Screen Australia plans to invest $5.5 million in three new feature projects: the Spierig brothers' Predestination, Rolf de Heer’s Charlie’s Country and Greg McLean's Wolf Creek 2.
Predestination is a film-noir, science-fiction, crime-thriller from writer/directors Michael and Peter Spierig (Daybreakers) while indigenous tragi-comedy Charlie's Country will once again pair director Rolf de Heer with Australian actor David Gulpilil (The Tracker).
Screen Australia also re-confirmed its previous commitment to the horror feature Wolf Creek 2, from director Greg McLean, after the film was delayed following a disagreement with major financier Geoffrey Edelsten.
“These three diverse feature projects supported by Screen Australia today come from some of the most exciting filmmaking teams in Australia,” said Screen Australia’s chief executive Ruth Harley in a statement.
“Predestination is a strong script which will be executed by a proven and talented team passionate about the sci-fi genre. Charlie’s Country continues a tradition of Rolf de Heer’s previous films The Tracker and Ten Canoes which combines cultural significance with commercial and critical potential.
"The long-awaited return of the mad killer Mick Taylor in the sequel to Wolf Creek comes from an experienced team which can take advantage of the significant pre-existing market awareness both in Australia and overseas."
The $5.5 million investment is expected to trigger $17 million in production, according to Screen Australia.
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.
CHARLIE’S COUNTRY
Vertigo Productions Pty Ltd
Synopsis: Rolf de Heer and David Gulpilil collaborate to create a tragi-comic portrait of Charlie’s struggle to understand how he should define himself as an Aboriginal in modern Australia.
Producers: Nils Erik Nielsen, Peter Djigirr
Writer/Director: Rolf de Heer
International Sales: Fandango Portobello
Australian Distributor: Hopscotch
Cast: David Gulpilil
PREDESTINATION
Wolfhound Pictures/Blacklab Entertainment
Synopsis: Chronicles the life of a temporal agent who on his final assignment must recruit his younger self, while pursuing the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time.Producers Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan
Writer/Directors: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
International Sales: Arclight Films
Australian Distributor: Pinnacle Films
WOLF CREEK 2
Emu Creek Pictures Pty Ltd
Synopsis: The outback once again becomes a place of mind-bending horror, action and suspense as another unwitting backpacker becomes prey for crazed, serial-killing pig-shooter, Mick Taylor.Producer/Writer/Director: Greg McLean
Producers: Helen Leake, Steve Topic
Writer: Aaron Sterns
International Sales: Arclight Films
Australian Distributor: Roadshow Films