Press release from Film Victoria
Regional Victoria takes centre stage this week as Mildura plays host to the official regional premiere of SUMMER CODA on Friday, 1 October.
SUMMER CODA, filmed in and around Mildura, is the first feature film from Victorian production team, Revival Film Company. Produced, written and directed by Richard Gray with producers Marc Goldenfein and John Finemore, the romantic drama was supported by Film Victoria through the Regional Location Assistance Fund, Production Investment and Fiction Feature Film Development programmes.
Set amongst the stunning orange groves of sun-baked Mildura, SUMMER CODA stars Rachel Taylor as Heidi, a girl returning home to a family she’s never known and Alex Dimitriades as Michael, an orange grove owner and wounded soul. Angus Samson and Jacki Weaver also star in the film, which debuted to a sold out audience at the Melbourne International Film Festival earlier this year.
Film Victoria CEO Sandra Sdraulig said SUMMER CODA was a perfect example of what regional Victoria can offer for local and international productions, particularly in terms of locations. “Promoting regional Victoria as a world-class filming destination brings a wide range of economic and cultural benefits to the state.”
“SUMMER CODA spent more than $200,000, created more than 50 jobs for the local community, and attracted more than 300 crew members to the region during filming. This regional premiere is a fantastic opportunity for the community and filmmakers to celebrate their achievement.”
SUMMER CODA’s writer, director and producer Richard Grey found Film Victoria’s assistance and the generosity of the community invaluable.
“Filming in Mildura brought immense value to our production. The whole community got behind us and contributed greatly, helping us with locations, crew, catering and of course extras. These channels were opened to us through Film Victoria, helping us achieve stunning results on a limited budget.”
Ms Sdraulig continued, “By developing partnerships with local councils and communities through our Regional Film Strategy, Location Victoria, we’re working together to ensure both the productions and the communities embrace regional filming, and are able to promote their great locations and production package to screen practitioners.”
Since its launch in 2005, Location Victoria has worked with Victoria’s 48 provincial councils on seven film attraction websites, and many now have film policies or guidelines.
Since the Regional Locations Assistance Fund was introduced in 1999, more than $19 million has been generated for regional Victoria and 500 full time equivalent job opportunities created for regional Victorians. Recent productions filmed in regional Victoria with the assistance of Film Victoria include WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, SOUTH SOLITARY, THE KILLER ELITE and THE CUP.
SUMMER CODA opens in cinemas on 21 October 2010. For more information relating to Film Victoria’s Location Victoria initiative, visit www.film.vic.gov.au.
For more information regarding Victoria’s magnificent filming locations, visit our Locations Gallery at www.filmmelbournelocations.com. For more information on the region visit www.filmnorthwestvictoria.com.