Buoyancy.
Causeway Films will produce writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy, a story set in rural Cambodia that follows a young boy enslaved on a fishing trawler.
Rathjen’s credits include 2013 short film Tau Seru, which premiered at Cannes as part of Critics Week and won Best Australian Short at the Melbourne Film Festival.
Causeway’s Sam Jennings, Kristina Ceyton and Rita Walsh will produce. Michael Latham is the DOP and editor Graeme Pereira. The project has received production investment from Screen Australia, as well as finance from Film Victoria, MIFF Premiere Fund, Aurora Media and post-production company Soundfirm.
Umbrella Entertainment will distribute the film in Australia and New Zealand, with international sales to be handled by Charades and Echo Studio.
“We have supported emerging writer/director Rodd Rathjen through multiple stages of development for Buoyancy and are delighted to see him partner with the talented Causeway Films producing team for this deeply affecting story,” said Screen Australia head of production Sally Caplan.
“Rodd’s well-crafted script is an international story tackling the injustice of human slavery in South East Asia, and we have no doubt this film will engage, educate and move audiences both here and abroad.”