More often than not, an internationally known freedom fighter will have a personality and temperament as heroic as the actions that made him famous. Just look at Nelson Mandela, Alexei Navalny, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, or — as controversial a figure as he remains — Edward Snowden, who for 10 years has conducted himself as a profile in courage. But there are times when the personal and the political don’t sit so easily in the same person.
Julian Assange is one of those people. From the moment he launched WikiLeaks, the renegade website that provided an anonymous home for journalists and whistleblowers to spill the secrets and dump the documents of global power, there was an air of absolutism about him, a bombs-away belief in the rightness of his actions that teetered, at times, into anarchistic recklessness. Assange, like Snowden, exposed important revelations about how governments, in particular the government of the United States,...
Julian Assange is one of those people. From the moment he launched WikiLeaks, the renegade website that provided an anonymous home for journalists and whistleblowers to spill the secrets and dump the documents of global power, there was an air of absolutism about him, a bombs-away belief in the rightness of his actions that teetered, at times, into anarchistic recklessness. Assange, like Snowden, exposed important revelations about how governments, in particular the government of the United States,...
- 3/4/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
New releases this weekend include ‘Brian And Charles’ and Julian Assange documentary ‘Ithaka’.
Hoping to storm to the top of the UK-Ireland box office this weekend is Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love And Thunder, which is opening for Disney in 690 locations – making it the widest ever release in the territory from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The fourth film in the Thor series sees Chris Hemsworth return as the Asgardian god, and reunited with Natalie Portman as a super-powered Jane Foster. Together, they must square off a new villain, played by Christian Bale. Tessa Thompson and Russell Crowe also star.
It...
Hoping to storm to the top of the UK-Ireland box office this weekend is Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love And Thunder, which is opening for Disney in 690 locations – making it the widest ever release in the territory from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The fourth film in the Thor series sees Chris Hemsworth return as the Asgardian god, and reunited with Natalie Portman as a super-powered Jane Foster. Together, they must square off a new villain, played by Christian Bale. Tessa Thompson and Russell Crowe also star.
It...
- 7/8/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
The story of Julian Assange has never been too far from the headlines. The WikiLeaks founder reaped the whirlwind after it leaked a slew of US documents in 2010, including footage from a Baghdad airstrike in which civilians and journalists were shown to be targeted by US forces, via The Guardian, The New York Times and Der Spiegel. As the US began an investigation, Sweden issued an international arrest warrant for Assange – something which brought him even further into the news spotlight as he sought refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy.
These historical elements are present in Ben Lawrence’s documentary – explained via intertitles and illustrated by reportage from the time – but he largely approaches this story not via Assange himself, but from the point of view of his father John Shipton and then-fiancée Stella Moris (the pair wed this March) as, following his exit from the Embassy and...
These historical elements are present in Ben Lawrence’s documentary – explained via intertitles and illustrated by reportage from the time – but he largely approaches this story not via Assange himself, but from the point of view of his father John Shipton and then-fiancée Stella Moris (the pair wed this March) as, following his exit from the Embassy and...
- 7/6/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Affecting documentary focuses on the family of the WikiLeaks founder, with whom it is perhaps easier to sympathise
The trials of Julian Assange go on: there is no end in sight to his incarceration on remand in London’s brutal Belmarsh prison pending the renewal of the US government’s extradition request, which almost certainly would put him in an American supermax jail for the rest of his life. This film, directed by Ben Lawrence and produced by Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton, tells the heart-rending personal story of his family’s battle to free him.
No public figure has had a more wildly fluctuating reputation on the political stock exchange, with the possible exception of Aung San Suu Kyi. As one media pundit says here: people have almost forgotten what they think of Assange. In 2010, the founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks sensationally exposed evidence of US war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq,...
The trials of Julian Assange go on: there is no end in sight to his incarceration on remand in London’s brutal Belmarsh prison pending the renewal of the US government’s extradition request, which almost certainly would put him in an American supermax jail for the rest of his life. This film, directed by Ben Lawrence and produced by Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton, tells the heart-rending personal story of his family’s battle to free him.
No public figure has had a more wildly fluctuating reputation on the political stock exchange, with the possible exception of Aung San Suu Kyi. As one media pundit says here: people have almost forgotten what they think of Assange. In 2010, the founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks sensationally exposed evidence of US war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq,...
- 7/6/2022
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Universal’s keenly anticipated animation “Minions: The Rise Of Gru” debuted atop the U.K. and Ireland box office with £10.4 million (12.5 million), according to numbers released by Comscore.
Warner Bros,’ “Elvis,” which had debuted in pole position last week, slid down a place to second with £2.9 million for a total of £10.1 million. Paramount’s Tom Cruise vehicle “Top Gun: Maverick” continued its strong flight at the U.K. box office with £2.6 million in third place and now has a total of £67.9 million after six weekends.
In fourth place, Universal’s “Jurassic World: Dominion” collected £1.8 million in its fourth weekend for a total of £30.4 million. Rounding off the top five was Disney’s “Lightyear” with £864,035 in its third weekend for a total of £8.5 million.
Picturehouse Entertainment’s Cannes and multiple Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards winner “Nitram” debuted in 10th place with £41,909.
In another reminder of the territory’s continuing appetite for documentaries,...
Warner Bros,’ “Elvis,” which had debuted in pole position last week, slid down a place to second with £2.9 million for a total of £10.1 million. Paramount’s Tom Cruise vehicle “Top Gun: Maverick” continued its strong flight at the U.K. box office with £2.6 million in third place and now has a total of £67.9 million after six weekends.
In fourth place, Universal’s “Jurassic World: Dominion” collected £1.8 million in its fourth weekend for a total of £30.4 million. Rounding off the top five was Disney’s “Lightyear” with £864,035 in its third weekend for a total of £8.5 million.
Picturehouse Entertainment’s Cannes and multiple Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards winner “Nitram” debuted in 10th place with £41,909.
In another reminder of the territory’s continuing appetite for documentaries,...
- 7/5/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
From his Belmarsh wedding to his skateboarding round Ecuador’s embassy, Ithaka tells the story of the WikiLeaks founder’s extradition battle, through the eyes of his hard-campaigning father
The poem Ithaka, written in 1911 by the Greek writer Constantine Cavafy, opens with the lines: “As you set out for Ithaka / hope that your journey is a long one / full of adventure, full of discovery.” It has given a new documentary about Julian Assange both its title and, in many ways, its theme. The film follows Assange’s 76-year-old father, John Shipton, on his own long and winding road to try to save his son from US jail on espionage charges, resulting from the state secrets revealed by WikiLeaks, the organisation Assange founded.
The film – made by Australian director Ben Lawrence and produced by Gabriel Shipton, Assange’s brother – is released in Britain at a crucial stage in the journey. Two weeks ago,...
The poem Ithaka, written in 1911 by the Greek writer Constantine Cavafy, opens with the lines: “As you set out for Ithaka / hope that your journey is a long one / full of adventure, full of discovery.” It has given a new documentary about Julian Assange both its title and, in many ways, its theme. The film follows Assange’s 76-year-old father, John Shipton, on his own long and winding road to try to save his son from US jail on espionage charges, resulting from the state secrets revealed by WikiLeaks, the organisation Assange founded.
The film – made by Australian director Ben Lawrence and produced by Gabriel Shipton, Assange’s brother – is released in Britain at a crucial stage in the journey. Two weeks ago,...
- 6/30/2022
- by Duncan Campbell
- The Guardian - Film News
A French comedy following an oddball duo on an unconventional road trip and an Australian documentary about four refugees that compete in the World Wine Blind Tasting Championships have topped the audience awards at this year’s Sydney Film Festival.
Bernard Campan and Alexandre Jollien’s Beautiful Minds and Robert Coe and Warwick Ross’ Blind Ambition were voted number one feature film and documentary respectively, following the announcement of the official awards on Sunday.
Inspired by the real-life experiences of Jollien, Beautiful Minds details an unlikely friendship between workaholic funeral director Louis (Campan) and Igor (Jollien), a grocery worker with cerebral palsy, as a chance encounter leads them on a journey across France, during which they discuss everything from Nietzsche to being pigeon-holed.
France also features heavily in Blind Ambition as the setting for World Wine Blind Tasting Championships that Zimbabweans Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin, and Pardon set out to attend.
Bernard Campan and Alexandre Jollien’s Beautiful Minds and Robert Coe and Warwick Ross’ Blind Ambition were voted number one feature film and documentary respectively, following the announcement of the official awards on Sunday.
Inspired by the real-life experiences of Jollien, Beautiful Minds details an unlikely friendship between workaholic funeral director Louis (Campan) and Igor (Jollien), a grocery worker with cerebral palsy, as a chance encounter leads them on a journey across France, during which they discuss everything from Nietzsche to being pigeon-holed.
France also features heavily in Blind Ambition as the setting for World Wine Blind Tasting Championships that Zimbabweans Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin, and Pardon set out to attend.
- 11/16/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Australian film maker Gabriel Shipton wants his new documentary “Ithaka”, which will have its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on Sunday, to shine a new perspective on his brother, the polarizing Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange.
“It’s a story that’s never been told before,” Shipton, who produced the film, told Variety. “We’ve learned Julian’s story through media headlines, but I wanted to tell this story through his family. To explore the human side that people haven’t seen.”
“Ithaka” begins in April 2019 when the images of Assange, arrested and dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy in London were splashed across screens worldwide. From there writer-director Ben Lawrence (“Hearts and Bones”) focuses on Assange’s 76-year-old father John Shipton, and Assange’s former secret fiancée, Stella Moris. They have spent the past two years relentlessly campaigning for Assange’s release, while trying to assemble some normality into...
“It’s a story that’s never been told before,” Shipton, who produced the film, told Variety. “We’ve learned Julian’s story through media headlines, but I wanted to tell this story through his family. To explore the human side that people haven’t seen.”
“Ithaka” begins in April 2019 when the images of Assange, arrested and dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy in London were splashed across screens worldwide. From there writer-director Ben Lawrence (“Hearts and Bones”) focuses on Assange’s 76-year-old father John Shipton, and Assange’s former secret fiancée, Stella Moris. They have spent the past two years relentlessly campaigning for Assange’s release, while trying to assemble some normality into...
- 11/4/2021
- by Katherine Tulich
- Variety Film + TV
Ben Lawrence’s feature documentary Ithaka follows Julian Assange’s father, John Shipton, as he fights to free his son.
The film begins with Assange’s arrest from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and using Julian’s extradition hearing as a framework, charts an intimate story of a family’s crisis.
It is produced by Gabriel Shipton, Julian’s brother, and features music from Brian Eno.
Ithaka makes its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, where it will compete for the Documentary Australia Foundation Award. Lawrence previously won the prize in 2018 for his film Ghosthunter.
The post ‘Ithaka’ (Trailer) appeared first on If Magazine.
The film begins with Assange’s arrest from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and using Julian’s extradition hearing as a framework, charts an intimate story of a family’s crisis.
It is produced by Gabriel Shipton, Julian’s brother, and features music from Brian Eno.
Ithaka makes its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, where it will compete for the Documentary Australia Foundation Award. Lawrence previously won the prize in 2018 for his film Ghosthunter.
The post ‘Ithaka’ (Trailer) appeared first on If Magazine.
- 10/28/2021
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Members of the Australian Directors’ Guild have had the chance to hear from some of the country’s most established filmmakers over the past five months as part of the Adg-40 ‘First-Hand’ sessions.
Consisting of 40 weekly one-hour webinars fronted by industry mentors, the initiative is due to start again this week following a short break, with Claire McCarthy (The Turning) to share insights from her career on Thursday.
It comes after contributions from Gillian Armstrong, Rachel Perkins, Rolf de Heer, Samantha Lang, Corrie Chen, Ben Lawrence, Ana Kokkinos, Megan Riakos, Josephine Mackerras, Robert Connolly, Garth Davis, Sally Aitken, Jub Clerc, Kriv Stenders, Tom Zubrycki, Anna Broinowski, Peter Andrikidis, Jasmin Tarasin, and Glendyn Ivin.
The sessions are moderated by Adg strategy and development executive Ana Tiwary who is responsible for collating questions from those tuning in.
She has tried to focus on topics covering the practical aspects of directing that cannot be learned from a book,...
Consisting of 40 weekly one-hour webinars fronted by industry mentors, the initiative is due to start again this week following a short break, with Claire McCarthy (The Turning) to share insights from her career on Thursday.
It comes after contributions from Gillian Armstrong, Rachel Perkins, Rolf de Heer, Samantha Lang, Corrie Chen, Ben Lawrence, Ana Kokkinos, Megan Riakos, Josephine Mackerras, Robert Connolly, Garth Davis, Sally Aitken, Jub Clerc, Kriv Stenders, Tom Zubrycki, Anna Broinowski, Peter Andrikidis, Jasmin Tarasin, and Glendyn Ivin.
The sessions are moderated by Adg strategy and development executive Ana Tiwary who is responsible for collating questions from those tuning in.
She has tried to focus on topics covering the practical aspects of directing that cannot be learned from a book,...
- 9/6/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Sydney Film Festival has announced the films to compete for the Documentary Australia Foundation (Daf) Award for Australian Documentary, with a 12-strong line-up to mark the prize’s 12th anniversary.
The winning film will be presented with $10,000 at the festival’s closing night in November.
All docs were selected for the festival’s original August date, but the move to later in the year means a number of the films, such as Sbs’s Australia Uncovered projects Strong Female Lead, The Bowraville Murders, The Department and Incarceration Nation, will have broadcast already. Others, like Gracie Otto’s Under the Volcano, are in digital release.
Its a challenge for the festival to grapple with, but given the disrupted nature of this year, it may still be first chance for many of the filmmakers to have their work screen in front of a live audience.
And, notably, there is still a world...
The winning film will be presented with $10,000 at the festival’s closing night in November.
All docs were selected for the festival’s original August date, but the move to later in the year means a number of the films, such as Sbs’s Australia Uncovered projects Strong Female Lead, The Bowraville Murders, The Department and Incarceration Nation, will have broadcast already. Others, like Gracie Otto’s Under the Volcano, are in digital release.
Its a challenge for the festival to grapple with, but given the disrupted nature of this year, it may still be first chance for many of the filmmakers to have their work screen in front of a live audience.
And, notably, there is still a world...
- 9/1/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
A trio of music icons and a legendary racehorse are among the subjects of 10 projects to receive $2.3 million in documentary production funding from Screen Australia.
Of the those earmarked for funding, eight will be supported through the Producer Program, and two through the Commissioned Program.
They include feature documentaries about John Farnham, Ruby Hunter, and Archie Roach, as well as racehorse Winx.
There is also a follow-up to the 2016 documentary Embrace, entitled Embrace Kids.
Screen Australia head of documentary Alex West said an “impressive mix” of projects had rounded out the agency’s documentary funding for 2019/20.
“It’s great to support so many feature documentaries covering a range of exciting topics, including shining a light on a number of Australian icons, and I’m confident they will captivate audiences,” he said.
The Commissioned Program projects are:
Nurses: A 10-part series from ITV Studios Australia for the Seven Network about the nurses in Nsw.
Of the those earmarked for funding, eight will be supported through the Producer Program, and two through the Commissioned Program.
They include feature documentaries about John Farnham, Ruby Hunter, and Archie Roach, as well as racehorse Winx.
There is also a follow-up to the 2016 documentary Embrace, entitled Embrace Kids.
Screen Australia head of documentary Alex West said an “impressive mix” of projects had rounded out the agency’s documentary funding for 2019/20.
“It’s great to support so many feature documentaries covering a range of exciting topics, including shining a light on a number of Australian icons, and I’m confident they will captivate audiences,” he said.
The Commissioned Program projects are:
Nurses: A 10-part series from ITV Studios Australia for the Seven Network about the nurses in Nsw.
- 7/13/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Jen Peedom’s River and Ben Lawrence’s Ithaka add to the already strong contingent of local films bound for August’s Melbourne International Film Festival, which unveiled its full program today.
Miff 2021 will include a hefty 283 titles, including 199 features, 84 shorts and 10 Xr experiences. Among them are 40 world premieres; the most in the festival’s 69 year history.
Some 62 of those films will be available nationally via Miff Play, the festival’s online screening platform, with the festival reimagined this year as a hybrid event.
“This year, Miff continues to evolve — to meet the moment, and to meet audiences where they are,” said artistic director Al Cossar.
“What will not change is the extraordinary lineup of cinematic adventures, from home and afar, waiting for them. These are anticipated festival blockbusters, experimentations, breakthrough discoveries, and a huge lineup of incredible Australian talent. We will again share a world of cinema, reignited, to...
Miff 2021 will include a hefty 283 titles, including 199 features, 84 shorts and 10 Xr experiences. Among them are 40 world premieres; the most in the festival’s 69 year history.
Some 62 of those films will be available nationally via Miff Play, the festival’s online screening platform, with the festival reimagined this year as a hybrid event.
“This year, Miff continues to evolve — to meet the moment, and to meet audiences where they are,” said artistic director Al Cossar.
“What will not change is the extraordinary lineup of cinematic adventures, from home and afar, waiting for them. These are anticipated festival blockbusters, experimentations, breakthrough discoveries, and a huge lineup of incredible Australian talent. We will again share a world of cinema, reignited, to...
- 7/12/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Outgoing Screen Australia head of First Nations Penny Smallacombe is set to join Bunya Media Group as a producer.
Smallacombe will produce a number of the company’s upcoming projects, including Sbs drama series Copping It Black, working with directors Erica Glynn and Steven McGregor, who both penned the script with Danielle Maclean.
While at Screen Australia, Smallacombe helped shepherd to screen several Bunya Productions projects, including ABC series Mystery Road, Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country and Ivan Sen’s Goldstone, as well as helping to facilitate Bunya Talent Hub LA.
Smallacombe, a Maramanindji woman from the Northern Territory, tells If she has loved Bunya’s “big, bold” output over the past few years, and considers it a privilege to join the team. She is keen to use her new role to continue to bring authentic First Nations stories to screen, particularly from exciting new talent.
“They’re a trusted...
Smallacombe will produce a number of the company’s upcoming projects, including Sbs drama series Copping It Black, working with directors Erica Glynn and Steven McGregor, who both penned the script with Danielle Maclean.
While at Screen Australia, Smallacombe helped shepherd to screen several Bunya Productions projects, including ABC series Mystery Road, Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country and Ivan Sen’s Goldstone, as well as helping to facilitate Bunya Talent Hub LA.
Smallacombe, a Maramanindji woman from the Northern Territory, tells If she has loved Bunya’s “big, bold” output over the past few years, and considers it a privilege to join the team. She is keen to use her new role to continue to bring authentic First Nations stories to screen, particularly from exciting new talent.
“They’re a trusted...
- 5/26/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
To celebrate the 40 years since its inception, the Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg) will launch a series of mentoring sessions from some of its most high profile members, starting this week.
Adg-40 ‘First-Hand’ consists of 40 60-minute Zoom forums in a moderated Q&a format that will be held each Tuesday and Thursday from April 8.
Each Adg-40 ‘First-Hand’ webinar will be provided free-of-charge to Adg members across Australia and will include on-notice and ‘from the floor’ questions.
Adg strategy and development executive Ana Tiwary will moderate the forums, with president Samantha Lang to introduce the inaugural session mentor – Adg’s first president, Gillian Armstrong.
Armstrong said she was “delighted” to have the opportunity to “hopefully assist and inspire” the next generation of director members.
“It’s hard to believe it’s 40 years since a passionate and noisy group of us gathered around my kitchen table to form some sort of guild to protect Australian directors,...
Adg-40 ‘First-Hand’ consists of 40 60-minute Zoom forums in a moderated Q&a format that will be held each Tuesday and Thursday from April 8.
Each Adg-40 ‘First-Hand’ webinar will be provided free-of-charge to Adg members across Australia and will include on-notice and ‘from the floor’ questions.
Adg strategy and development executive Ana Tiwary will moderate the forums, with president Samantha Lang to introduce the inaugural session mentor – Adg’s first president, Gillian Armstrong.
Armstrong said she was “delighted” to have the opportunity to “hopefully assist and inspire” the next generation of director members.
“It’s hard to believe it’s 40 years since a passionate and noisy group of us gathered around my kitchen table to form some sort of guild to protect Australian directors,...
- 4/5/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Ben Lawrence and Beatrix Christian’s Hearts and Bones was named best original feature film screenplay at the Australian Writers’ Guild’s annual Awgie Awards yesterday evening, while Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps took home the adaptation prize for Penguin Bloom.
Two of 2019’s top dramas, The Hunting, written by Niki Aken and Matthew Cormack, and Total Control (Episode 3), by Pip Karmel, were recognised in the television categories, while The Heights, lauded for its depiction of contemporary Australia, won Peter Mattessi the Awgie in the television serial category, ending a run of 16-straight years for Neighbours and Home and Away.
Playwright Suzie Miller’s critically acclaimed one-woman play Prima Facie took out the evening’s highest honours, winning the 2020 Major Award, the David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre, and in the stage category.
The one-woman play holds a mirror up to the Australian legal system, exposing...
Two of 2019’s top dramas, The Hunting, written by Niki Aken and Matthew Cormack, and Total Control (Episode 3), by Pip Karmel, were recognised in the television categories, while The Heights, lauded for its depiction of contemporary Australia, won Peter Mattessi the Awgie in the television serial category, ending a run of 16-straight years for Neighbours and Home and Away.
Playwright Suzie Miller’s critically acclaimed one-woman play Prima Facie took out the evening’s highest honours, winning the 2020 Major Award, the David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre, and in the stage category.
The one-woman play holds a mirror up to the Australian legal system, exposing...
- 12/8/2020
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
More than 50% of the Awards won by female directors
The Australian Directors’ Guild announced the winners of the 2020 Adg Awards last month via a virtual ceremony hosted from Sydney.
The Awards were notable for the number of female directors to win Adg Awards – 10 of the 19 Awards were won by women, a reflection of the industry’s move towards gender parity.
The Adg thanks its sponsors for their support in making the Awards such as great success.
Principal Partner
1. Asdacs
Major Partners
1. Media Super
2. Kaleidoscope
Major Government Partners
1. Screen Australia
2. Create Nsw/City of Sydney
Gold
1. ABC
2. Panavision
3. The Post Lounge
4. Dockland Studios Melbourne
5. Animal Logic
6. Screenrights
7. Aftrs
8. Fremantle
9. Actf
Silver
1. Seven
Bronze
1. Shanahan
2. Photoplay
Supporters
1. Hla
2. Rgm
3. Creative Content Australia
Ben Lawrence has took out the Best Direction of a Feature Film (Budget $1M or over) Award for Hearts & Bones.
Amongst the many female directors to be applauded this year,...
The Australian Directors’ Guild announced the winners of the 2020 Adg Awards last month via a virtual ceremony hosted from Sydney.
The Awards were notable for the number of female directors to win Adg Awards – 10 of the 19 Awards were won by women, a reflection of the industry’s move towards gender parity.
The Adg thanks its sponsors for their support in making the Awards such as great success.
Principal Partner
1. Asdacs
Major Partners
1. Media Super
2. Kaleidoscope
Major Government Partners
1. Screen Australia
2. Create Nsw/City of Sydney
Gold
1. ABC
2. Panavision
3. The Post Lounge
4. Dockland Studios Melbourne
5. Animal Logic
6. Screenrights
7. Aftrs
8. Fremantle
9. Actf
Silver
1. Seven
Bronze
1. Shanahan
2. Photoplay
Supporters
1. Hla
2. Rgm
3. Creative Content Australia
Ben Lawrence has took out the Best Direction of a Feature Film (Budget $1M or over) Award for Hearts & Bones.
Amongst the many female directors to be applauded this year,...
- 11/10/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ben Lawrence took home the main prize – Best Direction in a Feature Film (Budget $1M+) – at last night’s Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg) Awards, for his debut narrative feature Hearts and Bones.
Held virtually and hosted by Greta Lee Jackson and Nina Oyama, this year’s Adg Awards also saw female directors take home 10 of the 19 prizes – marking the first time ever that women have made up more than 50 per cent of winners.
Among them were Josephine Mackerras, who took home Best Direction of A Feature Film (Budget under $1M) for the French-language Alice; Maya Newell whose In My Blood It Runs saw her win Best Direction of a Documentary Feature, and Emma Freeman, who won Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Mini-Series for Stateless: Episode 3.
The guild suggests this reflects the push for gender parity in the industry. Traditionally, women have been extremely underrepresented in director roles, and last week,...
Held virtually and hosted by Greta Lee Jackson and Nina Oyama, this year’s Adg Awards also saw female directors take home 10 of the 19 prizes – marking the first time ever that women have made up more than 50 per cent of winners.
Among them were Josephine Mackerras, who took home Best Direction of A Feature Film (Budget under $1M) for the French-language Alice; Maya Newell whose In My Blood It Runs saw her win Best Direction of a Documentary Feature, and Emma Freeman, who won Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Mini-Series for Stateless: Episode 3.
The guild suggests this reflects the push for gender parity in the industry. Traditionally, women have been extremely underrepresented in director roles, and last week,...
- 10/19/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Anshul Chauhan’s Kontora won best picture in the feature film category of the Japanese Film Competition.
Maria Sodahl’s Hope received the Grand Prize in the International Competition of this year’s Skip City International D-Cinema Festival in Japan, which took place virtually and wrapped on October 4.
The Norway-Sweden co-production, which is based on the director’s own experiences, tells the story of a woman with six children waiting to receive a cancer diagnosis. “I thought the director herself is asking the question of ‘living’ by snuggling up with the protagonist,” said Japanese filmmaker Masa Sawada, who served as jury president.
Maria Sodahl’s Hope received the Grand Prize in the International Competition of this year’s Skip City International D-Cinema Festival in Japan, which took place virtually and wrapped on October 4.
The Norway-Sweden co-production, which is based on the director’s own experiences, tells the story of a woman with six children waiting to receive a cancer diagnosis. “I thought the director herself is asking the question of ‘living’ by snuggling up with the protagonist,” said Japanese filmmaker Masa Sawada, who served as jury president.
- 10/5/2020
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Monica Zanetti’s screenplay of Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt), Ben Lawrence and Beatrix Christian’s Hearts and Bones and Ally Burnham’s Unsound have been nominated for best original feature in the 53rd annual Awgie Awards.
The contenders for the feature film adaptation prize are Thomas M. Wright and Erik Jensen’s Acute Misfortune, Lisa Hoppe’s H is for Happiness, Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps’ Penguin Bloom and C.S. McMullen’s The Other Lamb.
The TV series prize promises to be a close race between episodes of Glen Dolman’s Bloom, Michael Petroni’s Messiah for Netflix, Belinda Chayko’s Stateless, Samantha Strauss’ The End and Pip Karmel’s Total Control.
Timothy Hobart, John Ridley, Jeremy Nguyen, Alan Nguyen and Michele Lee’s Hungry Ghosts will square off against Matthew Cormack and Niki Aken’s The Hunting for best miniseries.
In the TV serial category it must...
The contenders for the feature film adaptation prize are Thomas M. Wright and Erik Jensen’s Acute Misfortune, Lisa Hoppe’s H is for Happiness, Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps’ Penguin Bloom and C.S. McMullen’s The Other Lamb.
The TV series prize promises to be a close race between episodes of Glen Dolman’s Bloom, Michael Petroni’s Messiah for Netflix, Belinda Chayko’s Stateless, Samantha Strauss’ The End and Pip Karmel’s Total Control.
Timothy Hobart, John Ridley, Jeremy Nguyen, Alan Nguyen and Michele Lee’s Hungry Ghosts will square off against Matthew Cormack and Niki Aken’s The Hunting for best miniseries.
In the TV serial category it must...
- 9/25/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Sophie Hyde, pictured here on the set of ‘Animals’, has been nominated for two Adg Awards.
First-time feature directors Thomas Wright (Acute Misfortune), John Sheedy (H is for Happiness), Ben Lawrence (Hearts and Bones) and Natalie Erika James (Relic) will vie for the Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg) Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film ($1 million or over) against Sophie Hyde (Animals) and Wayne Blair (Top End Wedding).
Up in the $1 million or under category are Josephine Mackerras for Alice, Imogen Thomas for Emu Runner, Lucy Colman for Hot Mess, Luke Sullivan for Reflections In The Dust and Samuel Van Grinsven for Sequin In A Blue Room.
The Adg announced nominees for its annual awards today, with winners to be announced in Sydney at a ceremony October 19. A record 202 entries were received this year, up from 117 in 2019.
“At these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we come...
First-time feature directors Thomas Wright (Acute Misfortune), John Sheedy (H is for Happiness), Ben Lawrence (Hearts and Bones) and Natalie Erika James (Relic) will vie for the Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg) Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film ($1 million or over) against Sophie Hyde (Animals) and Wayne Blair (Top End Wedding).
Up in the $1 million or under category are Josephine Mackerras for Alice, Imogen Thomas for Emu Runner, Lucy Colman for Hot Mess, Luke Sullivan for Reflections In The Dust and Samuel Van Grinsven for Sequin In A Blue Room.
The Adg announced nominees for its annual awards today, with winners to be announced in Sydney at a ceremony October 19. A record 202 entries were received this year, up from 117 in 2019.
“At these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we come...
- 7/14/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘I Am Woman.’
Unjoo Moon’s debut feature I Am Woman will premiere on Stan as a Stan Original on August 28 – the latest in a growing list of Australian films to bypass cinemas as the pandemic continues to depress the theatrical market.
This follows the straight-to-streaming deals for Dean Murphy’s comedy The Very Excellent Mr Dundee,, Natalie Erika James’ Relic and digital releases Maziar Lahooti’s Below (July 8), Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones (May 6) and Alexs Stadermann’s animated feature 100% Wolf.
Cinemagoers may well feel aggrieved about missing the opportunity to see these films in cinemas, although Hearts and Bones and 100% Wolf did play on a handful of screens, as did Kriv Stenders’ Brock: Over the Top.
But distributors can hardly be blamed for opting not to spend up to a million dollars on marketing while ticket sales remain at historically low levels. Transmission Films had planned cinema...
Unjoo Moon’s debut feature I Am Woman will premiere on Stan as a Stan Original on August 28 – the latest in a growing list of Australian films to bypass cinemas as the pandemic continues to depress the theatrical market.
This follows the straight-to-streaming deals for Dean Murphy’s comedy The Very Excellent Mr Dundee,, Natalie Erika James’ Relic and digital releases Maziar Lahooti’s Below (July 8), Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones (May 6) and Alexs Stadermann’s animated feature 100% Wolf.
Cinemagoers may well feel aggrieved about missing the opportunity to see these films in cinemas, although Hearts and Bones and 100% Wolf did play on a handful of screens, as did Kriv Stenders’ Brock: Over the Top.
But distributors can hardly be blamed for opting not to spend up to a million dollars on marketing while ticket sales remain at historically low levels. Transmission Films had planned cinema...
- 7/12/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘The Invisible Man.’
Universal’s The Invisible Man is getting a second lease of theatrical life thanks to drive-ins and newly re-opened cinemas in Western Australia, Adelaide and Alice Springs.
Leigh Whannell’s psychological thriller was the top grosser last weekend as the top 20 titles rang up $456,000, a whopping 148 per cent up on the previous frame, according to Numero.
Including the Queen’s Birthday holiday in most states, nationwide takings totaled $514,000.
Whannell’s film starring Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer and Michael Dorman earned $66,000 on 10 screens over those five days in week 15, lifting the total to $8.06 million.
That means the movie co-produced by Blumhouse Productions’ Jasom Blum and Goalpost Pictures’ Kylie du Fresne has grossed $160,000 since cinemas shuttered in March, although it was released on Premium VOD on April 1.
Seven drive-in cinemas in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Heddon Greta near Newcastle and Yatala in South-East Queensland are generating tidy sums.
Universal’s The Invisible Man is getting a second lease of theatrical life thanks to drive-ins and newly re-opened cinemas in Western Australia, Adelaide and Alice Springs.
Leigh Whannell’s psychological thriller was the top grosser last weekend as the top 20 titles rang up $456,000, a whopping 148 per cent up on the previous frame, according to Numero.
Including the Queen’s Birthday holiday in most states, nationwide takings totaled $514,000.
Whannell’s film starring Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer and Michael Dorman earned $66,000 on 10 screens over those five days in week 15, lifting the total to $8.06 million.
That means the movie co-produced by Blumhouse Productions’ Jasom Blum and Goalpost Pictures’ Kylie du Fresne has grossed $160,000 since cinemas shuttered in March, although it was released on Premium VOD on April 1.
Seven drive-in cinemas in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Heddon Greta near Newcastle and Yatala in South-East Queensland are generating tidy sums.
- 6/8/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ryan Corr in ‘Below’ (Photo credit: David Dare Parker).
Madman Entertainment will release Maziar Lahooti’s debut feature Below on digital platforms and on DVD on July 8, bypassing cinemas.
Ryan Corr and Anthony Lapaglia star in the refugee detention centre action-drama produced by Nick Batzias of Good Thing Productions, Veronica Gleeson and Kate Neylon.
It will be the third Australian title to go straight to home entertainment since Covid-19 disrupted the film industry. Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones went out as a Premium VOD release via Madman on May 6.
Flying Bark Productions’ animated feature 100% Wolf, scripted by Fin Edquist and directed by Alexs Stadermann and produced by Barbara Stephen and Alexia Gates-Foale, is taking the Pvod route from tomorrow. The voice cast is headed by Jai Courtney, Rhys Darby, Jane Lynch, Samara Weaving, Magda Szubanksi and Akmal Saleh.
In the pre-pandemic era, all three would have played in cinemas.
Madman Entertainment will release Maziar Lahooti’s debut feature Below on digital platforms and on DVD on July 8, bypassing cinemas.
Ryan Corr and Anthony Lapaglia star in the refugee detention centre action-drama produced by Nick Batzias of Good Thing Productions, Veronica Gleeson and Kate Neylon.
It will be the third Australian title to go straight to home entertainment since Covid-19 disrupted the film industry. Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones went out as a Premium VOD release via Madman on May 6.
Flying Bark Productions’ animated feature 100% Wolf, scripted by Fin Edquist and directed by Alexs Stadermann and produced by Barbara Stephen and Alexia Gates-Foale, is taking the Pvod route from tomorrow. The voice cast is headed by Jai Courtney, Rhys Darby, Jane Lynch, Samara Weaving, Magda Szubanksi and Akmal Saleh.
In the pre-pandemic era, all three would have played in cinemas.
- 5/28/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Hearts and Bones’.
Director Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones has sold to Gravitas Ventures for the Us via Visit Films.
Produced by Matt Reeder and written by Lawrence with Beatrix Christian, the film made its world premiere in competition at the 2019 Sydney Film Festival, before bowing internationally in Toronto.
The drama follows the relationship between a war photographer (Hugo Weaving) and a South Sudanese refugee (newcomer Andrew Luri), who later discover a photograph that threatens to destroy them both. Hayley McElhinney and Bolude Watson also star.
The Us deal was negotiated by Ryan Kampe and Lydia Rodman on behalf of Visit Films and Nick Royak and Brendan Gallagher at Gravitas Ventures.
Hearts and Bones is Lawrence’s narrative feature debut, following on from award-winning documentary Ghosthunter.
Lawrence said:, “I’m thrilled that Gravitas will present Hearts and Bones to a larger international audience. The response from our festival tour...
Director Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones has sold to Gravitas Ventures for the Us via Visit Films.
Produced by Matt Reeder and written by Lawrence with Beatrix Christian, the film made its world premiere in competition at the 2019 Sydney Film Festival, before bowing internationally in Toronto.
The drama follows the relationship between a war photographer (Hugo Weaving) and a South Sudanese refugee (newcomer Andrew Luri), who later discover a photograph that threatens to destroy them both. Hayley McElhinney and Bolude Watson also star.
The Us deal was negotiated by Ryan Kampe and Lydia Rodman on behalf of Visit Films and Nick Royak and Brendan Gallagher at Gravitas Ventures.
Hearts and Bones is Lawrence’s narrative feature debut, following on from award-winning documentary Ghosthunter.
Lawrence said:, “I’m thrilled that Gravitas will present Hearts and Bones to a larger international audience. The response from our festival tour...
- 5/7/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
From the director of Ghosthunter, this slow rumination on the lingering effects of wartime trauma is consistent, if not cinematic
Film-makers like it when critics use the word “restrained” to describe their work because it implies an intellectual rigour mostly absent in the excessive spectacles of mainstream cinema. Audiences who are looking for something more substantial like it too, for the same reasons. So for what it’s worth, let me say this right off the bat: director Ben Lawrence’s Sydney-set drama Hearts and Bones, which revolves around the relationship between a war photographer and a South Sudanese refugee, is certainly restrained.
It is a human-oriented drama that builds a thoughtful and contemplative space, empathising with characters grappling with difficult circumstances outside the common experience. It is also the kind of drama you sometimes want to grab and shake to life. Get the lens a little dirty; knock the...
Film-makers like it when critics use the word “restrained” to describe their work because it implies an intellectual rigour mostly absent in the excessive spectacles of mainstream cinema. Audiences who are looking for something more substantial like it too, for the same reasons. So for what it’s worth, let me say this right off the bat: director Ben Lawrence’s Sydney-set drama Hearts and Bones, which revolves around the relationship between a war photographer and a South Sudanese refugee, is certainly restrained.
It is a human-oriented drama that builds a thoughtful and contemplative space, empathising with characters grappling with difficult circumstances outside the common experience. It is also the kind of drama you sometimes want to grab and shake to life. Get the lens a little dirty; knock the...
- 5/7/2020
- by Luke Buckmaster
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: Visit Films has licensed U.S. rights for drama Hearts And Bones to Gravitas Ventures.
The Toronto 2019 world premiere stars Hugo Weaving (The Lord Of The Rings) as Dan, a renowned war photographer struggling
with Ptsd, who forms an unexpected bond with Sebastian, a Sudanese refugee, until one of his photographs unearths a dark secret from Sebastian’s past. Also starring are Andrew Luri, Hayley McElhinney, and Bolude Watson.
The deal was negotiated by Ryan Kampe and Lydia Rodman on behalf of Visit Films and Nick Royak and Brendan Gallagher at Gravitas Ventures.
Pic is directed by Ben Lawrence and written by Lawrence and Beatrix Cristian. Matt Reeder produced under his company Night Kitchen Productions. The movie also played at the Sydney, Melbourne and Hamptons film festivals.
Lawrence stated, “I’m thrilled that Gravitas will present Hearts And Bones to a larger international audience. The response from our festival...
The Toronto 2019 world premiere stars Hugo Weaving (The Lord Of The Rings) as Dan, a renowned war photographer struggling
with Ptsd, who forms an unexpected bond with Sebastian, a Sudanese refugee, until one of his photographs unearths a dark secret from Sebastian’s past. Also starring are Andrew Luri, Hayley McElhinney, and Bolude Watson.
The deal was negotiated by Ryan Kampe and Lydia Rodman on behalf of Visit Films and Nick Royak and Brendan Gallagher at Gravitas Ventures.
Pic is directed by Ben Lawrence and written by Lawrence and Beatrix Cristian. Matt Reeder produced under his company Night Kitchen Productions. The movie also played at the Sydney, Melbourne and Hamptons film festivals.
Lawrence stated, “I’m thrilled that Gravitas will present Hearts And Bones to a larger international audience. The response from our festival...
- 5/6/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Hearts and Bones.’
Madman Entertainment had dated Ben Lawrence’s debut feature Hearts and Bones for an April 30 premiere on 40 screens, the marketing campaign was ready and Hugo Weaving was set do a a publicity tour.
That was until the sky fell in – all cinemas closed due to the pandemic – so the distributor and producer Matt Reeder had to rethink their strategy.
The upshot: The drama which follows Weaving’s war photographer and a South Sudanese refugee (newcomer Andrew Luri), who discovers a photograph that threatens to destroy them both, will be available to buy on digital platforms for $19.95 from May 6.
“Matt and Ben are fully on board with the decision; this is a great time to experiment,” says Madman Entertainment MD Paul Wiegard.
Wiegard is confident the download-to-own offer will get significant take-up through iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Sony PlayStation, Telstra and Fetch TV. That will be followed by...
Madman Entertainment had dated Ben Lawrence’s debut feature Hearts and Bones for an April 30 premiere on 40 screens, the marketing campaign was ready and Hugo Weaving was set do a a publicity tour.
That was until the sky fell in – all cinemas closed due to the pandemic – so the distributor and producer Matt Reeder had to rethink their strategy.
The upshot: The drama which follows Weaving’s war photographer and a South Sudanese refugee (newcomer Andrew Luri), who discovers a photograph that threatens to destroy them both, will be available to buy on digital platforms for $19.95 from May 6.
“Matt and Ben are fully on board with the decision; this is a great time to experiment,” says Madman Entertainment MD Paul Wiegard.
Wiegard is confident the download-to-own offer will get significant take-up through iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Sony PlayStation, Telstra and Fetch TV. That will be followed by...
- 4/19/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ben Lawrence, Meg O’Connell and Mithila Gupta.
Screen Australia has selected 11 creatives to travel to New York in April as part of the Talent USA: New York delegation, where they will attend the Australian International Screen Forum.
The program is designed give Australian creators an opportunity to learn on the ground in the Us, and provides networking and professional opportunities.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said: “To achieve success in this global industry it is imperative we help Australian talent establish and foster creative and business relationships in the Us – the largest English speaking market for screen content. This group were chosen because they are at the point in their careers where they can really take advantage of the opportunity and leverage these connections for their upcoming projects.”
Australian International Screen Forum co-founder and executive director Michael Kelleher said, “We are excited to showcase the 2020 Talent USA delegation to a New York industry audience.
Screen Australia has selected 11 creatives to travel to New York in April as part of the Talent USA: New York delegation, where they will attend the Australian International Screen Forum.
The program is designed give Australian creators an opportunity to learn on the ground in the Us, and provides networking and professional opportunities.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said: “To achieve success in this global industry it is imperative we help Australian talent establish and foster creative and business relationships in the Us – the largest English speaking market for screen content. This group were chosen because they are at the point in their careers where they can really take advantage of the opportunity and leverage these connections for their upcoming projects.”
Australian International Screen Forum co-founder and executive director Michael Kelleher said, “We are excited to showcase the 2020 Talent USA delegation to a New York industry audience.
- 2/19/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘High Ground.’
For Madman Entertainment 2019 was the distributor’s most consistent year ever, with 14 films each grossing more than $500,000 at Australian cinemas – and the 2020 slate looks even stronger.
Stephen Johnson’s High Ground, Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones, Christopher Nelius’ feature doc The Sideshow, Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 and the third edition of the 1990s Bill & Ted comedy franchise are among the stand-out titles.
“While it is fair to say that holistically, the independent or mid-range theatrical space is facing unique challenges our job is to seek out remarkable films which will start conversations, cut through the pack and connect with audiences to a level that seemingly defies these trends,” Madman MD Paul Wiegard tells If.
“When evaluating content for theatrical release, we are looking for titles that are specifically relevant for a theatrical audience. It needs to be content which demands a big screen experience,...
For Madman Entertainment 2019 was the distributor’s most consistent year ever, with 14 films each grossing more than $500,000 at Australian cinemas – and the 2020 slate looks even stronger.
Stephen Johnson’s High Ground, Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones, Christopher Nelius’ feature doc The Sideshow, Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 and the third edition of the 1990s Bill & Ted comedy franchise are among the stand-out titles.
“While it is fair to say that holistically, the independent or mid-range theatrical space is facing unique challenges our job is to seek out remarkable films which will start conversations, cut through the pack and connect with audiences to a level that seemingly defies these trends,” Madman MD Paul Wiegard tells If.
“When evaluating content for theatrical release, we are looking for titles that are specifically relevant for a theatrical audience. It needs to be content which demands a big screen experience,...
- 2/11/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Slate sales on SXSW winners Alice, Saint Frances, Tito.
Visit Films has concluded a raft of deals on its Afm slate that includes documentaries White Riot and The Sanctity Of Space, and Toronto drama Hearts And Bones starring Hugo Weaving.
Company president Ryan Kampe and director of sales Lydia Rodman have licensed White Riot in the UK (Modern Films), Australia and New Zealand (Icon Film Distribution), Films We Like (Canada) and Benelux (Periscoop). Rubika Shah’s punk rock documentary won the Grierson Award for best documentary at BFI London Film Festival and an international premiere is being lined up for a major festival.
Visit Films has concluded a raft of deals on its Afm slate that includes documentaries White Riot and The Sanctity Of Space, and Toronto drama Hearts And Bones starring Hugo Weaving.
Company president Ryan Kampe and director of sales Lydia Rodman have licensed White Riot in the UK (Modern Films), Australia and New Zealand (Icon Film Distribution), Films We Like (Canada) and Benelux (Periscoop). Rubika Shah’s punk rock documentary won the Grierson Award for best documentary at BFI London Film Festival and an international premiere is being lined up for a major festival.
- 11/19/2019
- ScreenDaily
In this, the golden age of podcasts, there’s a show for everything — from dissecting politics to analyzing Frasier. So it’s no surprise that this October, production companies are going out of their way to provide spooky content to infect listeners’ ears. From creepy fiction to unsolved murders, here are five of our favorite picks for Halloween 2019.
1. Spooked
Like regional food or music, ghost stories are a cross-cultural, universal phenomenon. On each episode of Spooked, host Glynn Washington introduces one or two supposedly true paranormal tales, told by the...
1. Spooked
Like regional food or music, ghost stories are a cross-cultural, universal phenomenon. On each episode of Spooked, host Glynn Washington introduces one or two supposedly true paranormal tales, told by the...
- 10/30/2019
- by Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Andrea Marks and Brenna Ehrlich
- Rollingstone.com
‘Hearts and Bones’ stars Andrew Luri, Bolude Watson, director Ben Lawrence and star Hugo Weaving.
For director Ben Lawrence, the reaction to his feature debut Hearts and Bones at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) was both “emotional and overwhelming”.
Lawrence reports the standing ovations at every screening and the outpouring of praise for the cast, particularly for South Sudanese immigrant Andrew Luri in his acting debut, made a huge impact.
Of the film’s Canadian reception, Liane Cunje, Tiff Discovery and International programming associate said: “I’ve run the gamut of audiences reactions here at Tiff for films we programme from around the world, and I’ve never witnessed such an emotional celebration after a screening as the one I saw after Hearts and Bones.”
The film, which made its world premiere in competition at the Sydney Film Festival in June, screened as part of the Tiff Discovery program,...
For director Ben Lawrence, the reaction to his feature debut Hearts and Bones at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) was both “emotional and overwhelming”.
Lawrence reports the standing ovations at every screening and the outpouring of praise for the cast, particularly for South Sudanese immigrant Andrew Luri in his acting debut, made a huge impact.
Of the film’s Canadian reception, Liane Cunje, Tiff Discovery and International programming associate said: “I’ve run the gamut of audiences reactions here at Tiff for films we programme from around the world, and I’ve never witnessed such an emotional celebration after a screening as the one I saw after Hearts and Bones.”
The film, which made its world premiere in competition at the Sydney Film Festival in June, screened as part of the Tiff Discovery program,...
- 9/19/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Hugo Weaving learned upon making his latest film “Hearts and Bones” that it’s not just soldiers who suffer from Ptsd and the horrors of war.
Weaving plays a war photographer struggling with post traumatic stress, and in researching his role he said he was shocked at the number of war photographers and correspondents that suffer the same trauma as the subjects they photograph.
“How many of them actually suffer from Ptsd is actually quite extraordinary,” Weaving told TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman following the film’s international premiere at Tiff. “Not only people who are actually combatants are affected by it, but also civilians and people who are reporting on it. It’s something that traumatizes everyone.”
Also Read: Why 'Military Wives' Director Peter Cattaneo Wouldn't Call His Feel-Good Movie a 'Comedy' (Video)
In the debut feature film from director Ben Lawrence, Weaving connects with a Sudanese refugee...
Weaving plays a war photographer struggling with post traumatic stress, and in researching his role he said he was shocked at the number of war photographers and correspondents that suffer the same trauma as the subjects they photograph.
“How many of them actually suffer from Ptsd is actually quite extraordinary,” Weaving told TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman following the film’s international premiere at Tiff. “Not only people who are actually combatants are affected by it, but also civilians and people who are reporting on it. It’s something that traumatizes everyone.”
Also Read: Why 'Military Wives' Director Peter Cattaneo Wouldn't Call His Feel-Good Movie a 'Comedy' (Video)
In the debut feature film from director Ben Lawrence, Weaving connects with a Sudanese refugee...
- 9/11/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
We have a trailer for you to check out for the Australian drama Hearts and Bones, starring Hugo Weaving.
The film deals with a war photographer who goes home to Australia between tours and, while dealing with severe Ptsd, prepares for an exhibit in which he will show the photos from his career. A Sudanese refugee (played by Andrew Luri) now living in Australia has a lot to lose if one particular photo goes public, so he befriends Weaving’s character, and the two embark on a friendship, both riding the emotional waves of a life post-war.
Hearts and Bones was directed by newcomer Ben Lawrence, who co-wrote the screenplay with Beatrix Christian. The film also stars Hayley McElhinney and Bolude Watson.
This looks like a heavy film, but a powerful one with an important story to tell. Check out the trailer below, and let us know if you’re interested in this film.
The film deals with a war photographer who goes home to Australia between tours and, while dealing with severe Ptsd, prepares for an exhibit in which he will show the photos from his career. A Sudanese refugee (played by Andrew Luri) now living in Australia has a lot to lose if one particular photo goes public, so he befriends Weaving’s character, and the two embark on a friendship, both riding the emotional waves of a life post-war.
Hearts and Bones was directed by newcomer Ben Lawrence, who co-wrote the screenplay with Beatrix Christian. The film also stars Hayley McElhinney and Bolude Watson.
This looks like a heavy film, but a powerful one with an important story to tell. Check out the trailer below, and let us know if you’re interested in this film.
- 9/11/2019
- by Jessica Fisher
- GeekTyrant
"You don't have to put yourself through this..." One of the many new films premiering at the Toronto Film Festival this month is this one - Hearts and Bones, an Australian drama marking the narrative debut of filmmaker Ben Lawrence. This originally premiered at the Sydney and Melbourne Film Festivals already, now playing in Toronto to continue its festival run internationally. The indie drama stars Aussie actor Hugo Weaving as a veteran war photographer, who befriends a Sudanese refugee while back home. Preparing for an upcoming exhibition, his new friend gets involved in his process and questions whether photos from a massacre in his village should be displayed. The film also stars Andrew Luri, Hayley McElhinney, and Bolude Watson. It's a solid drama, reminding us how important connection and understanding is in our world. This is a full-on promo trailer that sets up the whole film, but it's still a...
- 9/10/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
‘Top End Wedding’, ‘Hearts and Bones’ and ‘The King’ are among the 34 longlisted films.
Some 34 feature films will compete for nominations for this year’s Aacta Awards, and the longlist covers a diverse range of titles, from box office earners like Top End Wedding and Storm Boy, through to critically lauded films like The Nightingale and micro budget indies such as Suburban Wildlife.
However, perhaps the most notable inclusion in the longlist is David Michôd’s Netflix Original The King, which premiered at Venice Film Festival last week to an eight-minute standing ovation.
Typically, to be eligible for Aacta Awards, a film – even when made for a streaming platform – must have paid cinema screenings in Australia or local festival play.
Aacta has made an exception for The King, which is not due to play in Australian cinemas or in festivals before its release on Netflix later this year, because of...
Some 34 feature films will compete for nominations for this year’s Aacta Awards, and the longlist covers a diverse range of titles, from box office earners like Top End Wedding and Storm Boy, through to critically lauded films like The Nightingale and micro budget indies such as Suburban Wildlife.
However, perhaps the most notable inclusion in the longlist is David Michôd’s Netflix Original The King, which premiered at Venice Film Festival last week to an eight-minute standing ovation.
Typically, to be eligible for Aacta Awards, a film – even when made for a streaming platform – must have paid cinema screenings in Australia or local festival play.
Aacta has made an exception for The King, which is not due to play in Australian cinemas or in festivals before its release on Netflix later this year, because of...
- 9/10/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
After witnessing famed Australian war photographer Daniel Fisher (Hugo Weaving) endure a traumatic experience in Iran during the opening of Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones, the sudden shift to a taxi driver (Andrew Luri’s Sebastian Ahmed) will seem abrupt. It’s not, however, a coincidence that the latter recognizes the former’s name on the radio since they have a shared history courtesy of a small Sudanese village. Dan was on assignment during a massacre fifteen years ago that claimed the lives of Sebastian’s family. One documented the nightmare to guarantee the world couldn’t ignore this atrocity while the other subsequently spent years trying to forget it. What should Dan do when the refugee asks him to exclude those sensitive, personal images from his new exhibit? Where do truth and decency diverge?
It’s a complex subject spanning the artistic merits of non-fiction work to the human cost documented within.
It’s a complex subject spanning the artistic merits of non-fiction work to the human cost documented within.
- 9/7/2019
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
(L-r) John Sheedy, Daisy Axon, Julie Ryan, Lisa Hoppe and Tenille Kennedy (Photo credit: Court McAllister).
John Sheedy’s feature debut H is for Happiness, an adaptation of Barry Jonsberg’s young adult novel My Life as an Alphabet, has won this year’s $100,000 CinefestOZ Film Prize.
Announcing the award at the Saturday night gala, jury chair Rachel Ward said: “If we have the power as jurors to change the world to be a better place, then voting for H is for Happiness to win the CinefestOZ 2019 is our contribution. As juror Alex Dimitriades added, H is also for Hope.”
The other finalists were Owen Trevor’s Go!, Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones, Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch and Paul Ireland’s Measure for Measure.
Sheedy said: “The competition was so tough. There were five amazing films, I saw all of them. To be chosen in such good company...
John Sheedy’s feature debut H is for Happiness, an adaptation of Barry Jonsberg’s young adult novel My Life as an Alphabet, has won this year’s $100,000 CinefestOZ Film Prize.
Announcing the award at the Saturday night gala, jury chair Rachel Ward said: “If we have the power as jurors to change the world to be a better place, then voting for H is for Happiness to win the CinefestOZ 2019 is our contribution. As juror Alex Dimitriades added, H is also for Hope.”
The other finalists were Owen Trevor’s Go!, Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones, Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch and Paul Ireland’s Measure for Measure.
Sheedy said: “The competition was so tough. There were five amazing films, I saw all of them. To be chosen in such good company...
- 9/1/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Locally-made family drama, “H is for Happiness” won the top prize at the CinefestOZ festival in Busselton, West Australia, on Saturday. The film is an uplifting tale about a 12-year-old girl who is inspired by an unusual new boy at her school and sets out to mend her broken family.
Directed by John Sheedy, and filmed in the South Western part of the state where the festival is held, the film claimed the A$100,000 first prize, which has made CinefestOZ one of the most generous festivals in the world.
The competition jury, headed by actress turned director Rachel Ward, collectively voted in favor of the film, calling it “surprising” and a “tribute to the power of young people.”
Other titles in competition included Mirrah Foulkes’ “Judy & Punch,” Paul Ireland’s “Measure for Measure,” Ben Lawrence’s “Hearts & Bones” and Owen Trevor’s Busselton-set teen film “Go!”.
The only other...
Directed by John Sheedy, and filmed in the South Western part of the state where the festival is held, the film claimed the A$100,000 first prize, which has made CinefestOZ one of the most generous festivals in the world.
The competition jury, headed by actress turned director Rachel Ward, collectively voted in favor of the film, calling it “surprising” and a “tribute to the power of young people.”
Other titles in competition included Mirrah Foulkes’ “Judy & Punch,” Paul Ireland’s “Measure for Measure,” Ben Lawrence’s “Hearts & Bones” and Owen Trevor’s Busselton-set teen film “Go!”.
The only other...
- 9/1/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
‘The Australian Dream’.
This year’s Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff) opener – director Daniel Gordon’s The Australian Dream – has proved an audience favourite, winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature.
The film, which was also nominated for an Aacta Award earlier this week, explores race, identity and belonging from the perspective of former Sydney Swans captain and Australian of the Year, Adam Goodes. Written by Stan Grant, it opened at Miff to a seven minute standing ovation.
The winner of the Best Narrative Feature went to Celine Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which depicts a romance between a painter and her subject. It won Best Screenplay and the Queer Palm in Cannes earlier this year.
John Sheedy’s debut feature H is For Happiness, which stars Daisy Axon, Wesley Patten,, Richard Roxburgh, Emma Booth, Miriam Margolyes, Joel Jackson and Deborah Mailman, was the runner up in the narrative awards.
This year’s Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff) opener – director Daniel Gordon’s The Australian Dream – has proved an audience favourite, winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature.
The film, which was also nominated for an Aacta Award earlier this week, explores race, identity and belonging from the perspective of former Sydney Swans captain and Australian of the Year, Adam Goodes. Written by Stan Grant, it opened at Miff to a seven minute standing ovation.
The winner of the Best Narrative Feature went to Celine Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which depicts a romance between a painter and her subject. It won Best Screenplay and the Queer Palm in Cannes earlier this year.
John Sheedy’s debut feature H is For Happiness, which stars Daisy Axon, Wesley Patten,, Richard Roxburgh, Emma Booth, Miriam Margolyes, Joel Jackson and Deborah Mailman, was the runner up in the narrative awards.
- 8/23/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Mac Gudgeon and Jan Sardi.
Shaun Grant, Tony McNamara, Jacquelin Perske, Andrew Knight, Kate Mulvany, Jan Sardi and Mac Gudgeon were among the recipients of the 52nd annual Awgie Awards presented in Sydney on Thursday night.
Grant won the feature film adaptation prize for True History of the Kelly Gang while McNamara and Deborah Davis shared best original feature screenplay for The Favourite.
Sardi and Gudgeon accepted the award on Grant’s behalf; he is in La and will head to Toronto for the world premiere of Justin Kurzel’s bushranger tale which stars George Mackay, Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, Essie Davis and Harry Greenwood.
That was Shaun’s fourth Awgie following Snowtown, Jasper Jones and Deadline Gallipoli.
Perske’s The Cry was named best telemovie or miniseries of four hours or less and Knight’s first episode of the second season of Jack Irish was judged best series or miniseries of four hours plus.
Shaun Grant, Tony McNamara, Jacquelin Perske, Andrew Knight, Kate Mulvany, Jan Sardi and Mac Gudgeon were among the recipients of the 52nd annual Awgie Awards presented in Sydney on Thursday night.
Grant won the feature film adaptation prize for True History of the Kelly Gang while McNamara and Deborah Davis shared best original feature screenplay for The Favourite.
Sardi and Gudgeon accepted the award on Grant’s behalf; he is in La and will head to Toronto for the world premiere of Justin Kurzel’s bushranger tale which stars George Mackay, Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, Essie Davis and Harry Greenwood.
That was Shaun’s fourth Awgie following Snowtown, Jasper Jones and Deadline Gallipoli.
Perske’s The Cry was named best telemovie or miniseries of four hours or less and Knight’s first episode of the second season of Jack Irish was judged best series or miniseries of four hours plus.
- 8/22/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Dirt Music’ (Photo courtesy of Tiff)
Gregor Jordan’s Dirt Music will have its world premiere in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The festival said the “stunning landscape of Western Australia is the backdrop for an impassioned tale of love and grief in Gregor Jordan’s adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Tim Winton, starring Kelly Macdonald, Garrett Hedlund, and David Wenham.”
Produced by Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey of the UK’s Wildgaze Films and Aquarius Films’ Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford, the film will join Justin Kurzel’s True History of the Kelly Gang, Unjoo Moon’s I Am Woman, Daniel Gordon’s The Australian Dream and Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones in the Toronto line-up.
In addition, Eva Orner’s Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator, a Netflix Original production which charts the spectacular rise and scandalous fall of hot-yoga evangelist Bikram Choudhury,...
Gregor Jordan’s Dirt Music will have its world premiere in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The festival said the “stunning landscape of Western Australia is the backdrop for an impassioned tale of love and grief in Gregor Jordan’s adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Tim Winton, starring Kelly Macdonald, Garrett Hedlund, and David Wenham.”
Produced by Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey of the UK’s Wildgaze Films and Aquarius Films’ Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford, the film will join Justin Kurzel’s True History of the Kelly Gang, Unjoo Moon’s I Am Woman, Daniel Gordon’s The Australian Dream and Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones in the Toronto line-up.
In addition, Eva Orner’s Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator, a Netflix Original production which charts the spectacular rise and scandalous fall of hot-yoga evangelist Bikram Choudhury,...
- 8/13/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘The Australian Dream.’
Daniel Gordon’s The Australian Dream and Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones will have their international premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In addition, Eva Orner’s Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator will be among 25 titles in the Tiff Docs section, along with The Australian Dream.
Good Thing Productions and Passion Pictures’ The Australian Dream opened the Melbourne International Film Festival. Written by Stan Grant, the film looks at race, identity and belonging from the perspective of former Sydney Swans captain and Indigenous rights activist Adam Goodes.
In 2013 Goodes sparked a national conversation about racism after requesting a 13-year-old Collingwood supporter be removed from the ground after calling him an “ape.”
Madman Entertainment will launch the film on 100—plus screens on August 22.
Lawrence’s debut feature Hearts and Bones, which had its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, will screen in the Discovery program.
Produced...
Daniel Gordon’s The Australian Dream and Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones will have their international premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In addition, Eva Orner’s Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator will be among 25 titles in the Tiff Docs section, along with The Australian Dream.
Good Thing Productions and Passion Pictures’ The Australian Dream opened the Melbourne International Film Festival. Written by Stan Grant, the film looks at race, identity and belonging from the perspective of former Sydney Swans captain and Indigenous rights activist Adam Goodes.
In 2013 Goodes sparked a national conversation about racism after requesting a 13-year-old Collingwood supporter be removed from the ground after calling him an “ape.”
Madman Entertainment will launch the film on 100—plus screens on August 22.
Lawrence’s debut feature Hearts and Bones, which had its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, will screen in the Discovery program.
Produced...
- 8/8/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Marta Dusseldorp, Glenn Gainor, Alex Dimitriades and Ben Young will join chair Rachel Ward on the jury which will determine the winner of this year’s $100,000 CinefestOz Film Prize.
Owen Trevor’s Go!, John Sheedy’s H is for Happiness, Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones, Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch and Paul Ireland’s Measure for Measure will compete for Australia’s biggest film prize.
“The quality of this year’s Film Prize finalists is exceptionally high and we are delighted to have a jury of equal calibre to decide on the winner,” CinefestOZ chair Helen Shervington said.
Dimitriades made his acting debut in Michael Jenkins’ The Heartbreak Kid followed by Ana Kokkinos’ Head On. Other film performances include Three Blind Mice, Ghost Ship, Deuce Bigalow, Kings of Mykonos, Summer Coda, The Infinite Man and Ruben Guthrie.
His TV credits include The Slap, The Principal, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Wanted,...
Owen Trevor’s Go!, John Sheedy’s H is for Happiness, Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones, Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch and Paul Ireland’s Measure for Measure will compete for Australia’s biggest film prize.
“The quality of this year’s Film Prize finalists is exceptionally high and we are delighted to have a jury of equal calibre to decide on the winner,” CinefestOZ chair Helen Shervington said.
Dimitriades made his acting debut in Michael Jenkins’ The Heartbreak Kid followed by Ana Kokkinos’ Head On. Other film performances include Three Blind Mice, Ghost Ship, Deuce Bigalow, Kings of Mykonos, Summer Coda, The Infinite Man and Ruben Guthrie.
His TV credits include The Slap, The Principal, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Wanted,...
- 8/7/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.’
The box office results for the Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas this year underline yet again the deep polarisation in the indie film market between the higher earners and the also-rans.
The top five titles – Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding, Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy, Anthony Marais’ Hotel Mumbai, Damon Gameau’s 2040 and Richard Lowenstein’s Mystify: Michael Hutchence – accounted for $15.8 million or 93 per cent of the Oz releases’ takings.
The Aussie films plus holdovers racked up nearly $17 million through the end of July, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
That’s a long way below the $40.6 million generated in the same period last year, led by Peter Rabbit’s $26.6 million, Breath’s $4.4 million (finishing with $4.6 million) and Sweet Country’s $2 million.
Surveying the challenges facing the indie film business, Transmission Films’ Andrew Mackie tells If:...
The box office results for the Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas this year underline yet again the deep polarisation in the indie film market between the higher earners and the also-rans.
The top five titles – Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding, Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy, Anthony Marais’ Hotel Mumbai, Damon Gameau’s 2040 and Richard Lowenstein’s Mystify: Michael Hutchence – accounted for $15.8 million or 93 per cent of the Oz releases’ takings.
The Aussie films plus holdovers racked up nearly $17 million through the end of July, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
That’s a long way below the $40.6 million generated in the same period last year, led by Peter Rabbit’s $26.6 million, Breath’s $4.4 million (finishing with $4.6 million) and Sweet Country’s $2 million.
Surveying the challenges facing the indie film business, Transmission Films’ Andrew Mackie tells If:...
- 8/2/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The writers of All Is True, Hotel Mumbai, Relic, Ride Like a Girl and The Favourite have been nominated for best original feature film in the 52nd annual Awgie Awards.
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (Deb Cox) and True History of the Kelly Gang (Shaun Grant) are the contenders for the feature film adaptation category.
Andrew Knight scored two nominations, for Ride Like a Girl (shared with Elise McCredie) and for TV series or miniseries for an episode of ABC’s Jack Irish, competing with Bloom (Glen Dolman), Secret City: Under the Eagle (Matt Cameron) and The End (Samantha Strauss).
Ben Elton wrote All is True, John Collee and Anthony Maras wrote Hotel Mumbai, Christian White and Natalie Erika James scripted Relic and Tony McNamara and Deborah Davis collaborated on The Favourite.
In the running for telemovie or miniseries up to four hours are The Cry (Jacquelin Perske...
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (Deb Cox) and True History of the Kelly Gang (Shaun Grant) are the contenders for the feature film adaptation category.
Andrew Knight scored two nominations, for Ride Like a Girl (shared with Elise McCredie) and for TV series or miniseries for an episode of ABC’s Jack Irish, competing with Bloom (Glen Dolman), Secret City: Under the Eagle (Matt Cameron) and The End (Samantha Strauss).
Ben Elton wrote All is True, John Collee and Anthony Maras wrote Hotel Mumbai, Christian White and Natalie Erika James scripted Relic and Tony McNamara and Deborah Davis collaborated on The Favourite.
In the running for telemovie or miniseries up to four hours are The Cry (Jacquelin Perske...
- 7/12/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Owen Trevor’s Go!, John Sheedy’s H is for Happiness, Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones, Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch and Paul Ireland’s Measure for Measure will compete for Australia’s biggest film prize.
Those are the finalists for the $100,000 prize at CinefestOZ, which will run from August 28 to September 1 in Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River and surrounds.
CinefestOZ festival chair Helen Shervington said it had been another stellar year for the film prize entries and this year’s finalists are the cream of the crop.
The prize was established in 2014 to recognise excellence in Australian filmmaking and is awarded on the gala night by a five-member industry jury, this year chaired by director/writer Rachel Ward.
Scripted by Paper Planes‘ Steve Worland and produced by See Pictures’ Jamie Hilton and Sonia Borella, Go! stars William Lodder, Anastasia Bampos, Darius Amarfio-Jefferson, Dan Wyllie, Cooper Van Grootel, Damian De Montemas,...
Those are the finalists for the $100,000 prize at CinefestOZ, which will run from August 28 to September 1 in Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River and surrounds.
CinefestOZ festival chair Helen Shervington said it had been another stellar year for the film prize entries and this year’s finalists are the cream of the crop.
The prize was established in 2014 to recognise excellence in Australian filmmaking and is awarded on the gala night by a five-member industry jury, this year chaired by director/writer Rachel Ward.
Scripted by Paper Planes‘ Steve Worland and produced by See Pictures’ Jamie Hilton and Sonia Borella, Go! stars William Lodder, Anastasia Bampos, Darius Amarfio-Jefferson, Dan Wyllie, Cooper Van Grootel, Damian De Montemas,...
- 7/4/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Time spent in a modern war zone can be traumatic for participant and observer alike, yet across continents and cultures, the shared experiences of living and loving in the wake of such experiences can be startlingly similar. This is multi-faceted and overarching theme woven throughout Ben Lawrence’s sensitive and affecting new Australian drama “Hearts and Bones,” an impressive narrative feature debut from the winner of last year’s Sydney Film Festival documentary prize for “Ghosthunter.”
Lawrence’s thoughtful drama also casts an illuminating light on the current hot-button issue of immigrants to Australia and their place in the social fabric, specifically in the Western Sydney suburbs in which it is filmed. The film’s second-place finish in the narrative section of the fest’s audience award (behind Samuel Van Grinsven’s “Sequin in a Blue Room”) suggests it struck a chord with traditionally partisan Aussie audiences, and with proper handling,...
Lawrence’s thoughtful drama also casts an illuminating light on the current hot-button issue of immigrants to Australia and their place in the social fabric, specifically in the Western Sydney suburbs in which it is filmed. The film’s second-place finish in the narrative section of the fest’s audience award (behind Samuel Van Grinsven’s “Sequin in a Blue Room”) suggests it struck a chord with traditionally partisan Aussie audiences, and with proper handling,...
- 6/21/2019
- by Eddie Cockrell
- Variety Film + TV
‘Sequin in A Blue Room’.
Sydney Film Festival announced its audience awards today, with best narrative feature awarded to Samuel Van Grinsven’s Sequin in a Blue Room and best documentary to Selina Miles’ Martha: A Picture Story – both Aussie films.
Sequin in a Blue Room, a queer coming-of-age story, is Van Grinsven’s debut feature, completed as part of an Aftrs Masters project and produced by Sophie Hattch. It stars Conor Leach in his film debut, alongside Jeremy Lindsay Taylor and Anthony Brandon Wong.
Martha: A Picture Story, documents the life and work of NYC photo journalist Martha Cooper. It is the first full length documentary film from Miles, and was executive produced by Jennifer Peedom and and produced by Daniel Joyce.
Two other Australian films – Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones and Imogen McCluskey’s microbudget debut Suburban Wildlife – were also voted in the top five narrative films,...
Sydney Film Festival announced its audience awards today, with best narrative feature awarded to Samuel Van Grinsven’s Sequin in a Blue Room and best documentary to Selina Miles’ Martha: A Picture Story – both Aussie films.
Sequin in a Blue Room, a queer coming-of-age story, is Van Grinsven’s debut feature, completed as part of an Aftrs Masters project and produced by Sophie Hattch. It stars Conor Leach in his film debut, alongside Jeremy Lindsay Taylor and Anthony Brandon Wong.
Martha: A Picture Story, documents the life and work of NYC photo journalist Martha Cooper. It is the first full length documentary film from Miles, and was executive produced by Jennifer Peedom and and produced by Daniel Joyce.
Two other Australian films – Ben Lawrence’s Hearts and Bones and Imogen McCluskey’s microbudget debut Suburban Wildlife – were also voted in the top five narrative films,...
- 6/18/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
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