Inside Film

Inside Film http://if.com.au/ Inside Film - Australia en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss info@if.com.au (The Editor) The Weinstein Company buys a bucket of rights to The Sapphires http://if.com.au/2012/05/16/article/The-Weinstein-Company-buys-a-bucket-of-rights-to-The-Sapphires/OLFPKOYNXQ.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/16/article/The-Weinstein-Company-buys-a-bucket-of-rights-to-The-Sapphires/OLFPKOYNXQ.html Sandy George The good news keeps coming for the team behind The Sapphires, with The Weinstein Company (TWC) buying international sales rights from Goalpost Films -- minus some territories -- and Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) director Michelle Carey choosing it as her opening night film. Australia and New Zealand, where Hopscotch has held the rights since before cameras rolled, the UK & Ireland, France, Canada, Israel and Portugal are exempt from the Weinstein deal, as are airlines. “These girls light up the screen as much as their music lights up the stage," said TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein in a statement issued overnight in New York. "We’re thrilled to bring the stories and music from these sisters to audiences all over the world.” Said Carey: “Not only is this one of the most anticipated Australian films of the year, a Victorian story and a brilliant filmmaking team, the film will leave audiences on an immense high, ready to kick up their heels at what is sure to be one of the most celebratory parties of the year.” The musical has it's out-of-competition world premiere in Cannes this Saturday. The MIFF opening night is 10 weeks later on August 2 and the film will be in cinemas seven days later. It is based on Tony Briggs’ stage play of the same name and he and Keith Thompson wrote the big-screen version with Rosemary Blight and Kylie du Fresne producing for Goalpost Films Australia. Inspired by the true story of Briggs's mother and her family,Œ The Sapphires is set in 1968 when four talented singers from an Aboriginal mission in Victoria are discovered by an unlikely talent scout, branded as Australia’s answer to The Supremes and taken to Vietnam to entertain the troops and learn about love, friendship and war. Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy and newcomers Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell play the four women and Chris O’Dowd from Bridesmaids is in the role as their manager. “Passionate, innovative and creative marketing and distribution is what independent films require to reach an audience," said Bligh. "The Weinstein Company is one of the most talented distributors of independent films in the world, and we are thrilled that the film is in such great hands. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the extraordinary work of the cast and crew, led so magnificently by director Wayne Blair.” Blair is well known in theatre circles as a director and actor but has directed a lot of series television and won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for Djarn Djarns in 2005. He said that having the Australian premiere in Melbourne felt “completely right” as the women grew up in Yorta Yorta country in Victoria. Some MIFF program details will be made available on June 5 and the full program will be released on July 11. Wed, 16 May 2012 07:42:12 +1000 Saville, Krawitz, Walker each win two directing awards http://if.com.au/2012/05/14/article/Saville-Krawitz-Walker-each-win-two-directing-awards/EZVOHCRXQN.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/14/article/Saville-Krawitz-Walker-each-win-two-directing-awards/EZVOHCRXQN.html Sandy George Matt Saville, Tony Krawitz and Jeffrey Walker won two awards each at the Australian Directors Guild Awards on Friday evening. Saville won for the episode of The Slap that focused on Harry and for Cloudstreet in the drama series and mini-series categories respectively; Krawitz’s The Tall Man was voted best film in the feature documentary category and he was also chosen as the Finders Award recipient; and Jeffrey Walker was presented with both the inaugural Esben Storm Award for children’s TV for series three of H2O: Just Add Water and the award for TV comedy for Angry Boys. Mrs Carey’s Concert, directed by Bob Connolly and Sophie Raymond, was the joint winner of the documentary feature category, and Walker shared his comedy award with Stuart MacDonald and the show’s on-screen star, Chris Lilley. One of the most touching moments of the night was when the audience realised that the young nine-year-old actor who featured often in Storm’s tribute reel was Walker, who said the late director had been one of his mentors. The award was presented by Storm’s widow Lisa Meagher. The awards were held at Sydney’s Maritime Museum and also celebrated the ADG’s 30th Anniversary. The other winners were: Julia Leigh for Sleeping Beauty (features); Ivan O’Mahoney for Go Back to Where You Came From (documentary series); Phoebe Hart for Orchids: My Intersex Adventure (stand-alone documentary); Emma Freeman for Hawke (telemovie); Geoffrey Nottage for episode 5215 of Home & Away (drama serial); both Ken Connor and Kathy Chambers for RocKwiz – On the Road and Mark Adamson for Dancing with the Stars (reality/light entertainment); Damien Toogood for Sydney Dogs and Cats Home (TVC); Steve Rogers for Jack Ladder Cold Feet (music video); Dario Russo for Danger 5: The Diamond Girls (original online project); Ashlee Page for The Kiss (short film); and Epiphany Morgan for The Room (student film). The Cecil Holmes Award for outstanding contribution to the ADG was presented to Stephen Wallace after a very amusing speech by South Australian Film Corporation chief executive Richard Harris, who described Wallace at one stage as looking more like an unmade bed than someone who could make an impact. Armstrong, Wallace, James Ricketston and Chris Noonan were presented as the people who established the ADG in answer to concerns over UK director Claude Whatham directing the 1981 Australian film Hoodwink. This led O’Mahoney, when collecting his award for Go Back To Where You Came From, to make some amusing comments about “not being from these parts” -- but having a NSW drivers’ licence and a citizenship application in the works. The whole evening was reminiscent of a good-natured comedy routine, in part because it was hosted by Craig Reucassel and Chris Taylor from The Chaser. Krawitz winning the Finders Award, given in partnership with the Directors Guild of America, means that The Tall Man will screen in LA to key industry figures, including distributors. Only the directors of ADG feature entries without US distribution are eligible for this screening. Before presenting the award to Krawtiz, Kriv Stenders described it as “the best award he’d ever won” - when in LA with Boxing Day he met producer Nelson Woss, which lead to him directing Red Dog. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:38:41 +1000 The Globe Collector selected for St Kilda and Sheffield Doc/Fest http://if.com.au/2012/05/14/article/The-Globe-Collector-selected-for-St-Kilda-and-Sheffield-DocFest/RAFRAZJZEK.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/14/article/The-Globe-Collector-selected-for-St-Kilda-and-Sheffield-DocFest/RAFRAZJZEK.html Paul Bugeja Director Summer DeRoche’s short documentary The Globe Collector is one of three Australian films that have gained selection in the UK Sheffield Doc/Fest, the June 13-17 event headed by former Australian International Documentary Conference director Heather Croall. The other two films are director Catherine Scott's Scarlett Road, about sex worker Rachel Wotton and her work with clients who have a disability, and Amy Gebhart's We Were Here, which was created using "donated" footage as part of a Screen Australia/YouTube experiment in communal filmmaking. A portrait of one man’s lonely quest to protect a part of technological history being fast forgotten, The Globe Collector showcases the weird and wonderful world of Andrew Pullen, who holds over 10,000 globes in one of the largest private collections. Pullen also happens to have Aspergers Sydnrome, something the film sets out to prove is merely a label for a man who has such an all-consuming passion for electronics. A debut film for DeRoche and producer Andrea DiStefano, who met while studying for the Bachelor of Film and TV at Swinburne University, The Globe Collector is a self-funded seven-minute documentary. Completed in January 2012, the pair submitted the film to Tropfest but it was not selected. Undeterred, DeRoche and DiStefano focused their attention on other festivals, leading to a world premiere at the St Kilda Festival and, now, an upcoming international premiere at Sheffield. DeRoche, whose father is veteran screenwriter Everett DeRoche, is fast gaining recognition for her quirky and unique comedic style. Distefano is an emerging producer who worked as associate producer on the feature film Bran Nue Dae and as post-production supervisor on the feature documentary Murundak – Songs of Freedom. Both will travel to Sheffield with the support of Screen Australia. Mon, 14 May 2012 11:33:14 +1000 Kleiman and Cynglar in Sundance Lab http://if.com.au/2012/05/11/article/Kleiman-and-Cynglar-in-Sundance-Lab/WLJEBOJXPJ.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/11/article/Kleiman-and-Cynglar-in-Sundance-Lab/WLJEBOJXPJ.html Kara Gorey The Sundance Institute has selected the Australian film project Partisan for the 2012 Directors and Screenwriters Lab. It is among 13 projects included in what will be an intensive, hands-on workshop, where experimentation and risk taking is encouraged. Partisan is about an 11-year-old boy who is starting to think for himself after being raised to see the world through his parents' eyes; co-writers Ariel Kleiman and Sarah Cynglar have worked together on over 15 productions and closely collaborated throughout. Ariel Kleiman has already had success at the Sundance Film Festival, with his short film Young Love winning an honorable mention in 2010. Another of his short films, Deeper Than Yesterday, has won over 20 awards at film festivals including a jury prize in international filmmaking at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The labs encourage filmmakers to be innovative and visionary. The projects supported receive financial support through project specific grants and ongoing creative and strategic advice. Keri Putnam, executive director of Sundance Institute, said, “As our offerings for artists continue to grow our hope is that filmmakers have added incentive to remain true to their visions throughout the creative process.” The labs are under the direction of Gyula Gazdag, who will work alongside a group of creative advisors including Gregg Araki, Michael Arndt and Andrea Arnold. The other projects have been selected from Chile, Romania, Argentina, Algeria and other countries. The program takes place at the Sundance Resort in Utah in June. Œ Fri, 11 May 2012 12:06:39 +1000 Narnia at The Powerhouse from tomorrow http://if.com.au/2012/05/11/article/Narnia-at-The-Powerhouse-from-tomorrow/RJXRUOHWNN.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/11/article/Narnia-at-The-Powerhouse-from-tomorrow/RJXRUOHWNN.html Paul Bugeja The high-profile Harry Potter exhibition may have come and gone from The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, but magic remains in its cavernous space as, hot on the heels of Harry, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition arrives tomorrow (May 12) and runs through until August 26. Produced by Global Experiences Inc (GES) in partnership with Walt Disney and Walden Media, this state-of-the-art entertainment and educational exhibition is based on the famous CS Lewis seven-book chronicles -- it is said that 100 million copies have been sold in more than 47 languages -- and the blockbuster film series. Signing in for the exhibition launch, drifts of "snow" gently fell upon attendees, preparing them for the journey to a winter-locked Narnia. And yes, of course, as anyone who has read the books would expect, the portal to this world is through the famous wardrobe, replete with furs coats and jackets to brush past as one moves from our "normal" world to one where a cruel white witch rules, animals can speak and children have it in them to become Kings and Queens. This is, however, no mere collection of items used in the film series. Lewis, it would appear, was something of a futurist, integrating into his Narnia chronicles the notions of humanity’s affect upon the environment and, in particular, the possibility of human-induced climate change. GES have embraced this foresight and produced the exhibition to incorporate the notion of fantasy as a means of investigating science and the environment, and the result is a three-dimensional interactive experience that embraces the senses. Whether it’s placing your hand upon the ice-cold surface of the frozen waterfall or setting off a real catapult, many children and adults alike will find The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition a wonderful way to experience Aslan’s Country. <img alt="" height="669" src="/image/bear3.jpg" width="500" /> Œ <img alt="" height="669" src="/image/castle.jpg" width="500" /> Exhibits from the Narnia exhibition at Sydney's Powerhouse Fri, 11 May 2012 09:44:03 +1000 Shortland and Krawitz both have films in competition in Sydney http://if.com.au/2012/05/08/article/Shortland-and-Krawitz-both-have-films-in-competition-in-Sydney/FQKYYKEVZZ.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/08/article/Shortland-and-Krawitz-both-have-films-in-competition-in-Sydney/FQKYYKEVZZ.html Sandy George Cate Shortland and Tony Krawitz, who are married to each other, both have films among the 12 titles in competition at next month’s Sydney Film Festival. Lore, a drama set during World War II and based on the novel The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert, is Shortland’s feature film follow-up to Somersault, while Dead Europe, also set in Europe but a contemporary story adapted from a novel by Christos Tsiolkas, is Krawitz’s first dramatic feature film after his acclaimed short Jewboy and the recent documentary The Tall Man. Tsiolkas also wrote The Slap, on which the acclaimed television series was based. The other debuts in the competition line-up include Korean filmmaker Yuen Sang-Ho’s The King Of Pigs, US director Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild and Brazilian Kleber Mendonca Filho’s Neighbouring Sounds. The veterans in the program include Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, with their Golden Bear winner Caesar Must Die, and Water Salles with On the Road, a big screen adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s famous book. Nashen Moodley unveiled his first Sydney Film Festival program today at Customs House at Circular Quay, including the eight films that will be vying for the Foxtel Australian Documentary Prize. This line-up includes new films from animator Bruce Petty and Son of a Lion director Benjamin Gilmour, and two films that tell indigenous stories from Australia’s past, Francis Jupurrurla Kelly and David Batty’s Coniston Massacre and Steven McGregor’s Croker Island Exodus. The festival opens on June 6 with the world premiere of Australian film Not Suitable For Children, a debut feature for Peter Templeman, who was nominated for an Oscar for his short film The Saviour in 2007. The film stars local actor Ryan Kwanten of True Blood fame. It will close 11 days later with another debut full of humour: US director Colin Trevorrow’s science fiction comedy Safety Not Guaranteed. Half the 10 finalists in the Dendy Awards for Australian short films have already been seen at festivals abroad. The Official Competition titles are: Alps, director Yorgos Lanthimos Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin Caesar Must Die, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani Dead Europe, Tony Krawitz Gangs of Wasseypur, Parts 1 and 2, Anurag Kashyap The King of Pigs, Yuen Sang-Ho Lore, Cate Shortland Monsieur Lazhar, Philippe Falardeau Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonca Filho On the Road, Walter Salles Tabu, Miguel Gomes Today, Alain Gomis The Foxtel Australian Documentary Prize titles are: Coniston Massacre, directors Francis Jupurrurla Kelly, David Batty Croker Island Exodus, Steven McGregor Despite the Gods, Penny Vozniak Dr. Sarmast’s Music School, Polly Watkins Killing Anna, Paul Galasch Missing in the Land of the Gods, Davor Dirlic Paramedico, Benjamin Gilmour Utopia, Bruce Petty. The titles in the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films are: BINO, director Billie Pleffer Dance Me to the End of Love, Martha Goddard Dave’s Dead, Alethea Jones Dumpty Goes to the Big Smoke, Mirrah Foulkes The Hunter, Marieka Walsh Julian, Matthew Moore The Maker, Christopher Kezelos Rippled, Darcy Prendergast The Wilding, Grant Scicluna Yardbird, Michael Spiccia Tue, 08 May 2012 22:22:25 +1000 Nott wins the ACS Award of the night http://if.com.au/2012/05/07/article/Nott-wins-the-ACS-Award-of-the-night/VPOJDHTZGC.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/07/article/Nott-wins-the-ACS-Award-of-the-night/VPOJDHTZGC.html Sandy George Ben Nott was crowned Australian cinematographer of the year for his work on director Stuart Beattie’s local hit Tomorrow When The War Began at the annual national awards of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS). Among the 15 other cinematographers also presented with Golden Tripods at the presentation at Sydney’s Manly Pacific Hotel were Mark Wareham for Cloudstreet in the television drama section, Nick Matthews for The Palace in the section for fictional drama shorts and Brad Dillon for episode 13 of the dramatized documentary series Fatal Attractions. The other winners were Iain Mackenzie and Aron Leong (commercials), Mark Lamble (wildlife/nature), Campbell Munro (non-fiction television), Peter Barta, Daniel Soekov and Tarryn Southcombe (news and current affairs), Callan Green (music clips), Andrew Deubel (promos), Daniel Graetz (experimental) and Boris Vymenets (student). Television personality Ray Martin was master of ceremonies at the awards, held at Sydney's Manly Pacific Hotel, and actor Rebecca Gibney was a special guest. One Golden Tripod is given out in each category and all these winners were then considered for the Milli Award, the honour this year granted to Nott, who did not attend. The only way to be considered for an ACS national award is to first win gold at a state or territory level; Nott won in Queensland. Several ACS members were inducted into the ACS hall of fame being David Eggby, David Muir and Barry Woodhouse. As already announced, Emmanuel Lubezki won the international award for his efforts on Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life and Jimmy Ennett was selected as the emerging cinematographer deserving of an award – he will now do an internship on the set of The Railway Man. Heidi Tobin, Craig Pickersgill, Martha Ansara and David Lewis were all acknowledged with awards for special contribution to the society. Mon, 07 May 2012 16:48:37 +1000 My Thai Bride a Hot Docs winner http://if.com.au/2012/05/07/article/My-Thai-Bride-a-Hot-Docs-winner/VDXFIRUJUB.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/07/article/My-Thai-Bride-a-Hot-Docs-winner/VDXFIRUJUB.html Sandy George My Thai Bride, directed by David Tucker and produced by he and Michael Cordell,Œ won the award for best mid-length documentary at the prestigious Hot Docs Festival in Toronto on Friday night. The confronting 54-minute film is about what happens after a Welshman in his 40s marries a Thai woman he meets in a bar and returns to the poor rural area from which she comes. “My Thai Bride is a film that takes the story of an unlikely couple and through subtle analysis extends their human dramas into a moving examination of political, cultural and economic power dynamics,” reads the jury statement. “It is a film that destabilizes its viewer's empathy through a nuanced and even-handed portrayal of charged, contradictory terrain, and reframes who exactly is the conqueror and conquered.” The award, one of 10 presented at Hot Docs, is further proof of the film's strength: it was one of four by new documentary makers chosen to be included in the First Factual Film Festival (F4), which is staged early each year as part of the Australian International Documentary Conference. In the F4 awards, it received a special mention and at that time the jury said it was a film that stayed with them because of its complexity and deeply upsetting moral ambiguity about a subject so often stereotyped. “It is very well crafted and showed an intriguing transformation of the two central characters – both victims of the global economy." Tucker studied psychology before becoming a filmmaker and My Thai Bride is his longest film to date. Mon, 07 May 2012 13:21:15 +1000 Six AFTRS shorts to screen as part of Cinema Des Antipodes at Cannes http://if.com.au/2012/05/07/article/Six-AFTRS-shorts-to-screen-as-part-of-Cinema-Des-Antipodes-at-Cannes/ITJOYIIJOC.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/07/article/Six-AFTRS-shorts-to-screen-as-part-of-Cinema-Des-Antipodes-at-Cannes/ITJOYIIJOC.html Amanda Diaz Six student short films from the Australian Film Television and Radio School will screen in a specially designated program at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Cinema des Antipodes is an organisation directed by Bernard Bories that screens and supports Australian and New Zealand films in France. Its non-competitive program runs parallel to the Cannes Film Festival main program. The dedicated AFTRS session consists of six films including writer/director Ben Matthews' Emily, which is currently in the running for a Student Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category. The psychological thriller examines teen suicide from the perspective of a parent. Meryl Tankard, the creator of the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony also has a film in the program. Moth, which stars Sophie Lowe, is a story inspired by accounts from Australian reform schools in the 60's and 70's.Œ For a complete list of films, see below:ŒŒ Moth Written by Alana Valentine & Meryl Tankard (Graduate Diploma Directing 2010) Directed by Meryl Tankard Stars Sophie Lowe and Madeleine Madden. Moth is the story of three young women's determination to be free, and is inspired by the stories from many reform schools in Australia in the 60's and 70's, and the brutal methods used to discipline the girls. Playground Written & Directed by Ricardo Skaff (Graduate Diploma Directing, 2010) A man who lives alone in an isolated miserable existence, starts to hear voices who lead him to an abandoned, hidden playground. He finds himself rediscovering the simple pleasures of happier times and the pure and unadulterated joys of a forgotten childhood. Emily Written and Directed by Ben Mathews (Graduate Diploma Directing 2010 and also a current Screenwriting student at AFTRS) A psychological-thriller that grapples with the issue of teen suicide, exploring the situation from the persecutive of the parent. Inferno Written & Directed by Stephen McCallum (Graduate Diploma Directing, 2011) After a failed escape attempt from their hellish colonial prison, four Irish convicts await a punishment of 300 lashes at dawn. When the first of their number dies on the triangle before the lashes are complete, the three remaining prisoners are faced with the promise of an agonising death by the whip. To escape this suffering the convicts concoct a plan where they have to commit murder in order to get hanged. The Last Match Written by Tom Keele & Julian Shaw (Graduate Diploma Directing, 2011 and also a current AFTRS Master of Screen Arts (MSA) student) Directed by Julian Shaw 1989: the World Wrestling Federation is taking over the globe one VHS tape at a time. This is bad news for Val Georges (Craig McLachlan), a middle-aged wrestling promoter who has fallen on hard times. 'The Streak', Val's one genuine star, is threatening to jump ship to a rival promoter (Marcus Graham) and his arena is being foreclosed. Val has one night to save his empire, or face the end. The Love Song of Iskra Prufrock Written and Directed by Lucy Gaffy (Graduate Diploma Directing 2009 and also a current AFTRS Master of Screen Arts (MSA) student) Iskra is a Croatian refugee and radiologist who works in an inner-city. In an effort to recover from her violent past, Iskra has made her life one of ritual. But she finds that her new life is a lonely one, until she meets Leo. Œ Mon, 07 May 2012 09:52:04 +1000 Ward, Entwistle, Peak honoured by Independent Cinemas Association http://if.com.au/2012/05/02/article/Ward-Entwistle-Peak-honoured-by-Independent-Cinemas-Association/EXBHZKEHEU.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/02/article/Ward-Entwistle-Peak-honoured-by-Independent-Cinemas-Association/EXBHZKEHEU.html Sandy George Long-time exhibitor and distributor Robert Ward is the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Independent Cinemas Association of Australia (ICAA). Ross Entwistle and Barry Peak have also been honoured by ICAA as the inaugural recipients of the Mark Sarfaty Award for outstanding contribution to independent cinemas in the past year. The awards were presented as part of the ICAA Conference which has been happening at Sydney’s Dendy Opera Quays this week. Entwistle and Peak have been recognised for their hard work in putting a virtual print fee deal in place to help independent exhibitors – including non-ICAA members – meet the cost of converting to digital. As ICAA says on its website, they “put the interests of members before their own businesses in spending countless hours negotiating this scheme.”Œ The award honours former chief executive of ICCA, Mark Sarfaty, who passed away in November 2011. The conference program is a mix of presentations from distributors and panel discussions. As has been the case for many years, the move to digital dominates the discussion. Entwistle is nearing the end of his three-year term as a board member of Screen Australia. Wed, 02 May 2012 15:07:37 +1000 Good line up of Brits at AusFilm Week London http://if.com.au/2012/05/02/article/Good-line-up-of-Brits-at-AusFilm-Week-London/PISGAAIUVW.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/02/article/Good-line-up-of-Brits-at-AusFilm-Week-London/PISGAAIUVW.html Sandy George Zephyr Films founder Chris Curling is one of many UK producers taking part in this year’s Ausfilm Week London and, as one of the producers on Death Defying Acts, has already experienced the particular needs of UK/Australian co-productions. The mid-May pre-Cannes event is designed to develop co-productions between Australia and the UK -- both feature film and high-end television series – through a series of networking events and panel discussions aimed at familiarising delegates with the funding and production landscape of their potential partners. Also on the list of attendees is Carlo Dusi, head of business and commercial affairs at Ridley and Tony Scott’s production company Scott Free. Ridley Scott cast Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe in his 2010 action adventure Robin Hood. Others include Carola Ash, one of the two people heading 2B Pictures, the production arm of the finance-focussed Future Films Group, and Alison Meese, who is in charge of UK acquisitions for the French production and distribution behemoth StudioCanal. Representatives from the film division of two broadcasters are also in the line-up: senior commissioning executive Katherine Butler and head of film production Tracey Josephs from Film 4, Channel 4 Television’s feature film division; and executive producer Jamie Laurenson and head of business affairs Simon Gillis from BBC Films. Many of AusFilm’s private and government members are taking part alongside a number of producers including Mario Andreacchio, Karen Radzyner, Trish Lake, Heather Ogilvie, Cathy Overett, Vincent Sheehan, Mark Ruse, Tim White, Dee McLachlan, Sue Taylor, Janelle Landers and Angie Fielder. The three-day event starts with a May 13 screening of Wish You Were Here, which Fielder produced. Wed, 02 May 2012 13:22:24 +1000 The Sapphires gets gala midnight screening at Cannes http://if.com.au/2012/05/01/article/The-Sapphires-gets-gala-midnight-screening-at-Cannes/TKTTVKGTYS.html http://if.com.au/2012/05/01/article/The-Sapphires-gets-gala-midnight-screening-at-Cannes/TKTTVKGTYS.html Sandy George The Sapphires, director Wayne Blair’s feel-good feature debut, is one of seven new films added to the Cannes Film Festival line-up overnight. The musical comedy set in the 1960s will have its world premiere screening at a midnight out-of-competition gala screen on May 19. Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires is about a group of young women from a remote Aboriginal mission given the opportunity to go to Vietnam and sing for the troops. Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell play the all-girl group billed as an Australian version of The Supremes and Irish actor Chris O’Dowd from Bridesmaids plays the unlikely talent scout who discovers them. “The Sapphires is the kind of film that comes along once in a lifetime,” said Goalpost Pictures Australia producers Rosemary Blight and Kylie du Fresne in a statement released overnight by the local distributor Hopscotch Films/Entertainment One. “From the moment we first heard of these amazing young Aboriginal women, we knew the story of how they discovered soul music and dared to live their dream had all the ingredients to captivate and enchant cinema audiences.” Blair, who won a Crystal Bear for The Djarn Djarns in 2005, worked from a script written by Tony Briggs and Keith Thompson. The film’s financial backers include Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Efilm Australia, IFS Capital and EFIC. The late addition means Australia now has a feature in official selection, although short film Yardbird is in competition. According to Screen Australia, there will be 12 local films screening in the market. The festival runs from May 16 to 27. Tue, 01 May 2012 06:58:34 +1000 The Palace scoops the pool at the SA Screen Awards http://if.com.au/2012/04/23/article/The-Palace-scoops-the-pool-at-the-SA-Screen-Awards/MJCMVORYRZ.html http://if.com.au/2012/04/23/article/The-Palace-scoops-the-pool-at-the-SA-Screen-Awards/MJCMVORYRZ.html Staff reporter Filmmaker Anthony Maras' short The Palace has continued its winning streak, picking up six awards at the South Australian Screen Awards over the weekend. The Cyprian-Australian co-production, which has garnered a number of awards including the AACTA Award for Best Short Fiction Film, won both Best Short Film and Best Drama as well as picking up awards for its screenplay, direction, editing and cinematography. Film collective Closer Productions received two awards: short documentary Stunt Love won Best Sound Design while Sundance darling Shut Up Little Man won Best Feature Film. This is the second year in a row Closer Productions has won the feature film category. Last year's winner Life in Movement is currently in cinemas. For a full list of recipients, see below: SASA GENRE AWARDS: Best Short Film: The Palace - Anthony Maras, Kate Croser & Andros Achilleos Best Drama: The Palace - Anthony Maras, Kate Croser & Andros Achilleos Best Documentary:Œ Ball of Light Sam Collins Best Comedy: Steak Knife Chad Leader Best Animation: Sometimes the Stars Luke Jurevicius Best Non-Narrative Film:Œ A Dance in the Garden Reminds Me Gemma Soloman Best Music Video: Cut You Out (Hawks of Alba) Matt Vesley Innovation in Digital Media: Big Stories, Small Towns Nick Crowther Best Feature Film: Shut Up Little Man Sophie Hyde & Matthew Bate SASA CRAFT AWARDS: Best Direction: Anthony Maras (The Palace) Best Cinematography: Nick Matthews (The Palace) Best Composition: Michael Darren (Collision) Best Screenplay: Anthony Maras (The Palace) Best Sound Design: Pete Best & Scott Illingworth (Stunt Love) Best Editing: Anthony Maras (The Palace) Best Performance: Roy Phung (Suburban Samurai) Best Production Design: Bowen Ellames (Beta) MRC Emerging Producer: Kirsty Stark Emerging Young Filmmaker: Sam King People’s Choice Award: I Am Orpheus (Adam Carter) Œ Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:54:39 +1000 Cannes Film Festival announces 2012 line-up http://if.com.au/2012/04/20/article/Cannes-Film-Festival-announces-2012-line-up/NOCEQRZZYL.html http://if.com.au/2012/04/20/article/Cannes-Film-Festival-announces-2012-line-up/NOCEQRZZYL.html Amanda Diaz Queensland-born John Hillcoat (The Road) and New Zealander Andrew Dominik (Chopper) will both have films in competition at the 65th Cannes Film Festival. Hillcoat, who graduated from Swinburne Film School, is the director of Lawless, a film set in Depression-era Virginia which stars Guy Pearce and Mia Wasikowska and Gary Oldman. The screenplay was penned by Hillcoat's long time collaborator, singer/songwriter Nick Cave. Dominik's crime thriller Killing Them SoftlyŒ features Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn (Animal Kingdom) alongisde Brad Pitt and Ray Liotta. Lawless and Killing Them Softly will compete against films from David Cronenberg, Lee Daniels and Wes Anderson. Australian short <a href="http://if.com.au/2012/04/18/article/Aussie-short-Yardbird-selected-for-Cannes/EXDLXZOGFU.html" target="_blank">The Yardbird </a>has been selected for the short film category and will compete against nine other films, including New Zealand's Night Shift. 2010 Sydney Film Prize winner Xavier Dolan's third film Laurence Anyways will feature in the Un certain regard line-up. The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 16 until May 27. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:36:26 +1000 Nude dancers and zombies: the 2012 Sydney Film Festival program teaser http://if.com.au/2012/04/02/article/Nude-dancers-and-zombies-the-2012-Sydney-Film-Festival-program-teaser/ODUIHMBYRC.html http://if.com.au/2012/04/02/article/Nude-dancers-and-zombies-the-2012-Sydney-Film-Festival-program-teaser/ODUIHMBYRC.html Amanda Diaz Ten documentaries and 15 feature films have been announced as part of an early sneak peek at this year's Sydney Film Festival lineup. The 2012 festival will be the first under the helm of new festival director Nashen Moodley, who replaces Clare Stewart. "We wanted to present a diverse range of titles in terms of geography, in terms of the experience of the filmmakers and also different types of films to show that the festival will have something for everyone," says Moodley. When asked to pick his favourites from this year's teaser, the festival director compares it to asking a parent which of their children is their favourite, but admits he is particularly looking forward to the audience response to Beasts of the Southern Wilds, Tabu and Neighbouring Sounds. The winner of the US Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival, Beasts of the Southern Wilds is set in 'The Bathtub'Œ – a bayou community cut off from the rest of the world. It follows six-year-old Hushpuppy, whose father, Wink, tries to prepare her for a dangerous new world, as the icebergs melt and prehistoric creatures descend. Tabu tells the story of a temperamental old woman, her Cape Verdean maid and a neighbour devoted to social causes live on the same floor of a Lisbon apartment building. When the old lady dies, the other two learn of an episode from her past: a tale of love and crime set in an Africa straight from the world of adventure films. Neighbouring Sounds, the debut feature from Kleber Mendonça Filho, looks at what happens when an independent security firm arrives in a middle-class neighbourhood in Brazil. "In each of these cases, it's something very original - it will mark the discovery of these great cinematic voices for the Australian audience," says Moodley. Also in this year's lineup are Woody Allen: A Documentary (the title is fairly self-explanatory), Crazy Horse - a documentary by Frederick Wiseman about Le Crazy Horse de Paris, the self-proclaimed 'best nude dancing show in the world', and Harold's Going Stiff - a film fashioned in the style of a BBC documentary about a mysterious illness turning men in the north of England into bloodthirsty zombies. "Zombies have a role to play in film festivals, I believe," says Moodley. "I think we'll make lots of people happy with that crazy, happy film. The undead are people too." To see more of the festival preview, click <a href="http://www.sff.org.au/public/films/program/preview-features/" target="_blank">here</a> <img alt="" height="281" src="/image/beastsofthesouthernwild.jpg" width="500" /> Beasts of the Southern Wild will have its Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:43:53 +1000 The Palace leads South Australian Screen Awards nominations http://if.com.au/2012/03/15/article/The-Palace-leads-South-Australian-Screen-Awards-nominations/RUMPTKIZHY.html http://if.com.au/2012/03/15/article/The-Palace-leads-South-Australian-Screen-Awards-nominations/RUMPTKIZHY.html Matthew Worboys Short film The Palace has led the nominations at this year's South Australian Screen Arts Awards with seven nominations, including Best Picture. The Cyprian-Australian co-production was also nominated for Best Drama while writer-director Anthony Maras was nominated for Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Best Editing. Nick Matthews was nominated for Best Cinematography. Maras was raised in Adelaide but studied film production at the University of California before returning to Australia to direct critically acclaimed films Azadi and Spike Up. He then directed The Palace, which has garnered an array of awards including the AACTA Award for Best Short Fiction Film, as well as the Australia’s Writer’s Guild and the Flickerfest awards for Best Australian Short Film. Maras also picked up last year's IF Award for Rising Talent. Other films nominated at the South Australian Screen Arts Awards include Suburban Samarai, Horace in Slow Motion, Stunt Love and A Tale of Obsession. Short animation Horace in Slow Motion received nominations for Best Picture, Best Comedy and Best Animation. Luke Jurevicius, the film’s director, has also been nominated for the music video for The Audrey’s song, Sometimes the Stars, which he also directed. The South Australian Screen Awards primarily celebrate short film however in 2009 a Best Feature category was introduced. Over 80 films were considered at this year's awards, with 65 local filmmakers nominated across 20 award categories. A record number of entries were received for the music video category, with nominations announced for the aforementioned film, as well as for the music videos of songs by The Beards, Some time Soon, The Grenadiers, Lyla and Hawks of Alba. The SASA Gala Awards Ceremony will be held at the recently redesigned Mercury Cinema on Friday, April 20. For a full list of the nominated films can be found below the video trailer of The Palace below. Œ SASA Genre Awards Best Film A Tale of Obsession Manda Webber Horace in Slow Motion Luke Jurevicius The Palace Anthony Maras, Kate Croser & Andros Achilleos Stunt Love Caroline Man Suburban Samurai David Ngo & Daniel Joyce Best Drama Beta Chad Leader Collision David Ngo Kill or Tell Cameron Roberts & Rhys Roscoe The Palace Anthony Maras, Kate Croser & Andros Achilleos Rapture Krystle Penhall Best Documentary Adelaide’s Forgotten Outlaws Peter Drew, Ronnie Chin & Frazer Dempsey After Release Gemma Soloman Ball of Light Sam Collins The Curse of Grong Grong Rob Wright Stunt Love Caroline Man Best Comedy A Few Nervous Habits Aaron Nash A Tale of Obsession Manda Webber Horace in Slow Motion Luke Jurevicius Steak Knife Chad Leader Suburban Samurai David Ngo & Daniel Joyce Best Non-Narrative: To be announced on the night Best Animation Clarence’s Kite Thomas Cant Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Rose Tucker The Dream Lodge Brett Walter Horace in Slow Motion Luke Jurevicius Sometimes the Stars Luke Jurevicius Best Music Video Cut You Out (Hawks of Alba) Matt Vesley Into Yer Bones (Lyla) Amy Handley Old Uncle Scratch(The Grenadiers) Kelly Carpenter Sometimes the Stars (The Audreys) Luke Jurevicius Suddenly Smiling (Some Time Soon) Rihannon Miller You Should Consider Having Sex With A Bearded Man (The Beards) Daniel Principe & Nima Nabili Rad Innovation in Digital Media Big Stories, Small Towns Nick Crowther Danger 5 Kate Croser & Dario Russo 6 on the St Samuel Wright Wastelander Panda Kirsty Stark Best Feature Film Die for Real Mike Green I Am Orpheus Adam Carter 6 on the St Samuel Wright Shut Up Little Man Sophie Hyde & Matthew Bate Yudum Terry Cleary SASA Craft Awards Best Direction: Matthew Bate Stunt Love Craig Behenna Suburban Samurai Andrew Kunzel, Arthur Moody & Luke Jurevicius Horace in Slow Motion Anthony Maras The Palace Nicholas Steele Laser Best Cinematography Victoria Cocks Rapture Maxx Corkindale A Tale of Obsession Sam King and Nick Matthews Collision Nick Matthews The Palace Nima Nabili Rad Beta Best Composition Michael Darren Collision Jonny Elk-Walsh Rapture Caleb Jones Captivated Christopher Larkin Clarence’s Kite Jason Sweeney The Other Side of Desire Best Screenplay Matthew Bate Stunt Love Craig Behenna Suburban Samurai Anthony Maras The Palace Fiona Sprott A Few Nervous Habits Dave Wade A Tale of Obsession Best Sound Design Pete Best & Scott Illingworth Stunt Love Michael Darren Collision Tom Huezanroeder The Palace Leigh Kenyon L’Artiste! Brett Walter The Dream Lodge Best Editing Anthony Maras The Palace Nick Matthews Collision David Ngo & Cleland Jones Suburban Samurai Krystle Penhall Rapture Zane Roach Steak Knife Best Performance Kieran McNamara Steak Knife Deanna Ortuso A Tale of Obsession Roy Phung Suburban Samurai Astrid Pill A Few Nervous Habits Hew Wagner Captivated Best Production Design Anny Duff Collision Bowen Ellames Beta Anita Seiler & Catrin Blight A Tortured Mind Manda Webber A Tale of Obsession Rita Zanchetta The Other Side of Desire Emerging Producer: To be announced on the night Emerging Young Filmmaker: To be announced on the night People’s Choice Award: To be announced on the night Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:22:12 +1100 The Applicant, starring Kath and Kim's Peter Rowsthorn, selected for Aspen http://if.com.au/2012/03/06/article/The-Applicant-starring-Kath-and-Kims-Peter-Rowsthorn-selected-for-Aspen/SQKZCJOPTG.html http://if.com.au/2012/03/06/article/The-Applicant-starring-Kath-and-Kims-Peter-Rowsthorn-selected-for-Aspen/SQKZCJOPTG.html Amanda Diaz Local short film The Applicant has been selected from more than 3000 submissions to screen at this year's Aspen Shortfest. The five-minute comedy, which was written by Chris Corbett and directed by Tim Dean, stars Kath and Kim's Peter Rowsthorn and Nicholas Bell (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries). The film was a finalist in the 2011 Tropfest competition and tells the story of a job interview that is not quite what it seems. This is not the first time Corbett and Dean's work has been selected for Aspen. Their short film Fences screened there in 2010 and was awarded a BAFTA LA Certificate of Excellence. Fences also came third in Tropfest 2009, where it picked up awards for Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay and Best Editing. Aspen Shortfsest is one of the world's leading short film festivals and will run from April 10 to April 15. Œ <img alt="" height="279" src="/image/applicant.JPG" width="448" /> Peter Rowsthorn in The Applicant Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:07:24 +1100 Australian Kirk Baxter wins Oscar for editing The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo http://if.com.au/2012/02/28/article/Australian-Kirk-Baxter-wins-Oscar-for-editing-The-Girl-With-the-Dragon-Tattoo/ZOUTXEHBIK.html http://if.com.au/2012/02/28/article/Australian-Kirk-Baxter-wins-Oscar-for-editing-The-Girl-With-the-Dragon-Tattoo/ZOUTXEHBIK.html Fay Al-Janabi Kirk Baxter has won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for his work with Angus Wall on The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It was an unexpected win for the editing partners, who were up against Oscar favourites Hugo and The Artist. After a record of five Academy Award wins for Australians in 2011, Baxter and producer Grant Hill were the only two Australians gracing this year’s list of nominees. It is the duo’s second win after taking away the same award last year for The Social Network. Baxter also received an Academy Award nomination for his editing with Angus Wall on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008, losing to Slumdog Millionare. Grant Hill, who was one of five producers for Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life, received a nomination for Best Picture, losing to The Artist. It marks the second nomination for the Australian producer, who was first nominated for Malick's 1998 film The Thin Red Line. Asghar Farhadi’s Iranian film, A Separation, received nominations in Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film, winning the award in the former category. The film had an Australian connection – it was able to reach completion due to a $25,000 cash grant provided by the Motion Picture Association in collaboration with Queensland’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Bret McKenzie, one half of the New Zealand comedy duo Flight of the Concords, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Man or Muppet from The Muppets. His win marks New Zealand’s third Academy Award for a film that is not part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The award for Best Picture was taken by Michel Hazanavicius’ silent romantic-comedy, The Artist. The black-and-white French film received a total of five awards on the night, including Best Actor in a Leading Role for Jean Dujardin, and Best Director for Hazanavicius. Martin Scorsese’s 3D animated feature, Hugo, also took away five awards, largely commending its technical brilliance – for Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects. Meryl Streep received her 17th Oscar nomination and third win for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, taking away the Best Actress in a Leading Role award. Woody Allen received the award for Best Original Screenplay for Midnight in Paris, marking his fourth Academy Award win and 23rd nomination. The award for Best Adapted Screenplay went to Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash for The Descendants. Full list of winners: Cinematography: Robert Richardson, Hugo Art Direction: Hugo Costume Design: The Artist Makeup: The Iron Lady Foreign Language Film: A Separation, Iran Film Editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Sound Editing: Hugo Sound Mixing: Hugo Documentary Feature: Undefeated Animated Film: Rango Visual Effects: Hugo Actor in a Supporting Role: Christopher Plummer, Beginners Original Score: Ludovic Bource, The Artist Song: Bret McKenzie, “Man or Muppet”, The Muppets Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris Live Action Short: The Shore Documentary Short: Saving Face Animated Short: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore Director: Michel Hazavanicius, The Artist Actor in a Leading Role: Jean Dujardin, The Artist Actress in a Leading Role: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady Picture: The Artist Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:59:27 +1100