Screen Australia Invests $20M (The Babadook, Galore, Tracks, The Turning) : Movie News

Who says Australia doesn’t spend any money on local films… well, just about everyone. However, as the argument goes – would you prefer to see one $300M John Carter or 40 Choppers and 6 Red Dogs?

Considering the $30M Tomorrow When The War Began all but destroyed Australian film makers chances at making decent budgeted films (thanks largely to dismal international box office numbers) we’ll just have to settle for $5M investments in multiple flicks.

Screen Australia has announced $5 million investments across four new feature film projects, adding up close to $20 million in production.

“These projects combine iconic Australian stories and compelling genre films from both first time and established filmmaking teams” said Screen Australia’’s Chief Executive, Ruth Harley.

The projects are varied and includes the Oscar-winning duo Emile Sherman and Iain Canning (The King’s Speech) produced “Tracks” (the true story of Robyn Davidson’s solitary trek across the Australian desert) which will be  co-produced by Red Dog’s Julie Ryan.

Red Dog Producer Gets Another Chance

Also scoring some cash will be seventeen Australian directors including Cate Blanchett, Robert Connolly, Justin Kurzel, Mia Wasikowska and David Wenham who will respond to Tim Winton’s hauntingly beautiful short stories in The Turning (a cleverly structured omnibus film from acclaimed producer Robert Connolly).

Other directors on board The Turning include Benedict Andrews, Jonathan auf der Heide, Tony Ayres, Shaun Gladwell, Rhys Graham, Ian Meadows, Yaron Lifschitz, Claire McCarthy, Ashlee Page and Stephen Page.

Genre flicks haven’t been forgotten either with Essie Davis starring in emerging writer/director Jennifer Kent’s supernatural horror film The Babadook.

There is also Galore, a teen drama set in suburban Canberra from emerging writer/director Rhys Graham and producer Philippa Campey.

For those interested, here are the details for the films that have been given the cash injections. Cha-Ching!

THE BABADOOK

Causeway Films Pty Ltd
Producers : Kristina Ceyton, Kristian Moliere
Executive Producers : Jonathan Page, Michael Tear, Jeff Harrison
Writer/Director : Jennifer Kent
Cast : Essie Davis
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

Film Camp Pty Ltd
Producer : Philippa Campey
Executive Producers : Sue Murray, Victoria Treole
Writer/Director : Rhys Graham
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 CurranDirector : John Curran

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. A quintessentially Australian story, Tracks is adapted for the screen by writer/director John Curran (Praise, The Painted Veil).

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
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.