‘Sibling Rivalry’.
Producers Jason Byrne, Clayton Jacobson and Tait Brady went to the Australian International Movie Convention last year to “sell” Sibling Rivalry, a black comedy co-starring Clayton and his brother Shane Jacobson, to cinema owners.
Their mission was successful, as 15 exhibitors contributed a total of $180,000 towards the film budgeted at below $2 million, directed by Clayton.
The producers are attending the convention to screen 15 minutes of the film, which is in post, on Wednesday and to pitch their next project, The Girls, a drama which centres on Elsie, an 11-year-old girl who holds her stepfather hostage.
Brady tells IF the aim is to use a similar financing structure for The Girls: private investment, contributions from exhibitors, Screen Australia and Film Victoria.
Brady’s Label will release Sibling Rivalry next May. The Jacobsons play brothers who arrive at the family home in country Victoria intending to murder their stepfather (Kym Gyngell). Sarah Snook plays a young woman who turns up at the house looking to buy a horse. The script is by Jamie Browne (The Mule, Secret Daughter, Please Like Me).
The exhibitors put up the money as an advance against the film hire. As a reward, the Jacobsons will host red carpet screenings at each cinema.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason hailed the innovative funding approach in his address at the convention on Sunday.
“Looking at new and exciting ways to deliver Australian stories is fundamental to the ongoing success and longevity of our industry, and I’m excited by some of the pathways to audiences that we are seeing,” he said.