The Toronto International Film Festival overnight launched its full program, confirming that nine Australian feature films will screen at this premier North American festival, which runs September 6-15, 2007.
Two films are having Special Presentation screenings; Death Defying Acts directed by Gillian Armstrong, starring Guy Pearce and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Romulus, My Father, directed by Richard Roxburgh with lead actor Eric Bana in attendance.
Director Scott Hicks’ feature documentary about composer Philip Glass, Glass: a portrait of Philip in twelve parts will have its premiere in the Real to Reel section of the festival.
Screening in the Visions section of the festival is Night, the latest offering from writer/director Lawrence Johnston and Dr Plonk, the silent black and white comedy from writer/director Rolf de Heer.
The independent feature film Corroboree (co-writer/director Ben Hackworth) and the first film from the Tropfest Feature Program September (co-writer/director Peter Carstairs) are screening in the Discovery program.
Unfinished Sky (writer/director Peter Duncan) and The Home Song Stories (writer/director Tony Ayres) will both screen in the Contemporary World Cinema section.
‘The number of Australian films selected in Toronto this year is significant as the festival offers a wonderful launching pad into the North American market,’ said Chris Fitchett, Australian Film Commission (AFC) Chief Executive. ‘It is a testament to the talent of the filmmaking teams involved and the calibre of the films they are producing. The AFC is pleased to have assisted in the selection process by hosting festival co-director Noah Cowan’s second visit to Sydney and Melbourne earlier this year to view potential films for selection.’
In a first for the festival, Toronto is taking a select number of their international films to New York and Los Angeles for advance press screenings. Two Australian films – Corroboree and Night – have been invited to participate this year. To celebrate and highlight the Australian lineup at the festival, the AFC in conjunction with the Australian High Commission, Canada, is hosting a reception for invited industry guests during the festival. In addition, the AFC, as well as state agencies, are supporting selected filmmakers to travel to the festival.
The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6-15, 2007.
* Corroboree
(96 minutes)
Director: Ben Hackworth
Writers: Ben Hackworth, Peter Savieri
Producer: Matteo Bruno
Cinematographer: Katie Milwright
Editor: Cindy Clarkson
Finance: Private
Cast: Conor O’Hanlon, Rebecca Frith, Susan Lyons, Natasha Herbert, Jane McArthur, Ian Scott, Jethro Cave
Synopsis: A beautiful young man is invited to a mountain retreat by a dying theatre director. Over the course of a weekend, the young man will encounter five actresses who each portray key women from the director’s life.
(96 minutes)
Director: Ben Hackworth
Writers: Ben Hackworth, Peter Savieri
Producer: Matteo Bruno
Cinematographer: Katie Milwright
Editor: Cindy Clarkson
Finance: Private
Cast: Conor O’Hanlon, Rebecca Frith, Susan Lyons, Natasha Herbert, Jane McArthur, Ian Scott, Jethro Cave
Synopsis: A beautiful young man is invited to a mountain retreat by a dying theatre director. Over the course of a weekend, the young man will encounter five actresses who each portray key women from the director’s life.
* Death Defying Acts
(100 minutes)
Director: Gillian Armstrong,
Writers: Tony Grisoni, Brian Ward
Producers: Marian Macgowan, Chris Curling
Executive Producers: Dan Lupovitz, Marcia Nasatir, David M Thompson, Lucas Foster and Kirk D’Amico
International Sales: Myriad Pictures
Cast: Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Timothy Spall, Saoirse Ronan
(100 minutes)
Director: Gillian Armstrong,
Writers: Tony Grisoni, Brian Ward
Producers: Marian Macgowan, Chris Curling
Executive Producers: Dan Lupovitz, Marcia Nasatir, David M Thompson, Lucas Foster and Kirk D’Amico
International Sales: Myriad Pictures
Cast: Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Timothy Spall, Saoirse Ronan
Synopsis: When famous escape artist Harry Houdini arrives in Edinburgh and offers a $10,000 reward to anyone who can contact his mother from beyond the grave, a beautiful but deceptive psychic and her young ‘sidekick’ daughter take the challenge. As Houdini spends time with this mysterious woman, he is beguiled by her charms, and what begins as a con evolves into a far more complicated and dangerous affair.
Film Finance Corporation Australia, BBC Films, The UK Film Council and Myriad Pictures present in association with the New South Wales Film and Television Office a Macgowan Lupovitz Nasatir Films and Zephyr Films Production.
* Dr. Plonk
(84 minutes)
Writer/Director: Rolf de Heer
Producers: Rolf de Heer, Julie Ryan
Executive Producers: Sue Murray, Domenico Procacci, Bryce Menzies
Australian & NZ distributor: Palace Films
International Sales: Wild Bunch
Cast: Nigel Lunghi (aka Mr Spin), Paul Blackwell, Magda Szubanski
(84 minutes)
Writer/Director: Rolf de Heer
Producers: Rolf de Heer, Julie Ryan
Executive Producers: Sue Murray, Domenico Procacci, Bryce Menzies
Australian & NZ distributor: Palace Films
International Sales: Wild Bunch
Cast: Nigel Lunghi (aka Mr Spin), Paul Blackwell, Magda Szubanski
http://www.drplonk.com/
Synopsis: It is 1907. Dr Plonk, scientist, inventor, calculates that the world will end in 101 years, unless immediate action is taken. Realising he needs to furnish evidence for his grave claims, he sets out to invent a time machine in order to visit the outlandishly strange and deadly year of 2007.
Synopsis: It is 1907. Dr Plonk, scientist, inventor, calculates that the world will end in 101 years, unless immediate action is taken. Realising he needs to furnish evidence for his grave claims, he sets out to invent a time machine in order to visit the outlandishly strange and deadly year of 2007.
Dr Plonk was financed by the Film Finance Corporation in association with Fandango, the South Australian Film Corporation and the Adelaide Film Festival.
* Glass: a portrait of Philip in twelve parts
Director: Scott Hicks
Producers: Scott Hicks, Susanne Preissler
Director: Scott Hicks
Producers: Scott Hicks, Susanne Preissler
Executive Producers: Kerry Heysen, Roger Sexton
Editor: Stephen Jess
DOP: Scott Hicks
Studio: Kino Film Company
International and Australasian Sales: The Film Sales Company
Synopsis:: In July 2005, filmmaker Scott Hicks started shooting a documentary about the composer Philip Glass to celebrate his 70th anniversary in 2007. Over the next 18 months, Scott followed Philip across three continents – from his annual ride on the Coney Island ‘Cyclone’ roller coaster, to the world premiere of his new opera in Germany and in performance with a didgeridoo virtuoso in Australia. Allowed unprecedented access to Glass’ working process, family life, spiritual teachers and long time collaborators, Hicks gives us a unique glimpse behind the curtain into the life of a surprising and complex man. Glass: a portrait of Philip in twelve parts is a remarkable mosaic portrait of one of the greatest – and at times controversial – artists of this or any era.
Editor: Stephen Jess
DOP: Scott Hicks
Studio: Kino Film Company
International and Australasian Sales: The Film Sales Company
Synopsis:: In July 2005, filmmaker Scott Hicks started shooting a documentary about the composer Philip Glass to celebrate his 70th anniversary in 2007. Over the next 18 months, Scott followed Philip across three continents – from his annual ride on the Coney Island ‘Cyclone’ roller coaster, to the world premiere of his new opera in Germany and in performance with a didgeridoo virtuoso in Australia. Allowed unprecedented access to Glass’ working process, family life, spiritual teachers and long time collaborators, Hicks gives us a unique glimpse behind the curtain into the life of a surprising and complex man. Glass: a portrait of Philip in twelve parts is a remarkable mosaic portrait of one of the greatest – and at times controversial – artists of this or any era.
A Mandalay Motion Pictures Production presented by Kino Films and Independent Media Inc in association with Kojo Pictures.
* The Home Song Stories
(103 minutes)
Writer/Director: Tony Ayres
Producers: Michael McMahon, Liz Watts
Executive Producers: Wouter Barendrecht, Michael J. Werner, Liz Koops and Daniel Yun
Production Companies: Big and Little Films, Porchlight Films
Australian Sales: Dendy Films
International Sales: Fortissimo Films
Cast: Joan Chen, Qi Yuwu, Joel Lok, Irene Chen, Steven Vidler, Kerry Walker
Synopsis: The Home Song Stories is the true story of Rose, a glamorous Shanghai nightclub singer, who struggles to survive in 70s Australia with two young children. Based on writer/director Tony Ayres’ own life, this is an epic tale of mothers and sons, mothers and daughters, unrequited love, betrayal and secrets.
Film Finance Corporation Australia presents in association with Film Victoria, Mediacorp Raintree Pictures, SBS Independent, Fortissimo Films, a Big and Little Films and Porchlight Films Production. The Home Song Stories was also assisted by the Adelaide Film Festival with a marketing loan.
* Night
(90 minutes)
Writer/Director: Lawrence Johnston
Producer: Lizzette Atkins, Lawrence Johnston
Writer/Director: Lawrence Johnston
Producer: Lizzette Atkins, Lawrence Johnston
Production Company: Circe Films
DOP: Laurie McInnes
Editor: Bill Murphy
Composer: Cezary Skubiszewski
International Sales: Becker International
Synopsis: Night is a cinematic feature film that explores the universal nature of night and how we experience it. Night captures the mystery, mood and magic of the night and weaves these images into a lush and dramatic symphonic score. Voices from all walks of life tell stories of their ‘affair’ with the night – the pleasure and the pain, reality and fantasy, at work and at leisure, past and present – and shows how the darkness of the night affects us all.
DOP: Laurie McInnes
Editor: Bill Murphy
Composer: Cezary Skubiszewski
International Sales: Becker International
Synopsis: Night is a cinematic feature film that explores the universal nature of night and how we experience it. Night captures the mystery, mood and magic of the night and weaves these images into a lush and dramatic symphonic score. Voices from all walks of life tell stories of their ‘affair’ with the night – the pleasure and the pain, reality and fantasy, at work and at leisure, past and present – and shows how the darkness of the night affects us all.
Film Finance Corporation Australia presents a Circe Films production in association with Film Victoria, SBS Independent and Rough Trade Pictures. Also developed with the assistance of the Australian Film Commission.
* Romulus, My Father
(103 minutes)
Director: Richard Roxburgh
Writer: Nick Drake
Producers: Robert Connolly, John Maynard
Executive Producers: Andrew Myer, Gary Hamilton, Victor Syrmis
Production Company: Arenafilm Pty Ltd
International Sales: Arclight Films
Australasian Sales: Footprint Films
Cast: Eric Bana, Franka Potente, Marton Csokas, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Russell Dykstra, Jacek Koman
Synopsis: Romulus, My Father is based on Raimond Gaita’s critically acclaimed memoir. It tells the story of Romulus, his beautiful wife Christina and their struggle in the face of great adversity to bring up their son Raimond. It is a story of impossible love that ultimately celebrates the unbreakable bond between father and son.
Film Finance Corporation Australia presents an Arenafilm production in association with The New South Wales Film and Television Office and Pick Up Truck Pictures.
* September
(85 minutes)
Director: Peter Carstairs
Writers: Ant Horn, Peter Carstairs
Producer: John Polson
Co-Producers: Serena Paull, Lynda House
Executive Producers: Tony Forrest, Mark Bamford, Gary Hamilton
Production Company: Tropfest Feature Program
International Sales: Arclight Films
Australasian Distribution: Hopscotch Films
Cast: Clarence John Ryan, Xavier Samuel, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Kelton Pell, Alice McConnell, Lisa Flanagan, Mia Wasikowska
Synopsis: Set in the Australian wheat-belt in 1968, September tells the story of two 16 year old boys, one black and one white, whose pure and unaffected friendship begins to fall apart under the pressures of a changing social and political climate.
Director: Peter Carstairs
Writers: Ant Horn, Peter Carstairs
Producer: John Polson
Co-Producers: Serena Paull, Lynda House
Executive Producers: Tony Forrest, Mark Bamford, Gary Hamilton
Production Company: Tropfest Feature Program
International Sales: Arclight Films
Australasian Distribution: Hopscotch Films
Cast: Clarence John Ryan, Xavier Samuel, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Kelton Pell, Alice McConnell, Lisa Flanagan, Mia Wasikowska
Synopsis: Set in the Australian wheat-belt in 1968, September tells the story of two 16 year old boys, one black and one white, whose pure and unaffected friendship begins to fall apart under the pressures of a changing social and political climate.
The Tropfest Feature Program (TFP) is the production arm of Sony Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival. The TFP is fully funded by Movie Network Channels as part of their ongoing commitment to the Australian film industry. Development and production of September is supported by Movie Network Channels. September was financed with the assistance of Film Finance Corporation Australia and produced in association with The New South Wales Film and Television Office Regional Filming Fund. The TFP was developed with the assistance of the Australian Film Commission and is supported by TressCox Lawyers. September is proudly supported by Kodak Entertainment Imaging.
* Unfinished Sky
(90 minutes)
Writer/Director: Peter Duncan
Producers: Cathy Overett, Anton Smit
Executive Producers: Mark Overett, Hanneke Niens, San Fu Maltha
International Sales: Fortissimo Film Sales
Cast: William McInnes, Monic Hendrickx
Synopsis: John Woldring wakes one morning to find a young woman stumbling semi-consciously towards his farmhouse. She is dark (Middle Eastern perhaps) and has no English. There is great beauty hidden beneath the blood and bruises. She has obviously run from something truly terrible. But John Woldring doesn’t call the police. He will handle this his own way. Has she landed in a sanctuary or another nightmare?
New Holland Productions and Film Finance Corporation Australia in association with Pacific Film and Television Commission and Fortissimo Films in co-operation with IdtV Film and Vara Broadcasting Company with the support of Netherlands Film Fund and CoBO Fund.
[release from Avviso PR for the AFC]