As predicted, Roadshow's 'The Dry' has crossed the $20 million mark, making it the 14th highest grossing Australian film of all time.
Australian feature films are currently dominating the box office, with exhibitors reporting a "revitalised" audience appetite for local stories. However, both producers and distributors have concerns about being able to actually get Aussie features off the ground in the future, with the Producer Offset slated to fall from 40 to 30 per cent from July.
Eric Bana and Robert Connolly are set to reunite on a new feature adaptation, this time taking on Tim Winton's 'Blueback'.
With continued paucity of product from the US and other international territories, Australian films remain the main event at the box office.
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.
While we were away: ‘The Dry’ performed for Roadshow; three Aussie projects were selected for Sundance; NITV updated its leadership team; ‘Sissy’ kicked off in Canberra and vale Susie Maizels, esteemed casting director.
Robert Connolly's 'The Dry' stars Eric Bana as Agent Aaron Falk, who returns to his home town after an absence of over 20 years to attend the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke, who allegedly killed his wife and child before taking his own life.
'Penguin Bloom' stars Naomi Watts as Sam Bloom, a young mother whose world is turned upside down after a near-fatal accident leaves her unable to walk.