Screen Australia today announced investment of nearly $965,000 for three films and a feature documentary, estimated to generate more than $6.8 million of production.
Fiona Cameron, Screen Australia’s chief operating officer, said, “This round we have backed a diverse collection of projects that promises audiences an amusing, informative and imaginative experience with innovative narratives and vivid characters.”
Funding was allocated to Madman Productions for the feature A Month of Sundays from writer/director Matthew Saville (Felony, Noise, The Slap, Cloudstreet) and producers Nick Batzias and Kirsty Stark.
The film follows real estate agent Frank Mollard (played by Anthony LaPaglia), whose life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a call from his dead mother, sending him on a journey of redemption.
WildBear Entertainment will receive completion funding for Electric Boogaloo: The Wild Untold Story of Cannon Films, Mark Hartley's doco about movie-obsessed immigrant cousins, Yoram Globus and the late Menahem Golan, who ran an indie studio that became the by-word for schlock before imploding.
Produced by Veronica Fury and Brett Ratner, it will have its international premiere next week at the Toronto International Film Festival in Midnight Madness.
Completion funding has also been allocated to Guerilla Films for zombie genre feature Wyrmwood, which follows Barry, a talented mechanic and family man whose life is torn apart on the eve of a zombie apocalypse as he battles hordes of undead to find his missing sister in the Australian bushland.
Brothers Kiah Roache-Turner (writer/director) and Tristan Roache-Turner (writer/producer) teamed up to make the horror film that has been invited to to the Fantastic Fest, Sitges International Fantasy and Horror Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival.
Unicorn Films, Taylor Media and Gecko Films will receive funding for Sue Brooks' Looking for Grace, the currently-shooting saga of a teenage girl who runs away from home and whose parents enlist the help of a retired detective to try to find her.
Produced by Lizzette Atkins, Sue Taylor and Alison Tilson, the drama stars Richard Roxburgh, Radha Mitchell, Terry Norris and Odessa Young.
Screen Australia also confirmed from the prior board meeting production investment in the second series of Playmaker Media's Love Child, written by Jane Allen, Tim Pye, Cathy Strickland, Tamara Asmar and Chris McCourt, produced by Tom Hoffie and Tim Pye and directed by Shawn Seet, Geoff Bennett and Lynn-Maree Danzey.
FEATURE FILMS: PRODUCTION FUNDING
A MONTH OF SUNDAYS
Madman Production Company Pty Ltd
Producers Nick Batzias, Kirsty Stark
Executive Producer Paul Wiegard
Writer/Director Matthew Saville
Australian Distributor Madman Entertainment
International Sales Voltage Pictures
Cast Anthony LaPaglia
Synopsis Everyone deserves a second chance. Even a real estate agent. Frank Mollard’s life takes an unexpected turn for the better when he receives a phone call from his dead mother.
LOOKING FOR GRACE
Unicorn Films, Taylor Media, Gecko Films
Producers Lizzette Atkins, Sue Taylor, Alison Tilson
Writer/Director Sue Brooks
Australian Distributor Palace Films
International Sales Fortissimo
Cast Richard Roxburgh, Radha Mitchell, Terry Norris, Odessa Young
Synopsis When Grace runs away from home, she and her family have no idea that life as they know it is gone for good.
THEATRICAL DOCUMENTARY: COMPLETION FUNDING
ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS
WildBear Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers Veronica Fury, Brett Ratner
Writer/Director Mark Hartley
Australian Distributor Umbrella Entertainment
International Sales RatPac Documentary Films, Celluloid Dreams, Mongrel Media
Cast Dolph Lundgren, Molly Ringwald, Elliot Gould, Bo Derek, Richard Chamberlain, Just Jaeckin, Franco Nero
Synopsis Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films is a hilarious thrill ride through the bowels of Hollywood’s least-loved indie film studio – where quality was a happy accident.
FEATURE FILM: COMPLETION FUNDING
WYRMWOOD
Guerilla Films Pty Ltd
Producer Tristan Roache-Turner
Executive Producer Jamie Hilton
Director Kiah Roache-Turner
Writers Kiah Roache-Turner, Tristan Roache-Turner
Australian Distributor Studiocanal
International Sales Altitude Film Sales
North American Sales XYZ International Sales
Cast Jay Gallagher, Bianca Bradey, Leon Burchill, Berynn Schwerdt, Keith Agius, Luke McKenzie
Synopsis Barry’s life is torn apart on the eve of a zombie apocalypse as he battles hordes of undead to find his missing sister in the Australian bushland.
TELEVISION DRAMA: PRODUCTION FUNDING
LOVE CHILD SERIES 2
Playmaker Media Pty Ltd
Producers Tom Hoffie, Tim Pye
Executive Producers David Taylor, David Maher, Sue Seeary
Writers Jane Allen, Tim Pye, Cathy Strickland, Tamara Asmar, Chris McCourt
Directors Shawn Seet, Geoff Bennett, Lynn-Maree Danzey
Broadcaster Nine Network
Distributor All 3 Media
Synopsis It’s 1970 and Joan Millar, now a qualified obstetrician, and the young mothers we have come to love are back in the heart of Kings Cross fighting for their rights, for self-empowerment and for each other in a fast-changing world.