The Australian surfing drama Newcastle, featuring Kenny star Shane Jacobsen and recently retired rugby league international Andrew Johns, will have its world premiere in the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival next month.
Revolving around Jesse, a 17-year-old surfer who treads the line between success and self-destruction, Newcastle saturates the senses with magnificent surfing footage and absorbs viewers in the fresh loves and personal tragedies of Jesse and his mates. It is scheduled for release in Australian cinemas later this year.
Set in the coastal town of Newcastle the film has it all: the crash of the surf, the smell of the ocean, a thriving teen culture, music, energy and sublime surfing beaches. Newcastle was shot at Novocastrian surf breaks including Nobby’s, Nine Mile, Redhead, Merewether and Newcastle Beach and is the directorial debut of Dan Castle. The cast is headed up by an ensemble of new stars in the making, supported by veteran Australian actors including AFI Award winner Anthony Hayes (Ned Kelly, Look Both Ways and Rabbit Proof Fence), Barry Otto (Oscar and Lucinda, Cosi and Strictly Ballroom) and Joy Smithers (Bangkok Hilton, Blue Murder) and Shane Jacobson, best known for his role as the inimitable Kenny in the internationally acclaimed film of the same name. Legendary, recently retired, rugby league player Andrew Johns; and seven-times World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley, play themselves.
The Festival will take place April 23 – May 4, 2008 in Lower Manhattan and present a streamlined selection of 122 feature films from 31 different countries, including 55 World Premieres, 10 International Premieres, 26 North American Premieres, eight U.S. Premieres and 18 New York City Premieres. 145 directors will be presenting feature works at the Festival, with 66 of these filmmakers presenting their feature directorial debuts. These films were selected from 2,329 feature submissions.
Newcastle will screen as part of the World Narrative Feature Competition, showcasing a compelling cross section of bold creative visions from every corner of the globe. Presenting established directors and newcomers from Ireland to Mexico and Egypt to China, this international line-up introduces us to an Egyptian radio host, a Swedish vampire, a female trucker, Australian surfers, and takes us into the hearts of personal and political relationships. The twelve films in this section all from different countries will compete for Best New Narrative Film, Best New Narrative Filmmaker and Best Actor and Actress prizes.
[release from Dendy Films]