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Robert Connolly’s adaptation of Winton’s The Turning gets Screen Australia funding

A Robert Connolly-produced film – which features a range of big-name Australian filmmakers and actors directing different chapters of the film – has received funding from Screen Australia.

The Turning, an adaptation Tim Winton’s book of 17 short stories of the same name, is to be directed by Snowtown director Justin Kurzel, Van Diemen’s Land director Jonathan Auf Der Heide, The Slap show runner Tony Ayres, actors Cate Blanchett, David Wenham and Mia Wasikowska, Connolly and others.

Connolly’s multi-director project comes a few months after the announcement that the screen agency was investing in John Polson’s film Sydney Unplugged featuring short films by prominent Australian filmmakers.

Connolly, producer of The Boys, Romulus and My Father and director of The Bank, Three Dollars and Balibo, is a board member of Screen Australia.

A Screen Australia spokesperson told Encore: “We have a clear working conflict of interest policy that works. We don’t exclude working film-makers from our board as we need that expertise. But we have a system in place that works.”

Connolly recently had another producing project, Paper Planes receive funding from Screen Australia.

See-Saw Films’ producers Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, who made The King’s Speech, have also received funding for film Tracks, co-produced by Julie Ryan, producer of Red Dog with Nelson Woss. The film will be directed by John Curran.

Philippa Campey, producer of Bastardy and Murandak: Songs of Freedom will produce Galore, written and directed by Rhys Graham, while Causeway Films producers Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere have received funding for The Babadook, written and directed by Jennifer Kent, with actor Essie Davis cast.

List of funded films

THE BABADOOK
Production company: Causeway Films Pty Ltd
Producers: Kristina Ceyton, Kristian Moliere
Executive Producers: Jonathan Page, Michael Tear, Jeff Harrison
Writer/Director: Jennifer Kent
Cast: Essie Davis
International Sales: eOne Entertainment
Australian Distributor: Umbrella Entertainment
Synopsis: A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.

GALORE
Production company: Film Camp Pty Ltd
Producer: Philippa Campey
Executive Producers Sue Murray, Victoria Treole
Writer/Director: Rhys Graham
International Sales: eOne Entertainment
Australian Distributor: Hopscotch
Synopsis: Billie and Laura, two reckless teenage best friends, share everything, except for Billie’s biggest secret; she’s crazy in love with Laura’s boyfriend.

TRACKS
See-Saw Productions Pty Ltd
Producers: Emile Sherman, Iain Canning
Co-Producer: Julie Ryan
Writer: Based on the current draft written by John Curran
Director: John Curran
International Sales: Hanway Films, Cross City Sales
Australian Distributor: Transmission
Synopsis: The inspirational true story of Robyn Davidson’s solo camel trek through the harsh centre of Australia, aided only by her faithful canine companion Diggity and the National Geographic photographer who chronicled this epic modern adventure.

THE TURNING
Arenamedia Pty Ltd
Producer: Robert Connolly
Co-Producer: Maggie Miles
Executive Producers: Andrew Myer, Paul Wiegard
Directors: Including Benedict Andrews, Jonathan auf der Heide, Tony Ayres, Cate Blanchett, Robert Connolly, Shaun Gladwell, Rhys Graham, Justin Kurzel, Ian Meadows, Yaron Lifschitz, Claire McCarthy, Ashlee Page, Stephen Page, Mia Wasikowska, David Wenham.
International Sales: Maze Film Sales, LevelK ApS Film Sales
Australian Distributor: Footprint Films
Synopsis: A diverse range of Australian directors each create a chapter of this hauntingly beautiful novel by Tim Winton. The linking and overlapping stories explore the extraordinary turning points in ordinary people’s lives. As characters face second thoughts and mid-life regret, relationships irretrievably alter, resolves are made or broken and lives change direction forever.

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