Shout Factory distribution and production arm Shout! Studios has taken up North American rights to Jacob and Ben Burghart's 'Head Count', a neo-Western thriller being produced by Victorian-based Continuance Pictures and starring Aaron Jakubenko, Melanie Zanetti, and Ryan Kwanten.
A newly launched independent feature film pitching competition is offering funds and a way forward to its winner, with $30,000 and a series of mentoring sessions included in the first prize package.
High-profile talent on both sides of camera punctuate the four feature films, three television dramas, and one virtual reality project that will share in more than $6.5 million of production funding from Screen Australia.
While some distributors are cutting back, Umbrella Entertainment plans to release 19 titles in cinemas this year, up from 14 in 2019.