While Jennifer Kent’s 'The Nightingale' has achieved an 86 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes since the world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, many critics have described the tale of rape, murder as revenge as harrowing and bleak.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason recognises the structural challenges facing independent films but does not subscribe to the view that this is a down year for Australian cinema.
Most Australian films are caught in a catch 22: Independent distributors are constrained in how much they can spend on P&A.
'Downton Abbey' continues its box office domination, having now taken over $7 million in two weeks and beating out new releases 'Ad Astra', 'Good Boys' and 'Rambo: Last Blood'.
The disappearance of eOne from the theatrical distribution landscape in Australia/New Zealand is being lamented by exhibitors, producers, former staffers and even rival distributors.
The 18 Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas since the start of the year, plus holdovers, have racked up a modest $14.3 million.
Rachel Ward’s Palm Beach, a comedy-drama about a group of lifelong friends reuniting to celebrate a special birthday, will open the Sydney Film Festival at the State Theatre on Wednesday June 5.
Some 34 feature films will compete for nominations for this year's AACTA Awards, and the longlist covers diverse range of titles, from box office earners like 'Top End Wedding' and 'Storm Boy', through to the critically lauded 'The Nightingale' and micro budget indies like 'Suburban Wildlife'.