Screen Australia greenlights three feature films
Screen Australia has approved government funding for three new feature films.
The announcement:
Screen Australia today announced $4.4 million investment in three feature films, generating almost $25 million in production investment.
Writer/director Jocelyn Moorhouse and producer Sue Maslin’s comic drama The Dressmaker, starring Kate Winslet and Judy Davis, is a gothic tale of love, revenge and haute couture. The script is adapted from Rosalie Ham’s novel of the same name.
Sucker, from rising directorial talent Ben Chessell, is a story about a young Chinese Australian man on the cusp of adulthood, who learns about life and lies from an ageing conman and about love from his daughter. The film is written by both Ben Chessell and Lawrence Leung, produced by Robyn Kershaw and Jason Byrne, co-produced by Jocelyn Quioc and executive produced by Joan Peters.
Intended to be a Canadian/Australian co-production, Rest Home is a marital drama from writer/director Michael Rowe, producers Trish Lake and Serge Noël, co-producer Dan Lake and executive producer Richard Cohen.
Screen Australia’s Head of Production Investment Ross Matthews said, “These three feature films are all outstanding projects with huge potential. The Dressmaker is a distinctive and highly entertaining film from an experienced team and an A-list cast.
“Director/writer Michael Rowe is well versed in bringing a unique auteur vision to his films, as his Cannes Caméra d’Or-winning film Leap Year (Año bisiesto) attests, and Rest Home also has the potential to be a break-out arthouse film with a long festival life.
“Sucker is a fresh and original film from a talented first-time feature director, which should attract a wide demographic.”
THE DRESSMAKER
Film Art Media Pty Ltd
Producer Sue Maslin
Writer/Director Jocelyn Moorhouse
Australian Distributor Universal
International Sales Embankment Films
Cast Kate Winslet, Judy Davis
Synopsis A gothic tale of love, revenge and haute couture.REST HOME
Freshwater Pictures
Producers Trish Lake, Serge Noël
Co-producer Dan Lake
Executive Producer Richard Cohen
Writer/Director Michael Rowe
Australian Distributor Rialto
International Sales Pyramide
Synopsis David and Mandy’s marriage crosses cultures and generations but can it survive Mandy crossing the line of infidelity?SUCKER
Robyn Kershaw Productions & Jason Byrne Productions
Producers Robyn Kershaw, Jason Byrne
Co-producer Jocelyn Quioc
Executive Producer Joan Peters
Writers Ben Chessell, Lawrence Leung
Director Ben Chessell
Australian Distributor Madman Entertainment
International Sales Level
Synopsis An 18-year-old Chinese Australian on the cusp of adulthood learns about life and lies from an ageing conman, and about love from his daughter.
Source: Screen Australian media release
