Roadshow will launch Robert Connolly's 'The Dry' on January 1 and Glendyn Ivin's 'Penguin Bloom' on January 21, raising exhibitors' hopes of a strong start to the year on the proviso that a raft of Hollywood titles are not postponed.
Screen Australia has announced $4 million worth of production investment for one film, two television series and three online projects. They include a film adaptation of book 'Penguin Bloom', starring Naomi Watts and produced by Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories; a second season of ABC series 'Mystery Road'; Nine's 'Seachange' reboot; and 'Roborovski', a VR project from Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Dev Patel.
Settling into the role of CEO at Village Roadshow Ltd, Clark Kirby is energised about the potential for growth in multiple sectors including theme parks, exhibition and TV production.
It's a rare feat for an Australian film to break through to the top of the box office, let alone for two local titles to lead the weekend's rankings - but 'Penguin Bloom' and 'The Dry' have done just that.
Jacki Weaver is starring alongside Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln in 'Penguin Bloom', the adaptation of Bradley Trevor Greive and Cameron Bloom’s novel directed by Glendyn Ivin.
While Glendyn Ivin was directing a TVC in Melbourne over four days last week he felt the mood shift among the crew as the coronavirus deepened.
Most independent Australian distributors are doing it tough, forced to postpone releases while the exhibition business languishes with Victorian cinemas closed and seating capacity restricted in the rest of the country.