Press Release
The Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled a first wave of titles to screen, including new Australian features by Jonathan Teplitzky, Matthew Saville, Ivan Sen and John Curran. The films have been selected for the festival’s premium Gala and Special Presentations programs.
Screen Australia’s Head of Marketing Kathleen Drumm said, “It’s sensational to have these four Australian films screen at Toronto, which is a fantastic platform to launch in the North American marketplace. These films are all compelling and diverse stories and should resonate with international audiences.”
Jonathan Teplitzky’s Second World War drama The Railway Man, starring Oscar® winners Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, will have its world premiere as part of the Gala Presentations program, the festival’s high-profile sidebar. The Australian-UK co-production feature is produced by Andy Paterson, Chris Brown and Bill Curbishley. The film, written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson, is an emotionally-charged true story based on Eric Lomax’s best-selling account of confronting his World War II torturer 30 years on.
Matthew Saville’s thriller Felony will have its world premiere as part of the festival’s Special Presentations program. Joel Edgerton scripts and stars in this story of a decorated cop, whose attempt to hide his complicity in a traffic accident makes him the target of a dogged investigator. The film is produced by Rosemary Blight, Michael Benaroya and Joel Edgerton, and stars Tom Wilkinson, Melissa George and Jai Courtney.
John Curran’s Tracks will screen in a Special Presentation. Mia Wasikowska stars in this astonishing true story of Robyn Davidson, who in 1977 set out on a solo 2,700km journey by foot across the Australian outback. The film is produced by Emile Sherman and Iain Canning and is co-produced by Antonia Barnard and Julie Ryan.
Mystery Road, Ivan Sen’s murder mystery produced by David Jowsey and starring Aaron Pedersen, Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten, will also receive a Special Presentation slot at the festival. The film tells the story of a police detective who undertakes an investigation into the brutal murder of a teenage girl, bringing the town’s long-simmering tensions to the surface.
The Toronto International Film Festival will take place 5–15 September 2013.