In a coup for Australia the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program that was announced recently features five Australian short films – Advantage, Crossbow, Dugong, I Love Sarah Jane and Spider.
Advantage is a 10-minute psychological thriller, which explores a couple whose frisky interlude leads into one hell of a night out. Written by Rob Beamish, directed by Sean Byrne and produced by Donna McCrum and Andy Canny, it is the international premiere for the film. Advantage was part of the official selection of the 2007 Melbourne International Film Festival and is an AFC-funded project.
Crossbow is a 14-minute drama written and directed by David Michod and produced by Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford. It is the story of a bad thing that happens to a boy on the front lawn of his house – as told by the boy’s sexually confused neighbour. Crossbow had its international premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September this year and recently won the Film Victoria Erwin Radio Award for Best Australian Short Film at the 2007 Melbourne International Film Festival.
Dugong is the story of a loner and his dog who return home on the day of his brother’s wedding to repair the past. Written and directed by Erin White and produced by Melanie Brunt, Dugong has screened at Aspen Shortfest and the Melbourne International Film Festival.
I Love Sarah Jane was written by Spencer Susser and David Michod, directed by Spencer Susser and produced by Angie Fielder. It is the story of a 13-year-old boy who is trying desperately to become part of Sarah Jane’s world. It is the first international screening for the film.
Spider was written by Nash Edgerton and David Michod, directed by Nash Edgerton and produced by Nicole O’Donohue. Spider is a 9-minute short that is all about fun and games until someone loses an eye. It has screened at numerous international film festivals including Telluride, Prague and Cork Film Festivals, and domestically at both Sydney and Melbourne Film Festivals. Spider recently won the Jury Prize at the AFI/Los Angeles Film Festival and won the audience award at both the Sydney Film Festival and Prague Short Film Festival. It is the fourth short film directed by Nash Edgerton that has screened at Sundance since 2000.
The Sundance Film Festival will run from 17–27 January 2008 in Utah, USA. The work screened is extremely broad and ranges from outrageous animation to fascinating short documentaries, from original and wild comedies to outstanding dramas.
Advantage
(10 minutes)
Director: Sean Byrne
Writer: Rob Beamish
Producer: Donna McCrum and Andy Canny
Production Company: Plus Films
International Sales: Donna McCrum
Cast: Shelly Lauman, Mark Winter
Produced with the assistance of the Australian Film Commission
Synopsis: Get set for one hell of a night.
Crossbow
(14 minutes)
Writer/Director: David Michod
Producers: Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford
DOP: Greig Fraser
Editor: Luke Doolan
Music and Sound Design: Sam Petty
Production Designer: Tarnia Nicol
Cast: Cy Standen, Lisa Chappell, Joel Edgerton, Mirrah Foulkes
Produced with the assistance of the NSW Film and Television Office Young
Filmmakers Fund
Synopsis: A kid. His mum and dad. The sex and drugs. And the boy next door who watched the whole thing unravel.
Dugong
(18 minutes)
Writer/Director: Erin White
Producer: Melanie Brunt
Production Company: Feather Films Pty Ltd
International Sales: Feather Films Pty Ltd
Cast: Luke Elliot, Sue Jones, Brandon Burns, Anya Beyersdorf
Produced with the assistance of Film Victoria
Synopsis: A loner and his dog return home on the day of his brother’s wedding to repair the past, but he learns that in order to make amends, he must leave a piece of himself behind.
I Love Sarah Jane
(14 minutes)
Director: Spencer Susser
Writer: Spencer Susser and David Michod
Producer: Angie Fielder
Executive Producers: Mike Seymour, Nash Edgerton, Spencer Susser
Production Companies: The Last Picture Company/FX PHD
Australian Sales: Angie Fielder, Aquarius Films
International Sales: Angie Fielder, Aquarius Films
Cast: Brad Ashby, Mia Wasikowska, Vladimir Matovic, Richard Mueck, Beau South, Peter Yacoub
Synopsis: Jimbo is 13. All he can think about is one girl, Sarah Jane. And no matter what stands in his way – bullies, violence, chaos, zombies – nothing is going to stop him from finding a way into her world.
Spider
(9 minutes)
Director: Nash Edgerton
Writers: Nash Edgerton and David Michod
Producer: Nicole O’Donohue
Production Company: Blue Tongue Films
International Sales: Nash Edgerton
Cast: Nash Edgerton, Chum Ehelepola, Miriam Foulkes, Tony Lynch
Synopsis: It’s all about fun and games until someone loses an eye.
[release from Avviso PR for the AFC]