Quick viewing(Text Mode)

The Annual Aacta Awards

The Annual Aacta Awards

CONTENTS

WELCOME 4 INTRODUCTION: CLEM BASTOW 6 INTRODUCTION: BLAKE HOWARD 8 GENERAL INFORMATION 10 VOTING INFORMATION 12 MEMBER FILM FEST BENEFITS 13 BECOME A MEMBER 14

FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 16

FESTIVAL HOSTS 41 PROGRAM 42 PROGRAM 44 BRISBANE PROGRAM 46

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 47 GUEST PASSES 48 PARTNERS 50

DESIGN AND LAYOUT Find your Art Bradley Arden Embrace the arts from PRINT PARTNER and around Kwik Kopy the world. The synopses and production details listed in this publication have been supplied and approved by the producer of each entered production.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. AFI | AACTA does not accept liability for errors or omissions. Similarly, every effort has been made to obtain permission from the copyright holders for material that appears in this publication. Enquiries should be addressed to AFI | AACTA. Comments and opinions expressed in this publication are not CALL 131 787 necessarily those of AFI | AACTA, which accepts no responsibility for these comments and opinions. This collection © 2018 AFI | AACTA and individual contributors. Channel 806 CONTENTS 2 WELCOME

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the storylines, and seven films where females make 2018 AACTA Film Fest. With a record breaking up over half the awards candidates. We’re also 38 feature films in competition – many of which pleased to see a third of competing films with you can’t see anywhere else – this year’s Festival culturally and linguistically diverse themes and is an all-inclusive look at Australian film. AACTA representation. Film Fest provides the opportunity to view the outstanding Australian films from the past 12 I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the months competing for our nation’s highest screen industry for ensuring Australian film remains accolades – the AACTA Awards. vibrant and dynamic through their tireless work, as well as our valued partners, new and continuing, It’s a fascinating time, as the landscape of our film for their generous support throughout the year. industry continues to change; from the expansion of non-traditional distribution pathways and the And finally I thank you, our members. Your passion availability of VOD and SVOD services to the and support of our industry ensures it continues role social media plays as a marketing platform, to flourish, as well as allowing us to continue Australian films have more opportunities to find supporting, promoting and celebrating Australian audiences than ever before. screen productions, practitioners and performers.

In particular, more and more great Australian I encourage you all to participate in the largest independent films are making waves, telling conversation on Australian film and join us at the diverse and unique stories that you can’t find 2018 Film Fest in cinemas, online and on AACTA anywhere else. This year we’re thrilled to recognise TV. Your vote is vital to the peer-assessed Awards these films and the creative filmmakers behind process, so remember to make it count! I also hope them who are doing incredible things with small you will take the time to join us at AACTA Shorts budgets via the AACTA Award for Best Indie Film. Fest in August and AACTA Docs Fest in October – either in cinema in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane This year’s competing films feature a dynamic and Perth or via AACTA TV. mix of genres, including: thrillers such as 1% and CARGO; dramas including BREATH, WEST OF Enjoy the 2018 AACTA Film Fest! SUNSHINE and ; sci-fi films including UPGRADE and OCCUPATION; comedies such as BROTHERS’ NEST, LADIES IN BLACK and THE MERGER; and family filmsPETER RABBIT™ and THE LEGO® NINJAGO MOVIE. There are also plenty of familiar faces on-screen, including award-winning home-grown talent such as , , , Joel Damian Trewhella Edgerton, , , AFI | AACTA Debicki, Jason Clarke, , Sam Chief Executive Officer Neill and , among many others. We also enjoy performances from international including , , , Julia Ormond and .

Almost half of this year’s films were made by first-time directors, who compete alongside some of Australia’s leading directors including , , , Stephen Elliott and . I’m pleased to report another strong year for women in Australian film. There are nine female directors in competition, over half the competing films featuring prominent female leads or female-centric

WELCOME 4

S1819-003 Sydney Generic Ad A5.indd 1 9/7/18 12:08 pm INTRODUCTION CLEM BASTOW

At the tender age of seven-and-a-half - fractions This year, Australian filmmakers embraced genre are important at that age, and when discussing filmmaking with an enthusiasm that recalls the formative moments - my parents took me to the glory (and gory) days of New movies to see Pino Amenta’s WHAT THE MOON Wave, with the Festival program offering uniquely SAW. When Amenta’s charming tale of burgeoning Australian interpretations of horror, science fiction, adolescence unfolded on the big screen before thriller and action. Warwick Thornton’s SWEET me, I was captivated in a way that was hitherto COUNTRY revives the Australian western, a genre unknown to me (thanks in no small part to Rose unto itself, and turns an unflinching lens upon Chong’s AFI Award-winning costumes). A world of colonialism and nationalism. possibility opened up to me, one in which uniquely Australian experiences could bewitch and bewilder As my colleague Blake Howard notes in this me just like their international counterparts that program, Australian filmmakers are now exploring the local video store shelves heaved with: there the narrative possibilities afforded by VOD/SVOD was no turning back. and other digital platforms, and this coupled with international festival interest in Australian This is an experience common to all Australian films means that audiences for Australian stories filmgoers, young and old, to this day: when we are poised to be broader than ever. More and see ourselves reflected on the silver screen, our more Australian directors, writers, actors and film understanding of ourselves, our culture and our artisans are in high demand overseas. The world history deepens. will come running, but for now, this is your chance to see just how great we can be. This year’s AACTA Film Fest offers the cineaste and the curious alike an unparalleled opportunity to dive deep into Australian cinema in 2018. With 38 films in competition, some of which can only be seen during the Festival, the program spans a remarkable range of genres, voices, tones and themes.

Excitingly, Australian filmmakers working outside so-called traditional avenues continue to push the boundaries of what an “Australian film” can be, a groundswell reflected by the 18 feature films in competition made for under $2 million. This independent spirit brings us films likeJed Malone’s warm-hearted BIRTHDAY ADJUSTMENT DISORDER, a micro-budget exploration of mental health made in the true spirit of mumblecore; Jason Raftopoulos’ meditation on working class fatherhood WEST OF SUNSHINE (starring 2016 AACTA Best Original Screenplay and Best Lead nominee Damian Hill); and Donna McRae’s unsettling LOST GULLY ROAD, described by film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas as “the most original and powerful Australian haunted house film in years.”

INTRODUCTION: CLEM BASTOW 6 INTRODUCTION BLAKE HOWARD

One of the most powerful moments I’ve ever seen ’s American novel about gay on a cinema screen is the chilling opening of David conversion “therapy” – sees AFI Award winner Michôd’s ANIMAL KINGDOM where Josh (James continue to establish himself Frecheville) passively consumes game show as a successful auteur and features an all-star television while his mother is being treated for a Australian team in front of and behind the camera fatal overdose. It’s rich, deftly handled and leaves including Oscar® winners Nicole Kidman and an indelible, undeniable mental scar. You don’t Russell Crowe. have to reach back to the canonical to find incredible works of antipodean This selection features movies that use our past to cinema. Recently, I was lucky enough to be part reflect our present SWEET( COUNTRY, SWINGING of a collective of Australian Film Critics polled SAFARI). This selection leads us on humanist for flicks.com.au. The task was to select the ten missions into conflict zones JIRGA( ). Films in this best Australian films since the year 2000. While in selection tackle institutions and foundation beliefs principle that might sound easy, narrowing down with revisionist lenses (MARY MAGDALENE, 1%). the list to a mere ten films was like a torturous And finally, this selection uses and bends genre cycle in killing your darlings. Australian cinema, to bring aliens to bare on the local rather than the PROUDLY especially in the last decade, is stronger than ever. global (OCCUPATION).

With an unrivalled selection of 38 films (some Right now, the production and distribution of SUPPORTING that cannot be seen anywhere else), AACTA Australian movies is in a state of rapid change. Film Fest is the forum to create the narrative of Viewing habits have pivoted from merely visiting what Australian cinema is in 2018. While Sydney, the cinema, or tuning into pre-programmed THE ANNUAL AACTA AWARDS Melbourne and now Adelaide Film Festivals do broadcast television, to the array of on-demand a fantastic job of showcasing Australian films; streaming services like , Amazon and it is only the AACTA Film Fest's exclusive focus all available from your phone. SVOD platforms on Australian cinema that showcases the most are an exciting avenue to propel great Australian authentic picture of contemporary Australia. This works to international audiences as we’ve seen eurekainternational.com.au year’s AACTA Film Fest showcases the full, diverse with productions like MYSTERY ROAD creating range of Australia’s creative voices across all an appetite for not only its sequel GOLDSTONE levels of filmmaking. With representation across but this year’s acclaimed MYSTERY ROAD: THE all genres, 23% of films directed by women, 73% SERIES television adaptation. Films like CARGO of films in competition from writer/directors, and (for Netflix) andTHE SECOND (for Stan) are the the triumphant return of some of Australia’s most exciting early adopters, made as “original” features beloved and successful filmmakers. MaestroBruce with tactical screening windows at the cinema. Beresford delivers an adaption of Madeleine St John’s slice of sexual politics in 1959 Sydney in While Australian creatives such as AACTA winners LADIES IN BLACK. Architect of the SAW and and (and a 30 franchise Leigh Whannell is back in strong cohort) lobby the government to impose the director’s chair for the second time with body Australian content quotas on these services; the horror/mutation tale UPGRADE. And AACTA AACTA Film Fest has the opportunity and the Trailblazer Award winner Simon Baker transitions obligation to elevate new work from emerging effortlessly from directing television to directing filmmakers whose distribution trajectory is feature film, steeringTim Winton’s coming of age drastically different to that of their predecessors. story BREATH.

As my colleague Clem Bastow points out, what defines an “Australian” film is constantly being re-evaluated. BOY ERASED - an adaption of

INTRODUCTION: BLAKE HOWARD 8 GENERAL INFORMATION

SCREENINGS SCHEDULE AACTA TV

Each film that has not previously been screened The majority of feature films in competition will as part of AFI | AACTA’s year-round Member be available for members to view on AACTA TV Events Program will be screened once in Sydney, during the Film Fest period. Melbourne and Brisbane. For screening dates, times and locations, please refer to the Program Members can also view the nominated short films for each State (starting on P42). (available from August 22) and feature length documentaries (available in October) until the Every effort will be made to avoid changes to the conclusion of AACTA’s Festival period. Programs; however, in the event that a change does occur, the change will be communicated to AACTA TV, AACTA’s online viewing platform, all members via email and will also be noted on is available to members anytime, anywhere and the AACTA website. on any device. To access AACTA TV, please visit aacta.vdyo.co. ADMISSION REGULATIONS NOMINEES AND WINNERS AFI | AACTA members receive complimentary entry to all screening sessions upon presentation The Best Short Fiction Film and Best Short of their membership card at the cinema box Animation nominees have already been office (in Melbourne) or to the AFI | AACTA announced. Best Feature Length Documentary representative (in Sydney and Brisbane) at the nominees will be announced in September 2018 time of the screening. ahead of AACTA Docs Fest.

Please note that tickets cannot be obtained in All remaining nominees will be announced in advance of screenings. October 2018.

All members are welcome to bring a guest to Winners will be announced and presented at the screenings, with the exception of Opening Night, 8th AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel two by using their complimentary guest passes major events held in Sydney; (located on P48). To gain entry to a screening, guests must complete their details on the reverse • The Industry Luncheon on Monday 3 of the guest pass and present the completed pass December; and at the cinema box office or to the AFI | AACTA representative at the time of the screening. • The Ceremony & Official After Party on Wednesday 5 December, televised on Channel All seating is offered on a first come, first serve Seven with encore screenings on Foxtel. basis, and is strictly limited by the capacity of each cinema. AFI | AACTA cannot guarantee entry to popular screenings and suggests allowing enough time prior to the time of the screening to MORE INFORMATION ensure your entry. For more information regarding AACTA Film Latecomers arriving after the scheduled start of a Fest, AFI | AACTA membership or the 8th AACTA screening may not be admitted. Awards presented by Foxtel, please contact us on: E: [email protected] Persons under of 18 are restricted to screenings based on the classification listed P: 1300 139 697 for each film. Films without classification are W: www.aacta.org restricted to persons aged 18 and over. Proof of age may be required.

GENERAL INFORMATION 10 VOTING INFORMATION

AACTA members (screen professionals who have ROUND ONE VOTING undergone an accreditation process) hold the privileged right to vote, determining the nominees In Round One voting, each AACTA member and winners of all AACTA Award categories. votes to determine the nominees in the feature film award category/s specific to their chapter In line with best practice international models, allocation. Feature film nominees will be AACTA members vote on the feature films in determined by preferential voting, with nominees competition via a weighted, two-round voting in the Best Film category being limited to five. model. This allows for a more consistent and rigorous approach to voting, ensuring that those AACTA and AFI members will also vote to best qualified to recognise excellence in their determine the winners in the Best Short Fiction specific crafts do so, in turn ensuring that the Film and Best Short Animation categories AACTA Awards represent the pinnacle of film and during Round One voting. The nominees in these television achievement in Australia. categories were determined by the AACTA Short Film Branch. AFI members (open to everyone) also have the privileged right to vote to determine the winners in the Best Short Fiction Film and Best Short Animation categories. ROUND TWO VOTING

Remember, even if you are unable to see all the In Round Two voting, all AACTA members feature films in competition, you can still vote! (regardless of chapter allocation) vote on the nominees to determine the winner in all feature All votes will be submitted via an online voting film categories and in the Best Feature Length form. Only one voting form per member, per round Documentary category. will be accepted. All winners are determined by a simple Ernst & Young is the official scrutineer for the 8th majority vote, in line with BAFTA and AMPAS AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel. methodology.

For more information on voting, please visit www.aacta.org.

screenaustralia.gov.au

VOTING INFORMATION 12 MEMBER FILM FEST BENEFITS BECOME A MEMBER

VOTING RIGHTS Membership grants you the privileged right to vote, determining the nominees and winners of the 8th AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel.

The AACTA Awards promote Australia’s best and brightest, both at home and abroad. With many AACTA Award nominees and winners receiving new opportunities and funding as well as seeing increases in box office and sales as a direct result,your vote matters.

COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS TO SCREENINGS Members receive complimentary access to all screenings during AACTA’s three Festivals – Shorts Fest (August), Film Fest ENJOY AACTA’S FILM FEST AS AN (September) and Docs Fest (October). Over 50 feature films, documentaries and short films will screen in Sydney, Melbourne, AFI | AACTA MEMBER Brisbane and Perth across the three Festivals.

Open to everyone, AFI | AACTA membership connects you to the heart of the Australian film and television industry. In addition to the benefits you can receive during AACTA’s Film Fest, members SHARE THE POPCORN are treated to over $650 worth of annual benefits and events, including: Members are welcome to bring a guest to Film Fest screenings, with the exception of Opening Night, by using the complimentary guest passes on page 48 – because after all, popcorn is always better shared!

To gain entry to a screening, guests must complete their details on the reverse of the guest pass and present the completed pass to the AFI | AACTA representative or at the cinema box office at the time of the screening. Film previews, television premieres and Complimentary masterclasses from AACTA TV Q&As with cast and crew the industry’s best Can’t make it to a cinema? Members can view the majority of feature films in competition during AACTA Film Fest onAACTA TV – available anytime, anywhere and on any device.

Members also get exclusive access to the nominated short films (available from August 22) and feature length documentaries (available in October) until the conclusion of AACTA’s Festival period.

EXCLUSIVE CINEMA DISCOUNTS Savings of up to $85 on tickets to the Facilitates entry into the AACTA Awards for key Thanks to AACTA’s cinema partners in each State, members can 8th AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel creatives and associated productions receive exclusive discounts on food and beverage items at Film Fest screenings upon presentation of their membership card.

More information on special offers can be found on the Program MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO EVERYONE page for each State (starting on P24). JOIN TODAY FROM JUST $70 AT WWW.AACTA.ORG

13 MEMBER FILM FEST BENEFITS BECOME A MEMBER 14 FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION

The Coming Back Out Ball / Acute Misfortune / Picnic at Hanging Rock FILM supporting the ViCtoriAn sCreen inDustrY AnD the 8th AACtA AWArDs presenteD bY FoXteL

film.vic.gov.au @filmvictoria

FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 16 1% THE BBQ BIRTHDAY BOY ERASED ADJUSTMENT 1% is a story of brotherhood, loyalty Suburban everyman Darren ‘Dazza’ Cook Jared, the son of a Baptist pastor in a small and betrayal, set within the primal finds his passion for the neighbourhood DISORDER American town, is outed to his parents underworld of outlaw motorcycle gangs. backyard ‘barbie’ thrust into the and faced with an ultimatum: attend a It follows Paddo, heir to the throne of the competitive international arena of BBQ Seven thirty-somethings gather to toast gay program – or be Copperheads MC, who has to betray his Festivals. But the steaks are high, and Dazza a birthday. A psychologist, a psychiatrist, permanently exiled and shunned by his president to save his brother's life. When is going to need some expert tuition if he’s a neuroscientist, a lawyer, an artist, an family, friends and faith. BOY ERASED is the this betrayal leads to a split in the club it going to make it through to the finals. army veteran and a carpenter. Cracks in true story of one young man’s struggle to results in civil war, forcing Paddo to choose friendships and wine bottles soon appear, find himself while being forced to question between loyalty and blood. Tait Brady, Lynne Wilson, PRODUCER revealing an underlying current of deep every aspect of his identity. Stephen Amis, Deb Fryers existential angst. When it's revealed PRODUCER Jamie Hilton, Michael Pontin DIRECTOR Stephen Amis it’s the anniversary of the death of a PRODUCER Steve Golin, DIRECTOR Stephen McCallum WRITER Stephen Amis, Serge De Nardo, beloved cousin, the night descends into Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Joel Edgerton WRITER Matt Nable , David Richardson, an exploration of shadow and loss, which DIRECTOR Joel Edgerton EDITOR Veronika Jenet Angelo Salamanca threatens to destroy friendships and WRITER Joel Edgerton SOUND Angus Robertson, Phil Heywood, EDITOR Bill Murphy lives forever. EDITOR Jay Rabinowitz Trevor Hope, Craig Butters SOUND Chris Goodes SOUND Robert Fernandez, Robert Hein CINEMATOGRAPHER CINEMATOGRAPHER David Richardson PRODUCER Jed Malone CINEMATOGRAPHER Shelley Farthing-Dawe COMPOSER Ricky Edwards Danny Bensi, DIRECTOR Jed Malone COMPOSER COMPOSER Chris Cobilis PRODUCTION DESIGNER Otello Stolfo Saunder Jurriaans WRITER Jed Malone PRODUCTION DESIGNER Louise Brady COSTUME DESIGNER Christiana Plitzco Chad Keith EDITOR Enzo Tedeschi PRODUCTION DESIGNER COSTUME DESIGNER Terri Lamera LEAD ACTOR Trish Summerville SUPPORTING ACTRESS Jed Malone, COSTUME DESIGNER LEAD ACTOR LEAD ACTRESS Magda Szubanski Michela Carattini LEAD ACTOR Lucas Hedges LEAD ACTRESS Abbey Lee SUPPORTING ACTOR Nicholas Hammond, SUPPORTING ACTOR Russell Crowe, SUPPORTING ACTOR Matt Nable, Frederik Simpson, Manu Feildel, John Stanton Joel Edgerton, Josh McConville SUPPORTING ACTRESS , SUPPORTING ACTRESS Nicole Kidman SUPPORTING ACTRESS Simone Kessell CASTING DIRECTOR Carmen Cuba CASTING DIRECTOR Kirsty McGregor CASTING DIRECTOR Fiona Dann

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ADAPTED CLASSIFICATION MA15+ CLASSIFICATION PG CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION CTC RUNNING TIME 96 mins RUNNING TIME 91 mins RUNNING TIME 93 mins RUNNING TIME 114 mins DISTRIBUTOR ICON DISTRIBUTOR LABEL / MADMAN DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR UNIVERSAL RELEASE MONTH OCTOBER RELEASE MONTH FEBRUARY RELEASE MONTH APRIL RELEASE MONTH NOVEMBER

17 FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 18 BREATH BROTHERS' NEST

Based on 's award-winning On a cold morning in the middle of country novel set in mid-70's coastal Australia. Two Victoria, two brothers arrive at the family teenage boys, hungry for discovery, form an home intent on murdering their step-father unlikely friendship with a mysterious older Roger. Terry and Jeff's motive is simple; surfer who pushes them to take risks that killing their step-dad will render their dying will have a lasting and profound impact on mother's plan to change her will in his their lives. favour, redundant. A staged ‘suicide’ has been meticulously planned, but there is PRODUCER Mark Johnson, Simon Baker, one thing the boys didn't take into account, Jamie Hilton spending an entire day together. Old DIRECTOR Simon Baker grudges, different worldviews and a general WRITER Gerard Lee, Simon Baker, troubled history will pit these two brothers Tim Winton against each other. EDITOR Dany Cooper SOUND Robert Mackenzie PRODUCER Jason Byrne, Clayton Jacobson CINEMATOGRAPHER Marden Dean, DIRECTOR Clayton Jacobson Rick Rifici WRITER Jaime Browne COMPOSER Harry Gregson-Williams EDITOR Sean Lander, Clayton Jacobson PRODUCTION DESIGNER SOUND Emma Bortignon, Paul Pirola Steven Jones-Evans CINEMATOGRAPHER Peter Falk COSTUME DESIGNER Terri Lamera COMPOSER Richard Pleasance LEAD ACTOR Samson Coulter, Ben Spence PRODUCTION DESIGNER Robert Perkins SUPPORTING ACTOR Richard Roxburgh, COSTUME DESIGNER Katie Graham Simon Baker LEAD ACTOR Clayton Jacobson, SUPPORTING ACTRESS , Shane Jacobson Miranda Frangou SUPPORTING ACTOR Kim Gyngell CASTING DIRECTOR Nikki Barrett SUPPORTING ACTRESS ,

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION MA15+ RUNNING TIME 115 mins RUNNING TIME 97 mins DISTRIBUTOR ROADSHOW DISTRIBUTOR LABEL RELEASE MONTH MAY RELEASE MONTH JUNE

FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 20 CARGO DAD THE FIVE THE FLIP SIDE PROVOCATIONS Stranded in rural Australia in the aftermath After the passing of her mother, Al is left Mired in debt, Ronnie is a struggling of a violent pandemic, an infected father to the hands of the State Government. Adelaide restaurateur looking after her desperately seeks a new home for his infant Her only wish and hope is finding her Dad, Marlena is secretly dealing with the loss of elderly mother and living with her good- child and a means to protect her from his whom she barely knows. She sets off on a her married lover, Rosie. Rosie's husband hearted boyfriend Jeff. Five years ago, own changing nature. journey and trusts that her wish will come Paul is also going through his own grief. while catering on a film set in Australia, true, but who she finds is not the man Meanwhile Marlena takes on a housemate, she had an intense affair with British movie PRODUCER Samantha Jennings, she remembers. the timid and a little bit aimless Bridget. star, Henry. Despite wild declarations of Kristina Ceyton Handyman Clinton grapples with parenting love, as the movie wrapped so did the DIRECTOR Yolanda Ramke, Ben Howling PRODUCER Robert Lobosco a teenage daughter and his own developing relationship, crushing Ronnie's heart. When WRITER Yolanda Ramke DIRECTOR Robert Lobosco gender identity. The lives of these four Henry's French girlfriend Sophie calls to say EDITOR Dany Cooper, Sean Lahiff WRITER Robert Lobosco very different people intertwine as they they will be in Adelaide on a promotional SOUND Liam Egan EDITOR Matthew Poidevin fall apart, come together and change tour, Jeff excitedly agrees to meet up and CINEMATOGRAPHER Geoffrey Simpson SOUND Brandon Cvetkovic each other’s lives. Amongst all of this are unwittingly creates the perfect opportunity COMPOSER Daniel Rankine aka 'Trials', CINEMATOGRAPHER Rah Sharma, Mark the mysterious five provocations, played for Henry to seduce Ronnie all over again. Gurrumul Yunupingu, Michael Hohnen, Kenfield, Adam Nichols, Prakash Paudel with mischievous charm by the stars of Johnathon Mangarri Yunupingu COMPOSER Dixon Australia’s cabaret scene. PRODUCER Marion Pilowsky, Sue Murray, PRODUCTION DESIGNER Jo Ford LEAD ACTOR Robert Lobosco David Willing COSTUME DESIGNER Heather Wallace LEAD ACTRESS Lani Hirst PRODUCER Angie Black DIRECTOR Marion Pilowsky LEAD ACTOR Martin Freeman SUPPORTING ACTOR Rajat Sharma, DIRECTOR Angie Black WRITER Marion Pilowsky, Lee Sellars LEAD ACTRESS Simone Landers Frank Otis WRITER Angie Black EDITOR Denise Haratzis SUPPORTING ACTOR , SUPPORTING ACTRESS Kirsty Snowden, EDITOR Kelly Dingeldei SOUND Tom Heuzenroeder, , Bruce R. Carter Marie Werrett, Jazi Hall, Veena Prakash SOUND Andrew McGrath Duncan Campbell, Will Sheridan SUPPORTING ACTRESS , CASTING DIRECTOR Robert Lobosco CINEMATOGRAPHER Matt Jasper CINEMATOGRAPHER Steve Arnold Caren Pistorius, Natasha Wanganeen, COMPOSER Marcel Borrack, Amelia Barden COMPOSER Luis Almau Kris McQuade PRODUCTION DESIGNER Amanda Morris PRODUCTION DESIGNER Tony Cronin CASTING DIRECTOR Nikki Barrett COSTUME DESIGNER Lucia Gertos LEAD ACTOR Eddie Izzard, Luke McKenzie LEAD ACTOR Tony Moclair LEAD ACTRESS Emily Taheny, LEAD ACTRESS Sapidah Kian Vanessa Guide SUPPORTING ACTOR Blake Osborn SUPPORTING ACTOR , SUPPORTING ACTRESS Rebecca Bower Tiriel Mora SUPPORTING ACTRESS , Susie Youssef CASTING DIRECTOR Angela Heesom

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION MA15+ CLASSIFICATION CTC CLASSIFICATION CTC CLASSIFICATION M RUNNING TIME 105 mins RUNNING TIME 91 mins RUNNING TIME 94 mins RUNNING TIME 91 mins DISTRIBUTOR UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR FOX RELEASE MONTH MAY RELEASE MONTH SEPTEMBER RELEASE MONTH MARCH RELEASE MONTH AUGUST

21 FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 22 Proudly Supporting

Australian Cinema… THE GATEWAY GRINGO

Particle physicist Jane Chandler is happily A dark comedy mixed with white-knuckle married to writer, Matt. Together with her action and dramatic intrigue, GRINGO lab assistant Regg, Jane experiments with explores the battle of survival for matter teleportation. Later, tragedy strikes; businessman Harold Soyinka when he finds Matt is killed in a car crash. Grieving, Jane himself crossing the line from law-abiding falls to pieces. But a few weeks later comes citizen to wanted criminal. a ray of hope when Jane finds a way to teleport herself to a parallel world where PRODUCER Rebecca Yeldham, she finds another version of Matt. But this Nash Edgerton is a very different Matt and before long she DIRECTOR Nash Edgerton realises she’s made a terrible mistake and EDITOR , David Rennie, must find a way to send him back to save Tatiana S. Riegel her family. SOUND Paul Pirola, Hayden Collow, Mark Paterson, David Moreno PRODUCER John Soto SUPPORTING ACTOR Joel Edgerton DIRECTOR John Soto WRITER John Soto, Michael White Please note, GRINGO has been deemed eligible EDITOR Regg Skwarko to compete in the listed categories as it received SOUND Mark D’Angelo, Christian Scallan, the Department of Communications and the Scott Montgomery Arts' PDV Offset and features Australians in key CINEMATOGRAPHER David Le May creative roles. COMPOSER Thomas Rouch PRODUCTION DESIGNER Monique Wajon COSTUME DESIGNER Lisa Galea LEAD ACTOR Myles Pollard LEAD ACTRESS Jacqueline McKenzie SUPPORTING ACTOR Ben Mortley SUPPORTING ACTRESS Hayley McElhinney CASTING DIRECTOR John Soto

eventcinemas.com.au BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION MA15+ RUNNING TIME 90 mins RUNNING TIME 111 mins DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR ROADSHOW RELEASE MONTH MAY RELEASE MONTH MARCH

FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 24 IN LIKE FLYNN INDIGO LAKE INNOCENT KILLER JIRGA

Before Errol Flynn became one of the An artist facing a creative crisis is hired A modern city is hit with a string of A former Australian soldier, Mike, returns to biggest movie stars in Hollywood, he was by a nightclub owner to paint a portrait of inexplicable murders of seemingly random Afghanistan to find the family of a civilian he braving cannibals and crocodiles while his young wife. When the artist becomes women from different cultural and accidentally killed during the war. Seeking searching the jungles of Papua New Guinea re-inspired by the wife and falls in love, socio-economic backgrounds. As the forgiveness, he puts his life in the hands of for gold. After stealing the Sirocco, a yacht the nightclub owner's suspicions erupt murderer carries out his deadly deeds, he the village justice system - the Jirga. belonging to Chinese opium smugglers, in violence and the lovers are driven to appears to be following the directions from Flynn and his ragtag crew set sail on a attempt his murder. a cryptic murder manual, searching for PRODUCER John Maynard journey to find adventure and fortune. the perfect ‘soul mate’. Then he meets the DIRECTOR Benjamin Gilmour PRODUCER Brian Cobb, Jonas McLallen last standing policewoman on his trail and WRITER Benjamin Gilmour PRODUCER Corey Large, James M. Vernon DIRECTOR Martin Simpson everything changes. EDITOR Nikki Stevens DIRECTOR WRITER Martin Simpson SOUND Liam Egan WRITER Marc Furmie, Steve Albert, EDITOR Julian Griffiths PRODUCER Jon-Claire Lee, Asif Khan CINEMATOGRAPHER Benjamin Gilmour Luke Flynn, Corey Large SOUND Nathan Brand DIRECTOR Jon-Claire Lee COMPOSER A.J. True EDITOR Rodrigo Balart CINEMATOGRAPHER WRITER Jon-Claire Lee LEAD ACTOR Sam Smith SOUND Thom Kellar, Lachlan Harris Rodrigo Vidal-Dawson EDITOR Dion Wilton CINEMATOGRAPHER Peter Holland COMPOSER Sam Weiss CINEMATOGRAPHER Dion Wilton COMPOSER PRODUCTION DESIGNER Jamie Cranney LEAD ACTOR Asif Khan PRODUCTION DESIGNER COSTUME DESIGNER Lainey Donnelly CASTING DIRECTOR Jon-Claire Lee Nicholas McCallum LEAD ACTOR Andrew Cutcliffe COSTUME DESIGNER Glenn T LEAD ACTRESS Miranda O’Hare LEAD ACTOR Thomas Cocquerel SUPPORTING ACTOR Marin Mimica, SUPPORTING ACTOR Clive Standen, Gerard Webb Corey Large, William Moseley, SUPPORTING ACTRESS Pamela Shaw, Nicole Verhoeven, Lauren Clair SUPPORTING ACTRESS Isabel Lucas CASTING DIRECTOR Maura Fay CASTING DIRECTOR Ben Parkinson

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION CTC CLASSIFICATION CTC CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION M RUNNING TIME 95 mins RUNNING TIME 92 mins RUNNING TIME 92 mins RUNNING TIME 78 mins DISTRIBUTOR UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT RELEASE MONTH OCTOBER RELEASE MONTH DECEMBER 2017 RELEASE MONTH DECEMBER 2017 RELEASE MONTH JUNE

25 FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 26 JUST BETWEEN US LADIES IN BLACK THE LEGO® LOST GULLY ROAD NINJAGO MOVIE Unadventurous office worker Hannah and Adapted from the bestselling novel by Lucy, a directionless young woman, travels her childhood friend Trixie's world is turned Madeleine St John, LADIES IN BLACK is an to a secluded cottage in the forest to wait upside down when the ghost of her late alluring and tender-hearted comedy-drama In this big-screen NINJAGO adventure, the for her sister. With no television and little sister appears; guiding them on a road about the lives of a group of department battle for NINJAGO City calls to action communication to the outside world she trip to scatter her ashes at a destination store employees in 1959 Sydney. young Master Builder Lloyd, aka the Green spends her days alone and drinking to pass she once sought but never found. What Ninja, along with his friends, who are all the time. That is, until her unexpected host starts off as a simple journey turns into PRODUCER Allanah Zitserman, Sue Milliken secret ninja warriors. Led by Master Wu, decides to keep her company... an unpredictable adventure and the two DIRECTOR Bruce Beresford as wise-cracking as he is wise, they must friends must overcome their sheltered WRITER Sue Milliken, Bruce Beresford defeat evil warlord Garmadon, The Worst PRODUCER Liz Baulch, Donna McRae existence and find out who they really are EDITOR Mark Warner Guy Ever, who also happens to be Lloyd's DIRECTOR Donna McRae and what they are truly capable of. SOUND David Lee, Andy Wright, Leah Katz, dad. Pitting mech against mech and WRITER Donna McRae, Michael Vale Diego Ruiz father against son, the epic showdown EDITOR Shannon Michaelas PRODUCER Joanne Nguyen, CINEMATOGRAPHER Peter James will test this fierce but undisciplined team CINEMATOGRAPHER Làszló Baranyai Deanna Ortuso COMPOSER Christopher Gordon of modern-day ninjas, who must learn COMPOSER Dave Graney, Clare Moore DIRECTOR Christopher Kay PRODUCTION DESIGNER Felicity Abbott to check their egos and pull together to PRODUCTION DESIGNER Michael Vale WRITER Deanna Ortuso COSTUME DESIGNER Wendy Cork unleash their inner power. LEAD ACTRESS Adele Perovic EDITOR Christopher Kay LEAD ACTOR Ryan Corr SUPPORTING ACTOR SOUND Rezzan Ufacikligil LEAD ACTRESS Julia Ormond, SOUND Wayne Pashley, Fabian Sanjurjo, SUPPORTING ACTRESS Jane Clifton CINEMATOGRAPHER Filip Laureys Tim LeBlanc, Beau Borders COMPOSER Rezzan Ufacikligil SUPPORTING ACTOR Vincent Perez, PRODUCTION DESIGNER Kim Taylor, LEAD ACTRESS Deanna Ortuso Shane Jacobson Felicity Coonan, Simon Whiteley SUPPORTING ACTOR Clayton Jacobson, SUPPORTING ACTRESS , , Matt Prodan, Andy Rhodes Susie Porter, Rachael Taylor Please note, The LEGO® NINJAGO MOVIE has SUPPORTING ACTRESS Joanne Nguyen, CASTING DIRECTOR Christine King been deemed eligible to compete in the listed Calista Fookes, Kaarin Fairfax, Alison Morley categories as it received the Department of Communications and the Arts' PDV Offset and features Australians in key creative roles.

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION PG CLASSIFICATION PG CLASSIFICATION M RUNNING TIME 106 mins RUNNING TIME 109 mins RUNNING TIME 101 mins RUNNING TIME 80 mins DISTRIBUTOR UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTOR SONY DISTRIBUTOR ROADSHOW DISTRIBUTOR UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE MONTH MAY RELEASE MONTH SEPTEMBER RELEASE MONTH SEPTEMBER 2017 RELEASE MONTH NOVEMBER 2017

27 FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 28 For best commercial and strategic

direction in MARY MAGDALENE ME & MY LEFT BRAIN

entertainment law Set in the Holy Land in the first century, What happens when you are in love with MARY MAGDALENE is the story of a young someone, you don't know how they feel woman who leaves her small fishing village about you, you have a job interview in the and family to join a new movement. Inspired morning... and you cannot sleep? Arthur by its charismatic leader, Jesus of Nazareth, spends the night tossing and turning whilst and his teachings, Mary sets out with the reflecting on the times he has spent with disciples on the journey to Jerusalem, Helen in an attempt to decipher whether where she finds herself at the centre of the she is legitimately interested in him or founding story of Christianity. not. Whilst in this deep reflective analysis, Arthur bickers with his opposing PRODUCER , , inner-voice, who is extremely opinionated Liz Watts on this particular night. DIRECTOR Garth Davis WRITER , PRODUCER Alexandros Lykos DIRECTOR Alexandros Lykos EDITOR Alexandre de Franceschi, WRITER Alexandros Lykos EDITOR Miriana Marusic SOUND Robert Mackenzie, Glenn Newnham, SOUND Anthony Marsh James Ashton, Mario Vacarro CINEMATOGRAPHER Kent Marcus CINEMATOGRAPHER COMPOSER COMPOSER Hildur Guðnadóttir, LEAD ACTOR Alexandros Lykos Jóhann Jóhannsson LEAD ACTRESS Rachael Beck Providing practical and business focused legal PRODUCTION DESIGNER Fiona Crombie SUPPORTING ACTOR Mal Kennard COSTUME DESIGNER SUPPORTING ACTRESS Chantelle Barry, services for the entertainment and media industry LEAD ACTOR Janette Patricia Lakiss Condylis, LEAD ACTRESS Rooney Mara Natalia Ladyko SUPPORTING ACTOR , for over 35 years SUPPORTING ACTRESS CASTING DIRECTOR Jina Jay, Kirsty McGregor, Lilia Trapani To speak to an experienced film and television lawyer call us on +61 2 9334 8555

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ADAPTED MUSIC THEATRE TELEVISION DIGITAL FILM GAMING CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION CTC RUNNING TIME 120 mins RUNNING TIME 79 mins DISTRIBUTOR TRANSMISSION DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT Adelaide | Brisbane | Canberra | Darwin | Hobart | Melbourne | Norwest | Perth | Sydney RELEASE MONTH MARCH RELEASE MONTH NOVEMBER hwlebsworth.com.au FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 30 THE MERGER OCCUPATION ™ THE PRETEND ONE

In a struggling town where the drought After their small Australian country town is The mischievous and adventurous hero The heart-warming tale of a young female won’t let up, jobs are scarce and the footy annihilated by an overwhelming airborne who has captivated generations of readers farmer and her imaginary friend. He's been team looks like it will fold, former football attack, a group of civilians evade capture now takes on the starring role of his own by her side for twenty years and counting. star Troy Carrington is living a hermit-like and take refuge in the bordering forests. contemporary comedy. Peter's feud with Now, as he watches her fall for another man existence on the town’s fringe. Troy is Avoiding detection from the invading Mr. Thomas McGregor escalates to great - a real man - it dawns on him: he is in love coaxed into coaching after striking up an ground troops, they set up a hidden heights, extending to the Lake District and with her. Unable to face losing her, he must unlikely friendship with young Neil, who is settlement camp and soon discover the London, as the rabbits fight to gain control fight to become real himself. struggling with the recent loss of his father. inescapable truth - they are now among of Old McGregor’s coveted vegetable garden Troy teams up with Neil’s mum Angie, who the last remaining survivors of an extra- and the affections of the warm-hearted PRODUCER Tony Prescott, runs a nearby refugee support centre, to terrestrial invasion engulfing the entire animal lover, Bea, who lives next door. Dinusha Ratnaweera recruit refugees to ensure the team survives planet. They must come together as a DIRECTOR Tony Prescott and take the community on a journey family and fight back. PRODUCER , Zareh Nalbandian WRITER James Raue, Tony Prescott of change. DIRECTOR Will Gluck EDITOR Laurence van Camp PRODUCER Luke Sparke, Carly Imrie, WRITER Rob Lieber, Will Gluck SOUND Damian Del Borrello PRODUCER Anne Robinson, Mark Grentell, Carmel Imrie EDITOR Christian Gazal, Jonathan Tappin CINEMATOGRAPHER Robert C. Morton Damian Callinan DIRECTOR Luke Sparke SOUND Robert Mackenzie, Andy Wright, COMPOSER Darren Lim DIRECTOR Mark Grentell WRITER Luke Sparke Ben Osmo, Kevin O’Connell PRODUCTION DESIGNER Bethany Ryan WRITER Damian Callinan EDITOR Luke Sparke, David Napier CINEMATOGRAPHER Peter Menzies Jr. COSTUME DESIGNER Anna Cahill EDITOR Christopher Mill SOUND Chris Goodes, Dale Warren, COMPOSER Dominic Lewis LEAD ACTOR Michael Whalley, SOUND Peter Purcell Ramsey De Marco PRODUCTION DESIGNER Roger Ford, Benedict Wall CINEMATOGRAPHER Tony Luu CINEMATOGRAPHER Tony O’Loughlan Lisa Thompson LEAD ACTRESS Geraldine Hakewill COMPOSER COMPOSER Christopher Elves COSTUME DESIGNER Lizzy Gardiner SUPPORTING ACTOR , PRODUCTION DESIGNER Nicola Stillone PRODUCTION DESIGNER Stuart Burnside LEAD ACTOR Domhnall Gleeson, Elijah Perris COSTUME DESIGNER Andrew Infanti COSTUME DESIGNER Tracey Rose Sparke James Corden SUPPORTING ACTRESS Alice Roberts, LEAD ACTOR Damian Callinan LEAD ACTOR Dan Ewing, Charles Terrier, LEAD ACTRESS Rose Byrne Fiona Press LEAD ACTRESS Kate Mulvany Temuera Morrison SUPPORTING ACTOR , CASTING DIRECTOR Danny Long SUPPORTING ACTOR Rafferty Grierson, LEAD ACTRESS Stephany Jacobsen Colin Moody, David Wenham John Howard, Fayssal Bazzi SUPPORTING ACTOR Charles Mesure, SUPPORTING ACTRESS , SUPPORTING ACTRESS Penny Cook , Zachary Garred, Elizabeth Debicki, Daisy Ridley, CASTING DIRECTOR Faith Martin, Felix Williamson CASTING DIRECTOR Nikki Barrett Caitlin Stanton SUPPORTING ACTRESS Rhiannon Fish, Izzy Stephens, Jacqueline McKenzie CASTING DIRECTOR Carly Imrie

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION PG CLASSIFICATION MA15+ RUNNING TIME 99 mins RUNNING TIME 110 mins RUNNING TIME 93 mins RUNNING TIME 86 mins DISTRIBUTOR UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTOR PINNACLE FILMS DISTRIBUTOR SONY DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT RELEASE MONTH AUGUST RELEASE MONTH JULY RELEASE MONTH MARCH RELEASE MONTH APRIL

31 FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 32 THE TOP STATE DOWN UNDER FOR MOVIE MAKING TV PRODUCTION, ANIMATION, VFX AND ONLINE CONTENT. PULSE RABBIT

How much do our bodies shape who we are? Almost a year after her identical twin's Where is the line between compromising for disappearance, 25-year-old medical student love and changing yourself for love? Why do Maude Ashton is still haunted by visions of we fall in love with the people we fall in love her violent abduction. Convinced she is still with? A gay, disabled teenage boy changes alive, Maude follows the clues to a derelict into the body of a beautiful woman, so that caravan park where she discovers her fate is he can make his straight best friend fall in intrinsically linked to that of her sister, while www.screenqld.com.au love with him. the entire experiment is controlled by a secret society that 'likes to watch'. PRODUCER Daniel Monks, Harrow @screenqueensland @Screen_QLD @Screen_QLD Stevie Cruz-Martin, Gemma Hall PRODUCER David Ngo DIRECTOR Stevie Cruz-Martin DIRECTOR Luke Shanahan WRITER Daniel Monks WRITER Luke Shanahan EDITOR Daniel Monks EDITOR Stuart Morley SOUND Joseph Dutaillis SOUND Tom Heuzenroeder CINEMATOGRAPHER Stevie Cruz-Martin CINEMATOGRAPHER Anna Howard PRODUCTION DESIGNER Katelyn Collins COMPOSER Michael Darren COSTUME DESIGNER Brodie Simpson PRODUCTION DESIGNER Amy Baker LEAD ACTOR Daniel Monks COSTUME DESIGNER Anita Seiler LEAD ACTRESS LEAD ACTRESS Adelaide Clemens SUPPORTING ACTOR Scott Lee SUPPORTING ACTOR Jonny Pasvolsky, SUPPORTING ACTRESS Sian Ewers, Charles Mayer, Alex Russell Isaro Kayitesi, Jaimee Peasley SUPPORTING ACTRESS Veerle Baetens CASTING DIRECTOR Murtagh-Monks CASTING DIRECTOR Greg Apps

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION MA15+ CLASSIFICATION MA15+ RUNNING TIME 85 mins RUNNING TIME 99 mins PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR VENDETTA FILMS AUSTRALIAN FILM & TELEVISION RELEASE MONTH DECEMBER 2017 RELEASE MONTH AUGUST INDUSTRY SINCE 1964 www.spectrumfilms.com.au FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 34 THE SECOND STRANGE COLOURS SURVIVE OR DIE SWEET COUNTRY

A successful author riding high on the Milena travels to a remote opal mining After a civil war erupts, killing her entire Inspired by real events, SWEET COUNTRY international acclaim of her first book, community to see her estranged, ill father. family, 16-year-old Shade escapes to follows Aboriginal stockman Sam and his a sexually explicit autobiography, has Lost and alone, she falls into his bewildering Australia on a refugee boat helmed by the wife Lizzie as they go on the run across everything - money and critical acclaim. world, where men escape society and share captain of a people smuggling ring. The the outback after Sam kills a white station Everything is perfect, except she's struggling ideals of freedom. Soon, he doesn't want her boat becomes lost at sea and, out of fuel, owner in self-defence. They are pursued to produce a second novel. She has writer's to leave. Stuck in time, father and daughter food and water, the refugees begin to die across the glorious but harsh desert block. Attempting to meet her deadline, try to mend their fractured bond, but until a handful of them manage to land in country by Sergeant Fletcher, an Aboriginal the author, and her publisher and boyfriend, their connection is fragile, like the strange, an isolated part of Australia. Lost, desperate tracker and two local landowners. As an take a long summer weekend at her family's colourful gems he digs up from the earth. and fighting between themselves, only expert bushman, Sam has little difficulty country estate. The grandeur of the property Shade, the captain and a young Rohingya outlasting them. Eventually, for the health is breathtaking, but it conceals a dark secret PRODUCER Kate Laurie, Isaac Wall refugee girl named Maiya are left alive to of his pregnant wife, Sam decides to give that remains unwritten. When a beautiful DIRECTOR Alena Lodkina find civilisation and make Australia their himself up. He is put on trial, but will justice friend from the past arrives out of the blue, WRITER Alena Lodkina, Isaac Wall new home. be served? the secret becomes a deadly problem. EDITOR Luca Cappelli SOUND Livia Ruzic, David Ross, PRODUCER Daniel Okoduwa, Mike Kang PRODUCER Greer Simpkin, David Jowsey, PRODUCER Leanne Tonkes, Stephen Lance Keith Thomas DIRECTOR Daniel Okoduwa David Tranter DIRECTOR Mairi Cameron CINEMATOGRAPHER Michael Latham DIRECTOR Warwick Thornton WRITER Stephen Lance COMPOSER Mikey Young WRITER David Tranter, Steven McGregor EDITOR Steve Cooper PRODUCTION DESIGNER Leah Popple EDITOR Nick Meyers SOUND Thom Kellar COSTUME DESIGNER Lucie McMahon SOUND David Tranter, Thom Kellar, CINEMATOGRAPHER Mark Wareham LEAD ACTOR Daniel P. Jones Sam Gain-Emery, Will Sheridan COMPOSER Ryan Walsh LEAD ACTRESS Kate Cheel CINEMATOGRAPHER Warwick Thornton PRODUCTION DESIGNER Jon Dowding SUPPORTING ACTOR Justin Courtin PRODUCTION DESIGNER Tony Cronin COSTUME DESIGNER Manuela Masoch, COSTUME DESIGNER Heather Wallace Vanessa Loh LEAD ACTOR Hamilton Morris LEAD ACTOR SUPPORTING ACTOR , Ewen LEAD ACTRESS Leslie, Thomas M. Wright, Sam Neill SUPPORTING ACTOR , SUPPORTING ACTRESS Will Beazley Natassia Gorey-Furber SUPPORTING ACTRESS Susie Porter, CASTING DIRECTOR Anousha Zarkesh , Bridget Webb, Megan Dale CASTING DIRECTOR Ben Parkinson

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION MA15+ CLASSIFICATION MA15+ CLASSIFICATION CTC CLASSIFICATION MA15+ RUNNING TIME 92 mins RUNNING TIME 85 mins RUNNING TIME 83 mins RUNNING TIME 113 mins DISTRIBUTOR MIND BLOWING WORLD DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR TRANSMISSION RELEASE MONTH APRIL RELEASE MONTH OCTOBER RELEASE MONTH JUNE RELEASE MONTH JANUARY

35 FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 36 SWINGING SAFARI UPGRADE

1970s Australia: A 200-tonne blue whale After his wife is killed during a brutal washes up on a local beach and the kids mugging that also leaves him paralysed, think it's the biggest thing that's ever Grey Trace is approached by a billionaire happened in their lives. Behind closed inventor with an experimental cure that will doors, the Mums and Dads of this quiet ‘upgrade’ his body. The cure - an Artificial suburban cul-de-sac celebrate in their own Intelligence implant called STEM - gives special way, by joining the sexual revolution. Grey physical abilities beyond anything It's a time of boxed wine, bad hair, bad experienced and the ability to relentlessly styles, bad choices, but good times. And claim vengeance against those who like the rotting whale, it's all about to go murdered his wife and left him for dead. spectacularly wrong. PRODUCER Jason Blum, Kylie du Fresne, PRODUCER , Jamie Hilton Brian Kavanaugh-Jones DIRECTOR DIRECTOR Leigh Whannell WRITER Stephan Elliott WRITER Leigh Whannell EDITOR Sue Blainey, Laurie Hughes, EDITOR Andy Canny Annette Davey SOUND P.K. Hooker, Will Files, SOUND Craig Walmsley, Andrew Neil, Andrew Ramage Paul Pirola, Jed M. Dodge CINEMATOGRAPHER Stefan Duscio CINEMATOGRAPHER Brad Shield COMPOSER Jed Palmer COMPOSER Guy Gross PRODUCTION DESIGNER Felicity Abbott, Need someone who understands your business? PRODUCTION DESIGNER Colin Gibson Katie Sharrock COSTUME DESIGNER Lizzy Gardiner COSTUME DESIGNER Maria Pattison LEAD ACTOR Guy Pearce, Julian McMahon, LEAD ACTOR Logan Marshall-Green To make a lasting impression you need quality print material, great graphic , Atticus Robb SUPPORTING ACTOR Benedict Hardie, design, eye-catching signage and a professional website. LEAD ACTRESS Kylie Minogue, Harrison Gilbertson, Simon Maiden , , SUPPORTING ACTRESS Betty Gabriel Darcey Wilson CASTING DIRECTOR Terri Taylor, Kwik Kopy is a complete one-stop-shop for all your business marketing needs. CASTING DIRECTOR Ann Robinson Nikki Barrett

Talk to us today. kwikkopy.com.au SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION M CLASSIFICATION MA15+ RUNNING TIME 97 mins RUNNING TIME 100 mins DISTRIBUTOR BECKER FILM GROUP DISTRIBUTOR MADMAN RELEASE MONTH DECEMBER 2017 RELEASE MONTH JUNE

FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 38 WATCH THE SUNSET WEST OF SUNSHINE WINCHESTER

Danny Biaro, an ex-member of an outlawed Separated from his family and caught in On an isolated stretch of land 50 miles bikie gang, is tortured by the choices of a cycle of gambling and debt, Jim has outside of San Francisco sits the most his drug-involved past that led to the less than a day to repay a loan shark. His haunted house in the world. Built by Sarah disintegration of his family. Now longing to day is turned upside down when he must Winchester, heiress to the Winchester be reunited with Sally and their daughter look after his young son who is on school fortune, it is a house that knows no end. Joey, he travels into the regional town of holidays. Jim's relationship with his son is Constructed in an incessant 24-hour a Kerang. After witnessing the brutal abuse tested as his plans to pay back the loan fail. day, seven days a week mania for decades, of Charis at a club, a young girl that bears a When his last desperate effort to repay the it stands seven stories tall and contains haunting resemblance to Sally, Danny must debt puts his son's life at risk, he must make hundreds of rooms. She is building a prison, race against the clock before the bikie gang a choice between his past and a second an asylum for hundreds of vengeful ghosts, reaches his estranged family. chance at life. and the most terrifying among them have a score to settle with the Winchesters... PRODUCER Tristan Barr, Damien E. Lipp, PRODUCER Alexandros Ouzas, Michael Gosden Jason Raftopoulos PRODUCER Tim McGahan, Brett Tomberlin DIRECTOR Tristan Barr, Michael Gosden DIRECTOR Jason Raftopoulos DIRECTOR Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig WRITER Tristan Barr, Chelsea Zeller, WRITER Jason Raftopoulos WRITER Tom Vaughan, Peter Spierig, Michael Gosden EDITOR Paul Rowe Michael Spierig CINEMATOGRAPHER Damien E. Lipp SOUND Tristan Meredith EDITOR COMPOSER Richard Labrooy CINEMATOGRAPHER Thom Neal SOUND Paul Pirola COSTUME DESIGNER Ollie Savage COMPOSER , James Orr CINEMATOGRAPHER Ben Nott LEAD ACTOR Tristan Barr PRODUCTION DESIGNER Anna Russell COMPOSER Peter Spierig LEAD ACTRESS Chelsea Zeller COSTUME DESIGNER Alicia Aulsebrook PRODUCTION DESIGNER Matthew Putland SUPPORTING ACTOR Aaron Walton LEAD ACTOR Damian Hill COSTUME DESIGNER Wendy Cork SUPPORTING ACTRESS SUPPORTING ACTOR Ty Perham, LEAD ACTOR Jason Clarke Zia Zantis-Vinycomb Arthur Angel LEAD ACTRESS Helen Mirren SUPPORTING ACTRESS , SUPPORTING ACTOR Eamon Farren Eliza D’Souza SUPPORTING ACTRESS Sarah Snook CASTING DIRECTOR Terri Svoronos CASTING DIRECTOR Leigh Pickford

BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE BEST INDIE FILM CANDIDATE SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION CTC CLASSIFICATION MA15+ CLASSIFICATION M RUNNING TIME 83 mins RUNNING TIME 78 mins RUNNING TIME 99 mins DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR STUDIOCANAL RELEASE MONTH SEPTEMBER RELEASE MONTH AUGUST RELEASE MONTH FEBRUARY

39 FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION 40 FESTIVAL HOSTS PROGRAM | SYDNEY

Clem Bastow is a screenwriter and award-winning cultural critic. Her writing MON 3 SEPT WED 5 SEPT THU 6 SEPT SAT 8 SEPT SUN 9 SEPT appears in The Age, The Saturday Paper and and she has spoken at events including The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Melbourne 6:30PM 6:30PM 6:30PM 10:30AM 10:30AM International Film Festival and Melbourne Writers Festival. She has written THE MERGER WEST OF 1% WINCHESTER THE LEGO® SUNSHINE NINJAGO MOVIE and performed numerous shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival 8:30PM 12:30PM and Melbourne Fringe Festival, and in 2017 she co-created and co-hosted WATCH THE THE GATEWAY 12:30PM the ABC podcast Behind the Belt. Most recently, Clem produced a hardcore SUNSET THE BBQ wrestling event, Night Massacre, for Dark Mofo 2018. Clem holds a Master 2:30PM of Screenwriting from VCA and teaches screenwriting at University of OCCUPATION 2:30PM Melbourne. If nobody stops her, she will be undertaking a PhD in action IN LIKE FLYNN CLEM BASTOW cinema in 2019. MELBOURNE MON 10 SEPT WED 12 SEPT THU 13 SEPT SAT 15 SEPT SUN 16 SEPT

6:30PM 6:30PM 6:30PM 10:30AM 12:30PM Andy Hazel is a journalist and editorial assistant at The Saturday Paper. He is CARGO THE PRETEND ONE THE SECOND LOST GULLY ROAD PULSE the producer and host of Melbourne film podcasts Cultural Capital and Twin 8:30PM 8:30PM 8:30PM 12:30PM 2:30PM Peaks: The Return, and is an ARIA-nominated musician and composer who DAD BIRTHDAY THE FIVE SURVIVE OR DIE JUST BETWEEN US has worked with Ben Frost, The Paradise Motel, The Ruby Suns and Björk. ADJUSTMENT PROVOCATIONS Andy also acted in the filmINNUENDO , and in the forthcoming filmsTHE DISORDER 2:30PM WESTERMARCK EFFECT and THE LIES WE TELL OURSELVES. RABBIT

MON 17 SEPT WED 19 SEPT THU 20 SEPT SAT 22 SEPT

ANDY HAZEL 6:30PM 6:30PM 6:30PM 10:30AM MELBOURNE LADIES IN BLACK UPGRADE BOY ERASED ME & MY LEFT BRAIN 8:30PM 8:30PM 8:30PM STRANGE INDIGO LAKE THE FLIP SIDE 12:30PM Blake Howard is a writer, podcaster, the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder COLOURS INNOCENT KILLER of Australian film blog Graffiti with Punctuation and hosts the One Heat Minute podcast (the podcast analysing Michael Mann’s 1995 crime opus 2:30PM HEAT minute by minute). Blake is a co-host of Gaggle of Geeks on Sydney’s BROTHERS' NEST 2SER Community Radio, a columnist at the Australian online institution Dark Horizons, sways the tomato meter with approved reviews and is a member of the prestigious Australian Film Critic Association and Online Film Critic Society. Blake began his career in criticism in an apprenticeship as co-host of That Movie Show 2UE alongside veteran critic Dale Sinden. Blake then began the long-running and acclaimed movie BLAKE HOWARD podcast Pod Save Our Screen with Maria Lewis. SYDNEY

Annie Parnell’s passion for filmmaking spans short film, television, fiction and documentary feature length films, creating a solid career in the screen industry. As a member of AFI | AACTA for almost two decades, she’s watched a heck of a lot of Australian films in that time. Her working life credits include festival and distribution manager for Flickerfest, filmmaker and industry manager for , film manager and programmer for Dungog Festival and VENUE CINEMA OFFER associate producer of award-winning Australian documentary MadHATtan. BONDI JUNCTION Members can enjoy a 25% discount on food and She recently production managed five indigenous horror shorts for Screen Level 7 & 8, Westfield Shopping Town beverage items at the AACTA Bar during Film Fest Australia’s Shock Treatment. Annie holds a Masters degree in Screen Arts and 500 Oxford St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 upon presentation of their membership card. Business and a BA and Bachelor of Social Work. When she’s not immersed in www.eventcinemas.com.au ANNIE PARNELL screen culture, you’ll find her immersed in the ocean. SYDNEY

41 FESTIVAL HOSTS SYDNEY PROGRAM 42 PROGRAM | MELBOURNE

TUE 4 SEPT WED 5 SEPT THU 6 SEPT FRI 7 SEPT SAT 8 SEPT

6:30PM 6:45PM 6:30PM 6:30PM 10:30AM WEST OF BROTHERS' NEST THE PRETEND ONE THE SECOND SURVIVE OR DIE SUNSHINE 8:45PM 8:30PM 8:30PM 12:30PM CARGO BIRTHDAY PULSE INNOCENT KILLER ADJUSTMENT DISORDER

SUN 9 SEPT TUE 11 SEPT WED 12 SEPT THU 13 SEPT FRI 14 SEPT

4:30PM 6:30PM 6:45PM 6:30PM 6:30PM RABBIT STRANGE INDIGO LAKE THE GATEWAY 1% COLOURS 6:30PM 8:45PM 8:30PM WINCHESTER 8:30PM LOST GULLY ROAD OCCUPATION DAD 8:30PM THE MERGER

SAT 15 SEPT SUN 16 SEPT TUE 18 SEPT WED 19 SEPT

10:30AM 4:30PM 6:30PM 6:30PM THE LEGO® THE FLIP SIDE LADIES IN BLACK BOY ERASED NINJAGO MOVIE 6:30PM 8:30PM 12:30PM ME & MY LEFT THE FIVE JUST BETWEEN US BRAIN PROVOCATIONS

2:30PM 8:30PM THE BBQ WATCH THE SUNSET 4:30PM IN LIKE FLYNN

VENUE CINEMA OFFER CINEMA NOVA Members can enjoy a 10% discount on alcoholic 380 Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC 3053 drinks at the Cinema Nova bar during Film Fest upon www.cinemanova.com.au presentation of their membership card.

MELBOURNE PROGRAM 44 PROGRAM | BRISBANE

WED 5 SEPT THU 6 SEPT SAT 8 SEPT SUN 9 SEPT MON 10 SEPT

6:30PM 8:30PM 10:30AM 10:30AM 6:00PM THE MERGER UPGRADE THE FLIP SIDE WATCH THE INDIGO LAKE SUNSET 12:30PM 8:30PM IN LIKE FLYNN 12:30PM THE GATEWAY PULSE

6:30PM GRINGO

TUE 11 SEPT WED 12 SEPT THU 13 SEPT SAT 15 SEPT SUN 16 SEPT

6:00PM 6:00PM 6:00PM 10:30AM 10:30AM INNOCENT KILLER CARGO 1% DAD THE LEGO® NINJAGO MOVIE 8:30PM 8:30PM 8:30PM OCCUPATION SWEET COUNTRY BROTHERS' NEST 12:30PM MARY MAGDALENE

6:30PM WEST OF SUNSHINE

MON 17 SEPT TUE 18 SEPT WED 19 SEPT THU 20 SEPT SAT 22 SEPT

6:00PM 8:30PM 6:00PM 6:00PM 10:30AM LADIES IN BLACK THE SECOND BIRTHDAY ME & MY LEFT LOST GULLY ROAD ADJUSTMENT BRAIN 8:30PM DISORDER 12:30PM SWINGING SAFARI 8:30PM RABBIT 8:30PM THE FIVE THE PRETEND ONE PROVOCATIONS

SUN 23 SEPT MON 24 SEPT TUE 25 SEPT

10:30AM 6:00PM 8:30PM SURVIVE OR DIE BOY ERASED THE BBQ

12:30PM 8:30PM JUST BETWEEN US STRANGE COLOURS 6:30PM BREATH

VENUE CINEMA OFFER EVENT CINEMAS BRISBANE CITY MYER CENTRE Members can enjoy the special AACTA Level 3, Brisbane Myer Centre Combo (one small drink, one small popcorn Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000 and a choc top) for $12 at the Candy Bar www.eventcinemas.com.au during Film Fest upon presentation of their membership card.

BRISBANE PROGRAM 46 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PRESENTING PARTNER

STRATEGIC SPONSORS

AFI | AACTA PATRON Dr. George Miller AFI | AACTA AMBASSADOR

AFI | AACTA BOARD DESTINATION PARTNER

Alan Finney (Chair) Mark Morrissey Noni Hazlehurst George Souris

Jennifer Huby Anita Jacoby TELECAST PARTNER Robert Sessions Tony Petani Margaret Pomeranz

AFI | AACTA EXECUTIVE MAJOR GOVERNMENT SPONSOR

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Damian Trewhella GENERAL MANAGER Jennifer North MAJOR PARTNERS PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Chloe Krushka MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM DIRECTOR Sam Buckland AWARDS MANAGER Ivan Vukusic FINANCE & MEMBERSHIP MANAGER Jane Carracher SCREEN AGENCY PARTNERS COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Michelle Berg GRAPHIC DESIGNER & WEB COORDINATOR Bradley Arden EVENTS & PARTNERSHIPS COORDINATOR Becky Charlton

AWARDS COORDINATOR Daniel Carracher OFFICIAL PARTNERS AWARDS ASSISTANT Hayley Toth FESTIVAL ASSISTANT Lauren Jankovskis AWARDS INTERNS Anie Hamilton, Amelia Hamra, SPECTRUM FILMS Georgia Imfeld, Adrian Lapiz, Grace Purnamasari, Nicole Thomson

FILM FEST HOSTS Clem Bastow, Andy Hazel, Blake Howard, Annie Parnell

MEDIA PARTNERS VOTING SCRUTINEERS Ernst & Young

EVENT AND PRODUCTION PARTNER

47 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS /AACTAawards #AACTAs

@aacta #AACTAs

@aacta #AACTAs www.aacta.org

Top View