There is a significant local South Australian focus in the new slate of feature film projects backed by the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) at its February Board Meeting held in Adelaide this week.
An Australian western, an Australian-Chinese co-production and a road movie to be shot in the Flinders Ranges all received conditional approval from the SAFC Board, providing a strong and early commitment to the films that will allow them to kick-start the process of raising the remainder of their finance.
These most recent approvals represent significant support for a diverse range of South Australian filmmakers and production companies including Kristian Moliere and Mario Andreacchio as well as supporting several film shoots in metropolitan and regional locations.
Home will be the second collaboration between South Australian Producer Kristian Moliere and NSW Director Kriv Stenders, the team behind the recent highly acclaimed Adelaide Film Festival-funded feature film Boxing Day, and will be shot in and around Adelaide. The SAFC’s backing of Home represents significant recognition for the success of Boxing Day and its role in the career progression of a talented filmmaking partnership.
Set in 1902, Home is a Western seen through the eyes of Tom, a 12-year-old boy, whose father has dragged him and his family to an isolated cabin at the edge of thick bushland with an evangelical dream of farming the land. When three ex-soldiers arrive at their impoverished farm with rumours of gold, the cabin becomes a psychological battleground and Tom discovers that home is no longer the safest place to hide.
The Last Dragon is an official Australian-Chinese co-production between Adelaide based AMPCo Films and Beijing ROSAT Film & TV Production Co Ltd. The film will be produced and directed by AMPCO’s Mario Andreacchio (Elephant Tales, Napoleon, Paradise Found). Secured cashflow support from the SAFC’s Revolving Film Fund provides the final piece in the funding model, underpinning the production of this ambitious film and ensuring AMPCo Films can further develop its business and slate of feature film projects from its Adelaide base.
The Last Dragon tells the story of Josh who is visiting his father who is an archaeologist excavating in China. The dysfunctional relationship between the two is resolved by Josh not only liberating the last dragon which he has uncovered, but also the metaphorical dragons within.
The Last Ride is a contemporary road movie about a young boy and his father on the run from the law, and the price survival demands of love. The Last Ride will be the directorial debut of Cannes 2003 Golden Palm winning Glendyn Ivin (Crackerbag) based on the novel by Denise Young. The Producers are Nick Cole (Director: Water Rats) and Antonia Barnard (Welcome to Woop Woop, Bootmen). Proposed to shoot in outback South Australia, The Last Ride demonstrates the SAFC’s intention to manage the continued support for location based film shoots in South Australia whilst ensuring a strong South Australian involvement.
SAFC CEO Richard Harris said ‘We are delighted to provide early commitments to such a talented range of South Australian filmmakers and production companies. We hope that our backing will give them a strong base from which they can put together the final elements of their finance. The local involvement in each of these projects is significant and these decisions represent the SAFC’s renewed commitment to develop and support SA filmmaking talent.’
Chair of the SAFC and Adelaide Film Festival Cheryl Bart said ‘The diversity of the individuals and projects we have supported demonstrates the outstanding filmmaking talent in this state and bodes well for the future of the film industry in SA. The fact that most of these projects also recently received funding approval from the Adelaide Film Festival highlights the State’s ability to both develop filmmaking talent and also provide an outlet where the general public can see this creativity come alive on the big screen.’
[release from SA Film]