Lion.
Saroo and Sue Brierley, whose story is at the heart of Garth Davis’s first feature Lion, will attend the AIMC premiere of the film.
The Brierleys will be be special guests at the red carpet event presented by Screen Australia and Transmission Films on October 12.
The film is adapted from the true story A Long Way Home, written by Saroo.
Saroo was five when he found himself on a train bound the wrong direction from his home in northern India. Frightened and bewildered, he ended up forced to live on the streets of Kolkata, thousands of kilometres away. He was then adopted by an Australian couple and brought up in Tasmania wondering if he would ever see his Indian family again. Using memories and Google Earth, he tracked down his birth mother and her family.
Lion was lauded at the recent Toronto Film Festival, named as first runner-up in the People’s Choice Award (coming in second to La La Land, also set to screen at AIMC courtesy of distrib eOne).
“Lion is very keenly anticipated by the exhibition community," said AIMC executive director Michael Hawkins. "We are delighted to be able to host the AIMC premiere of this remarkable story, and the accompanying specially themed outdoor function, and welcome Saroo and Sue Brierley."
AIMC Chairman Terry Jackman AM, said: “Lion whet exhibitors’ appetites with a panel presentation last year and they’re now hungry to see the finished film, especially with all the fantastic buzz coming out of Toronto.”
Lion stars Nicole Kidman (The Railway Man, The Hours), Dev Patel (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Slumdog Millionaire), Rooney Mara (Carol, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and David Wenham (Goldstone, Lord of the Rings).
"We're excited to at last be sharing this incredibly special film. Lion's journey into the world is only beginning, and we couldn't be happier to bring Saroo and Sue to the convention to experience the screening with all of the delegates,” said Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie of Transmission Films.
Lion comes from the Academy-Award® winning producers of The King's Speech (Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, See-Saw Films), with Aquarius Films' producer Angie Fielder (Wish You Were Here), in association with Sunstar Entertainment, and is directed by Davis (Top of the Lake) from a screenplay by Luke Davies (Candy, Life).