Press release from Moondance Pictures
An Australian comedy film referencing former Prime Minister John Howard and the “children overboard” scandal has been chosen by Oscar™ winning Michael Moore to screen at his new and exclusive Transverse Film Festival in Michigan during July and August 2009.
Personally chosen by Moore, THE BALL, a film starring comedians Max Gillies (“The Gillies Report”) and Gabby Millgate ("Muriel’s Wedding/Babe Pig in the City) and written and directed by Anny Slater, was recently chosen by the Federal Government for induction into the Australian National Film Collection held at the Sound and Film Archive in Canberra. The film has been described as a “great film” by the festival and a film that Moore “feels should be seen and celebrated” by a wide audience.
The Ball, shot by famous Australian cinematographer Mike Molloy and produced by Melbourne born Slater, and fellow producers Lily Hamdan and Serafina Froio, was shot in Sydney New South Wales. The film pays homage to film maker Jane Campion and the comedy style of British comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. It has screened at more than 60 film festivals around the world, played for the famous Yale University film faculty, been nominated for a United Nations Media Peace award and won a comedy award at the Chicago Institute of Art. The film also qualified for nomination for best live action short at the Academy Awards and was sold to SBS TV.
Slater, a comedy writer and film maker who lives in Sydney said “The Ball was a response to distressing national events. I’m amazed that it has had such an impact around the world but then comedy is most often the most effect way of dealing with social issues that demand attention. I’m also absolutely thrilled and stunned that someone of Michael Moore’s stature has identified the film as one that should be seen and celebrated by a wider audience. Michael is a personal hero of mine”.
Michael Moore started the festival in 2005, and personally programs the festival each year, including a mix of old, new, documentary, independent, and classics, films that that Moore strongly believes in. The Traverse City Film Festival is a charitable and educational non-profit organisation.
Like many Australian films, The Ball was made with support from the Australian film industry including Panavision, Spectrum Films, Huzzah Sound, Frame Set & Match, as well a number of industry professionals and organisations.
Slater added “the level of support that we received through the process was really tremendous, whether it be in the form of advice or access to equipment or facilities. It was that support and goodwill that enabled us to move forward with the project”.
Anny’s latest comedy film “The Seven Trials of Roman Pilgrim” www.theadventuresofroman.com is currently in post production and boasts a score by jazz impresario James Morrison and includes actors including dancer Christopher Horsey, comedians The Topp Twins and Michael Veitch, drummer John Morrison and indigenous actors David Ngoombajora and Taryn Laleen.
Traverse City is located in the northwest corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula in the resort region on Grand Traverse Bay. More about the festival can be found at www.traversecityfilmfestival.org.