013), which is also playing at the Athens International Film and Video Festival in Ohio.
The five films headed to Houston are Foal (directed by Vanessa Gazy 2014), The Drover.s Boy (directed by Margaret McHugh 2014), Silent Night (directed by Nastassja Djalog 2014) and two films by director Malina Maria Mackiewicz - Deszcz and Driftwood Dustmites (2014).
Deszcz had its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto...
- 3/22/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Flickerfest has revealed the 53 films selected to screen as part of the festival's competitive program in its 25th anniversary year.
The films were chosen from more than 2300 entries.
This year.s official Australian Competition features 18 world premieres, six Australian premieres and 10 Nsw premieres..
Twenty-one female directors are represented across the official Australian competition.
The best of the australian films will be shown over seven sessions.
They will be competing for prizes across all areas of the filmmaking craft including the Academy Accredited Virgin Australia Award for Best Australian Film, the Canon Award for Best Direction and the Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Animation.
Flickerfest is Australia.s only Academy accredited and BAFTA recognised festvial and runs from Friday January 8-17. .
Festival director Bronwyn Kidd, steering her 19th festival, said she was thrilled that Flickerfest was once again a platform for the Australia's most exciting, creative and talented short filmmakers.
The films were chosen from more than 2300 entries.
This year.s official Australian Competition features 18 world premieres, six Australian premieres and 10 Nsw premieres..
Twenty-one female directors are represented across the official Australian competition.
The best of the australian films will be shown over seven sessions.
They will be competing for prizes across all areas of the filmmaking craft including the Academy Accredited Virgin Australia Award for Best Australian Film, the Canon Award for Best Direction and the Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Animation.
Flickerfest is Australia.s only Academy accredited and BAFTA recognised festvial and runs from Friday January 8-17. .
Festival director Bronwyn Kidd, steering her 19th festival, said she was thrilled that Flickerfest was once again a platform for the Australia's most exciting, creative and talented short filmmakers.
- 12/14/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
The 12th edition of the Melbourne International Film Festival.s Miff Accelerator program provided intensive workshops for 23 directors. Thety included Matthew Richards, Lucy Gaffy, Sarah-Jane Woulahan and Corrie Jones, who participated via Screen Australia.s Hot Shots program, and. Chris Richards-Scully thanks to ScreenWest's West Coast Visions program. The event kicked off. last Thursday with the Miff Accelerator-Screen Australia Talent of Tomorrow Function in association with Lexus Short Films and The Weinstein Company Eighteen participants, who all had shorts screened at Miff 2015,. were Dylan River (Nulla Nulla); Nora Niasari (The Phoenix); Ruby Railey (The Best Way To Kill Your Mother); David White (Killer?); Sanjay de Silva (Maalu); Larissa Behrendt (Under Skin, In Blood), David Hansen (Slingshot); Tess Hutson (Euxine); Ted Wilson (Family Holiday); Isaac Wall (Looking To Buy); Tracey Rigney (Man Real); Jem Rankin (Cherokee); Meelisha Bardolia (Match); Florence Noble (Things Are Going Really Well); Michael Portway (Wawi); Tim Marshall...
- 8/11/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
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