Corroboree, an independent first feature film by producer Matteo Bruno, directed by Ben Hackworth has been invited to screen in the prestigious ‘Discovery’ programme at the Toronto International Film Festival 2007.
Corroboree is written by Ben Hackworth and Peter Savieri and beautifully photographed by Katie Milwright. It stars Rebecca Frith, Susan Lyons, Margaret Mills, Natasha Herbert and newcomer Conor O’Hanlon.
‘I am delighted to be presenting the film at the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s not every year that completely independent features from Australia are recognized overseas’ – Producer, Matteo Bruno.
Corroboree is a portrait of the process of making theatre – a visually stunning film about a dying director’s and motley band of actresses’ atonement of the man’s sins and attempt at some kind of catharsis.
Compared by Cannes selector Laurent Jacob as the work of a ‘modern (Joseph L.) Mankiewicz,’ the film had its world premiere at Sydney Festival, Perth Revelation, Brisbane and Melbourne International Film Festivals (where it had sold out sessions). Toronto Film Festival will be the film’s international premiere.
The festival’s website states, ‘Discovery’ offers a unique window on contemporary international cinema – an introduction to gifted and innovative new directors who are sure to become a household name.
‘I’m really happy that Toronto and its Artistic Directors took a risk with this unusual film. It really gives me hope that there is a place for this kind of cinema,’ says Ben Hackworth.
Director Ben Hackworth’s past credits include Martin Four which screened in official selection at 2001 Cannes Film Festival, and along with his next short Half Sister, went on to screen at many prestigious international film festivals. Ben’s AFC funded short film Violet Lives Upstairs won best short fiction at the Film Critics Circle of Australia in 2003. In 2005, he was accepted into the Cannes Film Festival Residence in Paris (along with Heng Tang is one of two Australians who have been accepted in the residence’s ten year history) where he developed his other feature script for The Serpent. With this script, he has recently been accepted into another famous residency in Normandy to complete the shooting draft.
[release from I Won’t Grow Up]