Nearly 30 projects will share in $975,000 of story development funding from Screen Australia, including a television series inspired by the 1999 film 'Two Hands' from director Gregor Jordan, and a family feature film from the producers of 'Bluey'.
Georgie Jutland (Kelly Macdonald) is barely holding it together these days without a drink. Once a nurse, now she’s trapped in the backwater fishing port of White Point with local crayfish baron, Jim Buckridge (David Wenham) and his two sons, whose dead mother she can never hope to replace.
One hazy night she sees the lone figure of Lu Fox (Garret Hedlund) appear in the mists of the bay. A long time ago he was a dirt musician, but now he survives as a poacher - an unwise choice given Jim’s iron-grip on the local fishing trade.
Georgie is instantly drawn to Lu, and the pair begin an intense affair. What Georgie doesn’t realise is that the Foxes and the Buckridges have a long, murky history.
Fearing Jim’s fury and haunted by his tragic past, Lu flees north to Coronation Island, a place dear to Georgie’s heart. Discovering Lu has fled, Georgie decides to follow him north with the unlikely help of Jim.
Based on the critically acclaimed novel by iconic Australian writer Tim Winton, Dirt Music is a tale of love and redemption, set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Australian West.
"There's a very beautiful spiritual element to it, that I think is brilliant and I love. But it's a bit out there."
For someone who for years had no aspirations to become a filmmaker, Fadia Abboud’s career has rocketed.
After landing his first lead role in Roadshow Rough Diamond’s 'Australian Gangster', Alexander Bertrand set his sights on playing the title character in the same production house’s 'Les Norton'.
The good news for Australian cinema: Last year ranks as the third biggest ever for Oz films and feature docs released theatrically in the home market
Geraldine Hakewill will play Peregrine Fisher, who inherits a windfall when the famous aunt she never knew, Phryne Fisher, goes missing over the highlands of New Guinea.
David Wenham, Aaron Pedersen, Chris Haywood and singer-songwriter Julia Stone have joined Garrett Hedlund and Kelly Macdonald in 'Dirt Music', Gregor Jordan’s adaptation of the Tim Winton novel.