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Hilary Swank joins Grant Sputore’s ‘I Am Mother’

Hilary Swank. 

Hilary Swank is set to star in Grant Sputore’s debut feature, sci-fi I Am Mother, which recently kicked off production at Adelaide Studios.

I Am Mother is the story of a lonely teenage girl, ‘Daughter’ played by Clara Rugaard (Good Favour, Teen Spirit), the first of a new generation of humans raised by ‘Mother’, a kindly robot designed to repopulate the earth following the extinction of mankind.

However, the bond between ‘Mother’ and ‘Daughter’ is threatened when a blood-drenched woman (Swank) inexplicably arrives, calling into question everything ‘Daughter’ has been told about the outside world.

“It is a privilege to welcome Hilary Swank to our film. She is a remarkable performer who always brings tremendous commitment and honesty to the screen. I’m excited about the journey ahead with Hilary and the talented Clara Rugaard,” said Sputore.

Western Australian Sputore’s debut comes after a successful career in directing commericals. He also made the short film Legacy and completed a director’s attachment with Kriv Stenders on Kill Me Three Times. I Am Mother is based on an original concept from the director and writer Michael Lloyd Green.

Southern Light Films’ Timothy White (Son of a Gun, Sleeping Beauty) and The Penguin Empire’s Kelvin Munro are producing, with Anna Vincent (Embrace) and Lloyd Green co-producing.

EPs are Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis (Good Time), Terry Dougas (Jane Got A Gun) and Jean-Luc De Fanti (The Private Lives of Pippa Lee) from Rhea Films along with Bryce Menzies, Philip Wade, John Wade and Sputore.

Kiwi special effects house WETA Workshop (Avatar, The Lord of the Rings) has created the titular robot. Hugh Bateup (Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending) will lead production design, with costume designer Mariot Kerr (Tracks, the Leftovers).  DOP is Steven Annis, known for creating music videos for the likes of Pink, Lorde and Ed Sheeran, and editor Sean Lahiff (Cargo, Jungle).

I Am Mother has been financed by Hercules Film Investment with Screen Australia and the South Australian Film Corporation, in association with Adelaide Film Festival, Screenwest, Lotterywest, Fin VFX, Blockhead and Kojo.

The ANZ distributor is StudioCanal. Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international sales, with WME Global’s Graham Taylor overseeing the U.S.