STRICTLY EMBARGOED until Monday May 19: Sydney, Australia
VIVID SYDNEY AND SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL PRESENT INSIDE THE ROVER, AN EXCLUSIVE FILMMAKER AND CAST PANEL DISCUSSION
Vivid Sydney, and the 61st Sydney Film Festival today announced that tickets are now on sale for a special panel discussion ‘Inside The Rover’. Director David Michôd, cast members Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson, and producer Liz Watts are set to participate in the talk.
The signature event will take place on Sunday June 8 at 3pm in Sydney’s Town Hall, and is part of Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.
Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner, Minister for Tourism and Major Events said the decision of The Rover’s filmmakers and actors to personally attend the Sydney Film Festival premiere and hold an in-depth Vivid Ideas talk was testament to Sydney’s global appeal and status as a hub for the creative industries.
“The NSW Government continues to encourage the growth and development of NSW creative industries through creative events like Vivid Ideas,” Mr Stoner said.
“Vivid Ideas has an expanded line up of world class creative leaders again this year, and it is fantastic to include David Michôd, Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, and Liz Watts in our annual celebration of innovation, creativity and community.
“I am sure that I am not the only Australian who is looking forward to seeing the Sydney Film Festival Premiere of The Rover and hearing about their creative process first hand,” Mr Stoner said.
The Rover, David Michôd’s much-anticipated follow up to his award-winning 2010 debut feature Animal Kingdom, is an uncompromising dark thriller set in a dangerous near-future 10 years after the collapse of the economic system. The Rover depicts an Australia without law or order, where the country’s natural resources have attracted a range of opportunists, and life is cheap.
Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase said: “Australia has a rich cinematic history and it is fantastic to see that Australian film makers like David Michôd are continuing this legacy.”
“I am delighted that Vivid Ideas has secured The Rover and some of its key creatives in partnership with the Sydney Film Festival and I encourage people to make the most of the opportunity and come to Sydney to see some of the world’s leading talent and film makers.”
The exclusive event, moderated by film critic Margaret Pomeranz, will facilitate an in-depth exploration of the process behind creating the ferocious slow burn thriller.
The Rover is part of the Official Competition selection, with the Australian premiere taking place at the State Theatre on Saturday June 7 at 7pm and the second screening on Sunday June 8 at 11.30am.
Vivid Ideas Festival Director, Jess Scully, has put together the largest ever Vivid Ideas line-up of creative leaders and emerging talent and is delighted to introduce this new signature event.
“Vivid Ideas this year boasts an expanded program, with over 180 events spanning 14 creative industries and appealing to a wide variety of interests. The ‘Inside The Rover’ panel discussion is a very exciting addition to the program, offering audience members the chance to dig deep into the film and explore the creative thinking and concepts behind it,” Ms Scully said.
Tickets are $45 plus booking fee and go on sale at 9:30am Monday May 19 via Sydney Film Festival and Vivid Sydney.
Vivid Sydney: http://www.vividsydney.com/events/inside-the-rover/ Sydney Film Festival: 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au/ticketing
PARTICPATING FILMMAKER AND CAST BIO’S:
David Michôd is an Australian writer, director and producer whose debut feature film, Animal Kingdom, won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and 10 AFI Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Original Screenplay.
Guy Pearce is a multi-award-winning actor with a body of work spanning film, television and theatre both in Australia and internationally. In 2012, Pearce won a Prime Time Emmy Award for most Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role in Mildred Pierce and in 2011 a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for his Best Supporting Actor performance in The King’s Speech. Pearce also worked with David Michôd on Animal Kingdom.
Robert Pattinson began his professional career as a member of the Barnes Theatre Group. Since then Pattinson has starred in Water For Elephants, Bel Ami, headlined the drama Remember Me, and most recently appeared on screen in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis.
Liz Watts is an independent producer and partner of Porchlight Films based in Sydney. Her feature credits as producer include Animal Kingdom (2010), The Home Song Stories (2007, Director Tony Ayres), Little Fish (2005, Director Rowan Woods), Cannes and Sundance selected Jewboy (2005, Director Tony Krawitz), and Walking On Water, (2002 Director Tony Ayres). Prior to The Rover, Watts produced German Australian co-production Lore (Official Competition Sydney Film Festival 2012), directed by Cate Shortland and Dead Europe, directed by Tony Krawitz.
ABOUT VIVID SYDNEY 2014 Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, transforms the Harbour City with its colourful creative canvas for 18 days - from 23 May to 9 June 2014. Now in its sixth year, Vivid Sydney features large scale light installations and projections (Vivid Light); music performances and collaborations (Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House); and creative ideas, discussion and debate (Vivid Ideas), all celebrating Sydney as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific. The full Vivid Sydney 2014 program is available at http://vividsydney.com
The full media kit and high-res imagery including 2014 Vivid Light renders and 2013 footage of festival highlights, is available at http://vividsydney.com/media-centre
ABOUT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL Sydney Film Festival screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animated films across the city at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Art Gallery of NSW, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, the Apple Store, SFFTV at Martin Place, Skyline Drive-In Blacktown, and the Festival Hub at Town Hall.
The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals. For more information visit www.sff.org.au
Sydney Film Festival also presents 12 films that vie for the Official Competition, a highly respected international honour that awards a $60,000 cash prize based on the decision of a jury of international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals. Previous Sydney Film Prize winners include: Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011) – which went on to win an Academy Award, Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008).
The 61st Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW, the Federal Government through Screen Australia, and the City of Sydney. The Festival’s Strategic partner is the NSW Government through Destination NSW.
What: Sydney Film Festival When: 4-15 June, 2014 Tickets & Info: 1300 733 733 www.sff.org.au
Media contacts: Kelly Evans, Bang PR Hannah Le Coic, Destination NSW P: 0424 028 010 P: 0419 093 882 E: [email protected] E: [email protected]