The Haunting in Connecticut, directed by Australian Peter Cornwell, has opened at number two over the weekend at the US box office. The film took $US23 million while Monsters Vs. Aliens took $US59.3 million according to Box Office Mojo. Cornwell previously made the IF Award winning short animated film Ward 13 in 2003.
Beautiful Kate, starring Ben Mendelsohn and directed by Rachel Ward, has shifted its release date to August 6 from its previous date of August 20. The film is being distributed by Roadshow Films. Meanwhile, Queensland-based comedy Subdivision, distributed by Walt Disney, will now be released on August 20, one week late than originally planned.
The 2009 Sydney Film Festival will begin on June 3 and run for 12 days – one week less than last year. The move brings the length of the festival in line with international festivals like Cannes, Toronto and Berlin.