Mk2 films has enlisted leading distributors around the world for “Reality,” Tina Satter’s feature debut starring Sydney Sweeney, on the heels of its buzzy world premiere at the Berlinale.
The movie, which bowed in the Panorama section, stars Sweeney as Reality Winner, a 25 year-old whistleblower who spent five years in prison during the Trump administration. A former U.S. Air Force member and National Security Agency translator, Winner was convicted for leaking a confidential report on Russian election interference to the media.
The film is based on Satter’s 2019 stage play “Is This a Room” and contains verbatim dialogue from the unedited transcript of a FBI audio recording. “Reality” captures the tense and surreal 90 minutes of FBI’s interrogation with Winner at her home in 2017.
The Paris-based company has closed a flurry of major deals, selling the film to France (Metropolitan), UK (Vertigo), Italy (Lucky Red), Germany, Austria and German-speaking...
The movie, which bowed in the Panorama section, stars Sweeney as Reality Winner, a 25 year-old whistleblower who spent five years in prison during the Trump administration. A former U.S. Air Force member and National Security Agency translator, Winner was convicted for leaking a confidential report on Russian election interference to the media.
The film is based on Satter’s 2019 stage play “Is This a Room” and contains verbatim dialogue from the unedited transcript of a FBI audio recording. “Reality” captures the tense and surreal 90 minutes of FBI’s interrogation with Winner at her home in 2017.
The Paris-based company has closed a flurry of major deals, selling the film to France (Metropolitan), UK (Vertigo), Italy (Lucky Red), Germany, Austria and German-speaking...
- 3/9/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Following a buzzy world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, HBO Films has acquired the U.S. rights to the docudrama “Reality,” starring Sydney Sweeney.
In the film, directed by Tina Satter, Sweeney portrays Reality Winner, a woman convicted of leaking a confidential report on Russian election interference to the media. The film contains verbatim dialogue from the unedited transcript of a FBI audio recording, capturing a tense 90 minutes as the FBI interrogates Winner at her home in 2017. The whistleblower — a former U.S. Air Force member and National Security Agency translator — was sentenced to five years in prison.
Satter makes her feature directorial debut with the film, based on her 2019 stage play “Is This a Room.” She also executive produced the project and co-wrote the screenplay with James Paul Dallas.
While HBO hasn’t set a release date yet, Sweeney has a dedicated fanbase among the network’s audience after...
In the film, directed by Tina Satter, Sweeney portrays Reality Winner, a woman convicted of leaking a confidential report on Russian election interference to the media. The film contains verbatim dialogue from the unedited transcript of a FBI audio recording, capturing a tense 90 minutes as the FBI interrogates Winner at her home in 2017. The whistleblower — a former U.S. Air Force member and National Security Agency translator — was sentenced to five years in prison.
Satter makes her feature directorial debut with the film, based on her 2019 stage play “Is This a Room.” She also executive produced the project and co-wrote the screenplay with James Paul Dallas.
While HBO hasn’t set a release date yet, Sweeney has a dedicated fanbase among the network’s audience after...
- 2/25/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: HBO Films has closed a deal for U.S. rights to the Berlin Film Festival buzz competition title Reality. Directed by Tina Satter, the docudrama is a breakout turn for Sydney Sweeney as convicted classified document leaker Reality Winner. Sweeney stars in the hit HBO series Euphoria.
Pic hasn’t been dated yet to premiere on HBO, but it will happen in the near future, certainly in time to qualify for Emmy consideration and to capitalize on the momentum from the rave reviews the film just received in Berlin. Sweeney’s performance was singled out for praise in most every review.
Reality Winner (her actual given name) grew up in Texas and went through the Air Force on her way to becoming a translator for the Nsa. She was employed by the military contractor Pluribus International Corporation when she was arrested at 25, and eventually convicted of leaking an intelligence...
Pic hasn’t been dated yet to premiere on HBO, but it will happen in the near future, certainly in time to qualify for Emmy consideration and to capitalize on the momentum from the rave reviews the film just received in Berlin. Sweeney’s performance was singled out for praise in most every review.
Reality Winner (her actual given name) grew up in Texas and went through the Air Force on her way to becoming a translator for the Nsa. She was employed by the military contractor Pluribus International Corporation when she was arrested at 25, and eventually convicted of leaking an intelligence...
- 2/25/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Paris-based mk2 films has boarded international sales on Tina Satter’s debut feature Reality about real-life U.S. whistleblower Reality Winner ahead of its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival later this month.
Euphoria and White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney plays Winner.
The former intelligence officer was given the longest prison sentence ever for the unauthorized release of classified material to the media in 2018 (five years and three months) after she leaked a report about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.
Opening with the Saturday afternoon in June 2017 when 25-year-old Winner was confronted at her Georgia home by the FBI, the film follows the cryptic conversation that took place as the young woman’s life begins to unravel.
Satter’s dialogue, taken directly from the FBI’s transcript of the interrogation, alternates between nail-biting and banal, darkly funny and surreal.
The film tracks one woman’s experience of the State at work.
Euphoria and White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney plays Winner.
The former intelligence officer was given the longest prison sentence ever for the unauthorized release of classified material to the media in 2018 (five years and three months) after she leaked a report about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.
Opening with the Saturday afternoon in June 2017 when 25-year-old Winner was confronted at her Georgia home by the FBI, the film follows the cryptic conversation that took place as the young woman’s life begins to unravel.
Satter’s dialogue, taken directly from the FBI’s transcript of the interrogation, alternates between nail-biting and banal, darkly funny and surreal.
The film tracks one woman’s experience of the State at work.
- 2/1/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Euphoria and White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney is starring in Tina Satter’s debut feature about whistleblower Reality Winner.
She’ll play Winner in a cast that features Josh Hamilton and Marchánt Davis.
Winner was a former American intelligence specialist. She was given the longest sentence ever for the unauthorized release of government information to the media for leaking an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections via an email phishing operation.
On June 3, 2017, while employed by the military contractor Pluribus International Corporation, Winner was arrested on suspicion of leaking an intelligence report about Russian meddling in the 2016 election from the National Security Agency to news website The Intercept.
The project is inspired by Satter’s acclaimed play Is This A Room, which had a critically lauded Broadway run last fall. The script was...
She’ll play Winner in a cast that features Josh Hamilton and Marchánt Davis.
Winner was a former American intelligence specialist. She was given the longest sentence ever for the unauthorized release of government information to the media for leaking an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections via an email phishing operation.
On June 3, 2017, while employed by the military contractor Pluribus International Corporation, Winner was arrested on suspicion of leaking an intelligence report about Russian meddling in the 2016 election from the National Security Agency to news website The Intercept.
The project is inspired by Satter’s acclaimed play Is This A Room, which had a critically lauded Broadway run last fall. The script was...
- 6/8/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Lambs of God’.
Lingo Pictures’ Lambs of God was the big winner at yesterday’s Aacta Industry Luncheon, taking home seven of a potential nine awards, while Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy was named Best Indie Film.
Sweeping the afternoon, Lambs of God’s various accolades included Best Direction in a Television Drama or Comedy for Jeffery Walker; Best Cinematography in Television for Don McAlpine; Best Original Score in Television for Bryony Marks (one of two awards for the composer during the event); Best Production Design in Television for Chris Kennedy; Best Costume Design in Television for Xanthe Heubel; Best Sound Sound in Television for Nick Emond, Stephen Smith, Paul Devescovi and Mia Stewart; and Best Hair and Makeup for Zeljka Stanin, Paul Pattison, Cheryl Williams and Anita Howell-Lowe.
The Foxtel mini-series was beaten only out for Best Screenplay in Television, which went to Niki Aken and Matthew Cormack for The Hunting,...
Lingo Pictures’ Lambs of God was the big winner at yesterday’s Aacta Industry Luncheon, taking home seven of a potential nine awards, while Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy was named Best Indie Film.
Sweeping the afternoon, Lambs of God’s various accolades included Best Direction in a Television Drama or Comedy for Jeffery Walker; Best Cinematography in Television for Don McAlpine; Best Original Score in Television for Bryony Marks (one of two awards for the composer during the event); Best Production Design in Television for Chris Kennedy; Best Costume Design in Television for Xanthe Heubel; Best Sound Sound in Television for Nick Emond, Stephen Smith, Paul Devescovi and Mia Stewart; and Best Hair and Makeup for Zeljka Stanin, Paul Pattison, Cheryl Williams and Anita Howell-Lowe.
The Foxtel mini-series was beaten only out for Best Screenplay in Television, which went to Niki Aken and Matthew Cormack for The Hunting,...
- 12/3/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Buoyancy’.
Writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s Buoyancy won Best Youth Feature Film at last night’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) in Brisbane.
The award comes just as Rathjen returns to Australia from an Oscar campaign in The States; Buoyancy is Australia’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings and Kristina Ceyton with Rita Walsh, Buoyancy details the story of a 14-year old Cambodian boy (Sarm Heng) who heads to Thailand search of a better life, only to find himself trafficked and enslaved on a fishing trawler.
The story of Buoyancy is inspired by real events, and informed by more than 50 interviews Rathjen conducted with people who had been trafficked onto fishing boats, as well as interviews with local communities, former ship captains and NGOs, and other research. An estimated 200,000 men and boys are thought to be in slavery and forced...
Writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s Buoyancy won Best Youth Feature Film at last night’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) in Brisbane.
The award comes just as Rathjen returns to Australia from an Oscar campaign in The States; Buoyancy is Australia’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings and Kristina Ceyton with Rita Walsh, Buoyancy details the story of a 14-year old Cambodian boy (Sarm Heng) who heads to Thailand search of a better life, only to find himself trafficked and enslaved on a fishing trawler.
The story of Buoyancy is inspired by real events, and informed by more than 50 interviews Rathjen conducted with people who had been trafficked onto fishing boats, as well as interviews with local communities, former ship captains and NGOs, and other research. An estimated 200,000 men and boys are thought to be in slavery and forced...
- 11/22/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Bong Joon-ho’s Korean dark comedy Parasite scooped the best film prize at the 2019 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSAs), which were held today in Brisbane, Australia. Scroll down for the full list.
The award was accepted onstage by the film’s producer Jang Young-Hwan. The film also took the Palme d’Or at Cannes back in May and is seen as a major contender for this year’s Oscars.
Parasite has been a global box office smash, taking more than $70m in its native Korea, and more than $14m in the U.S. via Neon. It follows a family who insidiously inserts itself into the lives of another, wealthier family.
Elsewhere at this year’s APSAs, Elia Suleiman’s It Must Be Heaven picked up the Jury Grand Prize, and Adilkhan Yerzhanov won Achievement in Directing for Kazakh feature A Dark-Dark Man.
Best actor went to Manoj Bajpayee for his performance in Indian film Bhonsle,...
The award was accepted onstage by the film’s producer Jang Young-Hwan. The film also took the Palme d’Or at Cannes back in May and is seen as a major contender for this year’s Oscars.
Parasite has been a global box office smash, taking more than $70m in its native Korea, and more than $14m in the U.S. via Neon. It follows a family who insidiously inserts itself into the lives of another, wealthier family.
Elsewhere at this year’s APSAs, Elia Suleiman’s It Must Be Heaven picked up the Jury Grand Prize, and Adilkhan Yerzhanov won Achievement in Directing for Kazakh feature A Dark-Dark Man.
Best actor went to Manoj Bajpayee for his performance in Indian film Bhonsle,...
- 11/21/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale tops the nominations pool for film at this year’s Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (Aacta).
The thriller, which debuted at Venice last year where it won a special jury prize, picked up 15 nods including best film and best direction.
Australian actor Damon Herriman is up for supporting actor for his role in The Nightingale, and also lead actor for his performance in Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch, which picked up a total of nine nominations including best film.
Herriman is also nominated twice on the TV side for roles in Lambs Of God and Mr Inbetween and has now become the Aacta record holder for the most nominations across performance categories. The actor is having a banner 2019, having also played Charles Manson in both Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and the Netflix series Mindhunter this year.
Tied...
The thriller, which debuted at Venice last year where it won a special jury prize, picked up 15 nods including best film and best direction.
Australian actor Damon Herriman is up for supporting actor for his role in The Nightingale, and also lead actor for his performance in Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch, which picked up a total of nine nominations including best film.
Herriman is also nominated twice on the TV side for roles in Lambs Of God and Mr Inbetween and has now become the Aacta record holder for the most nominations across performance categories. The actor is having a banner 2019, having also played Charles Manson in both Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and the Netflix series Mindhunter this year.
Tied...
- 10/23/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Buoyancy’.
Two Australian films – Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy and Daniel Gordon’s feature documentary The Australian Dream – are nominated for Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa).
Some 37 films for 22 countries are nominated for the 13th iteration of the awards, which will be presented in Brisbane in November. Overall, films from China received the most nominations; 13 in total across seven films – the country is represented in all but one category.
Wang Xiaoshuai’s So Long, My Son (Di Jiu Tian Chang) leads the tally with nominations across six categories: actor (Wang Jingchun), actress (Yong Mei), screenplay, cinematography (Kim Hyunseok), directing (Wang Xiaoshuai) and Best Feature Film.
Fellow nominees for Best Feature Film are Pema Tseden’s Balloon; Kantemir Balagov’s Beanpole, Ridham Janve’s The Gold-Laden Sheep and The Sacred Mountain and Bong Joon-ho’s Palme d’Or winning Parasite.
Announced today alongside the nominations was the Asia Pacific Screen Forum,...
Two Australian films – Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy and Daniel Gordon’s feature documentary The Australian Dream – are nominated for Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa).
Some 37 films for 22 countries are nominated for the 13th iteration of the awards, which will be presented in Brisbane in November. Overall, films from China received the most nominations; 13 in total across seven films – the country is represented in all but one category.
Wang Xiaoshuai’s So Long, My Son (Di Jiu Tian Chang) leads the tally with nominations across six categories: actor (Wang Jingchun), actress (Yong Mei), screenplay, cinematography (Kim Hyunseok), directing (Wang Xiaoshuai) and Best Feature Film.
Fellow nominees for Best Feature Film are Pema Tseden’s Balloon; Kantemir Balagov’s Beanpole, Ridham Janve’s The Gold-Laden Sheep and The Sacred Mountain and Bong Joon-ho’s Palme d’Or winning Parasite.
Announced today alongside the nominations was the Asia Pacific Screen Forum,...
- 10/16/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Buoyancy’.
Writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy, which opens in cinemas today via Umbrella Entertainment, has been put forward as Australia’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film prize at the 2020 Academy Awards.
The recognition follows the premiere of the Khmer and Thai-language film at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, where it won the Ecumenical Jury Prize and placed third in the Panaroma audience awards.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings and Kristina Ceyton with Rita Walsh, Buoyancy details the story of a 14-year old Cambodian boy (Sarm Heng) who heads to Thailand search of a better life, only to find himself trafficked and enslaved on a fishing trawler.
The film was selected for submission to the Academy by a committee of Australian industry professionals convened by Screen Australia.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said: “Buoyancy is a thought-provoking and moving story about human trafficking,...
Writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy, which opens in cinemas today via Umbrella Entertainment, has been put forward as Australia’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film prize at the 2020 Academy Awards.
The recognition follows the premiere of the Khmer and Thai-language film at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, where it won the Ecumenical Jury Prize and placed third in the Panaroma audience awards.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings and Kristina Ceyton with Rita Walsh, Buoyancy details the story of a 14-year old Cambodian boy (Sarm Heng) who heads to Thailand search of a better life, only to find himself trafficked and enslaved on a fishing trawler.
The film was selected for submission to the Academy by a committee of Australian industry professionals convened by Screen Australia.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said: “Buoyancy is a thought-provoking and moving story about human trafficking,...
- 9/26/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
“Buoyancy,” a dark thriller that highlights human trafficking in Thailand’s commercial fishing industry, has been selected as Australia’s submission for the best international feature film at the Oscars. The film is presented in the Khmer and Thai languages.
“Buoyancy” had its world premiere at the Berlinale in February and will enjoy its commercial debut Thursday in Australia. Other releases follow in Cambodia on Oct. 17 and in France on Nov. 27.
It is the debut feature of Rodd Rathjen. Production was by Causeway Films’ Samantha Jennings (“Cargo”) and Kristina Ceyton, with Rita Walsh (“I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story”).
Inspired by real events, the film was shot almost entirely at sea, and is the story of a 14-year-old Cambodian boy who leaves home in search of a better life but finds himself enslaved on a fishing trawler.
“This film has been made possible by the extraordinary commitment...
“Buoyancy” had its world premiere at the Berlinale in February and will enjoy its commercial debut Thursday in Australia. Other releases follow in Cambodia on Oct. 17 and in France on Nov. 27.
It is the debut feature of Rodd Rathjen. Production was by Causeway Films’ Samantha Jennings (“Cargo”) and Kristina Ceyton, with Rita Walsh (“I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story”).
Inspired by real events, the film was shot almost entirely at sea, and is the story of a 14-year-old Cambodian boy who leaves home in search of a better life but finds himself enslaved on a fishing trawler.
“This film has been made possible by the extraordinary commitment...
- 9/25/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Australia has selected Buoyancy, the debut feature from writer-director Rodd Rathjen, as its contender for the 2020 Oscars in the international feature film category.
Inspired by real events, the brutal yet realistic thriller, shot almost entirely at sea, is the story of 14-year-old Cambodian Chakra who leaves home in search of a better life, but finds himself enslaved on a fishing trawler.
Buoyancy is produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings (Cargo) and Kristina Ceyton (The Nightingale, The Babadook), with Rita Walsh (I Used to be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story).
The film is being released in Australian cinemas Sept....
Inspired by real events, the brutal yet realistic thriller, shot almost entirely at sea, is the story of 14-year-old Cambodian Chakra who leaves home in search of a better life, but finds himself enslaved on a fishing trawler.
Buoyancy is produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings (Cargo) and Kristina Ceyton (The Nightingale, The Babadook), with Rita Walsh (I Used to be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story).
The film is being released in Australian cinemas Sept....
- 9/25/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Australia has selected Buoyancy, the debut feature from writer-director Rodd Rathjen, as its contender for the 2020 Oscars in the international feature film category.
Inspired by real events, the brutal yet realistic thriller, shot almost entirely at sea, is the story of 14-year-old Cambodian Chakra who leaves home in search of a better life, but finds himself enslaved on a fishing trawler.
Buoyancy is produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings (Cargo) and Kristina Ceyton (The Nightingale, The Babadook), with Rita Walsh (I Used to be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story).
The film is being released in Australian cinemas Sept....
Inspired by real events, the brutal yet realistic thriller, shot almost entirely at sea, is the story of 14-year-old Cambodian Chakra who leaves home in search of a better life, but finds himself enslaved on a fishing trawler.
Buoyancy is produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings (Cargo) and Kristina Ceyton (The Nightingale, The Babadook), with Rita Walsh (I Used to be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story).
The film is being released in Australian cinemas Sept....
- 9/25/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Charlotte Mars, Vera Hong and Philippa Bateman.
Create Nsw, Documentary Australia Foundation and RØDE Microphones today announced Charlotte Mars, Philippa Bateman and Vera Hong as the recipients of this year’s SheDoc funding.
SheDoc is a targeted initiative to support female documentary filmmakers with up to $20,000, to be used as a grant to support their project’s travel, research, development, and/or other related expenses.
“The SheDoc program aims to make a pivotal intervention in a woman’s filmmaking career. By offering funding to facilitate opportunities that are self-directed and of benefit, our intention is to offer opportunities that would be difficult to undertake without our support,” said Documentary Australia Foundation CEO Mitzi Goldman.
“We’re very excited to bring SheDoc back this year. The selection of the final three recipients was a tough decision because there were many fantastic applicants. We encourage women to continuously seek opportunities to develop themselves professionally,...
Create Nsw, Documentary Australia Foundation and RØDE Microphones today announced Charlotte Mars, Philippa Bateman and Vera Hong as the recipients of this year’s SheDoc funding.
SheDoc is a targeted initiative to support female documentary filmmakers with up to $20,000, to be used as a grant to support their project’s travel, research, development, and/or other related expenses.
“The SheDoc program aims to make a pivotal intervention in a woman’s filmmaking career. By offering funding to facilitate opportunities that are self-directed and of benefit, our intention is to offer opportunities that would be difficult to undertake without our support,” said Documentary Australia Foundation CEO Mitzi Goldman.
“We’re very excited to bring SheDoc back this year. The selection of the final three recipients was a tough decision because there were many fantastic applicants. We encourage women to continuously seek opportunities to develop themselves professionally,...
- 5/20/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Buoyancy’.
Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy has been awarded a prize from the Ecumenical Jury after its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Representing Interfilm and Signis, the international film organisations of the Protestant and Catholic Churches, the jury honours the directors whose films succeed in portraying actions or human experiences that are in keeping with the Gospels or in sensitising viewers to spiritual, human or social values.
Rathjen won a cash prize of €2,500 for the drama set in rural Cambodia which follows 14-year-old Chakra (Sarm Heng), who sets off to escape his family’s poverty but is enslaved aboard a Thai fishing trawler. Squalor and cruelty threaten to crush his spirit but he finds the courage to break the chains.
Out of 45 titles from 38 countries which screened in the festival’s Panorama section, the jury chose Buoyancy as an exquisitely-crafted debut feature which serves as an...
Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy has been awarded a prize from the Ecumenical Jury after its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Representing Interfilm and Signis, the international film organisations of the Protestant and Catholic Churches, the jury honours the directors whose films succeed in portraying actions or human experiences that are in keeping with the Gospels or in sensitising viewers to spiritual, human or social values.
Rathjen won a cash prize of €2,500 for the drama set in rural Cambodia which follows 14-year-old Chakra (Sarm Heng), who sets off to escape his family’s poverty but is enslaved aboard a Thai fishing trawler. Squalor and cruelty threaten to crush his spirit but he finds the courage to break the chains.
Out of 45 titles from 38 countries which screened in the festival’s Panorama section, the jury chose Buoyancy as an exquisitely-crafted debut feature which serves as an...
- 2/17/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Buoyancy’ cinematographer Michael Latham (Photo credit Rafael Winer © Causeway Films)
Four or five years ago writer-director Rodd Rathjen read a story in an environmental journal about forced labour and exploitation of children in Thailand’s fishing industry.
He was so shocked by the revelations of trauma and hardship he decided he wanted to make a feature film which tells the stories of “people whose voices are not being heard.”
The result is Buoyancy, his feature film debut which will have its world premiere in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings, Kristina Ceyton and Rita Walsh in association with Cambodia’s Anupheap Productions and Melbourne-based Definition Films, the drama centres on 14-year-old Chakra, who is forced to work on a fishing trawler. He soon realises his only hope of freedom is to become as violent as his captors.
Veteran Thai casting director Non Jungmeier found Sarm Heng,...
Four or five years ago writer-director Rodd Rathjen read a story in an environmental journal about forced labour and exploitation of children in Thailand’s fishing industry.
He was so shocked by the revelations of trauma and hardship he decided he wanted to make a feature film which tells the stories of “people whose voices are not being heard.”
The result is Buoyancy, his feature film debut which will have its world premiere in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings, Kristina Ceyton and Rita Walsh in association with Cambodia’s Anupheap Productions and Melbourne-based Definition Films, the drama centres on 14-year-old Chakra, who is forced to work on a fishing trawler. He soon realises his only hope of freedom is to become as violent as his captors.
Veteran Thai casting director Non Jungmeier found Sarm Heng,...
- 1/31/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Kea (Mony Ros), Chakra (Sarm Heng) and Rom Ran (Thanawut Kasro) in ‘Buoyancy’ © 2019 Causeway Films, photo credit: Rafael Winer.
Writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy, a drama set in rural Cambodia that follows Chakra, a 14-year-old boy enslaved on a fishing trawler, will have its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings, Kristina Ceyton and Rita Walsh in association with Cambodia’s Anupheap Productions and Melbourne-based Definition Films, the film will screen in the Panorama section among 45 titles from 38 countries.
It is said to be the first feature film to shine a light on the crisis of trafficking and slavery in the fishing industries of South-East Asia.
As If reported, Damon Gameau’s feature doc 2040 will have its world premiere in Berlin’s Generation Kplus section.
Showcasing 29 features, 16 documentary formats and 19 directorial debuts, Panorama 2019 will present a controversial, political, and provocative program,...
Writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s debut feature Buoyancy, a drama set in rural Cambodia that follows Chakra, a 14-year-old boy enslaved on a fishing trawler, will have its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings, Kristina Ceyton and Rita Walsh in association with Cambodia’s Anupheap Productions and Melbourne-based Definition Films, the film will screen in the Panorama section among 45 titles from 38 countries.
It is said to be the first feature film to shine a light on the crisis of trafficking and slavery in the fishing industries of South-East Asia.
As If reported, Damon Gameau’s feature doc 2040 will have its world premiere in Berlin’s Generation Kplus section.
Showcasing 29 features, 16 documentary formats and 19 directorial debuts, Panorama 2019 will present a controversial, political, and provocative program,...
- 1/21/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Strange Colours’
Alena Lodkina’s Strange Colours and Jessica Leski’s documentary I Used to be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story opened on limited screens last weekend.
Not much store should be placed on ticket sales because both titles have already had a significant impact at Australian and international festivals and both have the upside of ancillary revenues and and foreign sales.
Indeed both have been very effective launching pads for their directors, fulfilling one of Screen Australia’s remits of funding films as a talent escalator, particularly for first-time filmmakers.
“It’s been a life-changing period for me,” Lodkina tells If. “Strange Colours has given me a lot of hope and energy and enabled me to form a lot of relationships during the production and distribution.
Co-written by Lodkina and producer Isaac Wall, who produced with Kate Laurie, the evocative drama follows Kate Cheel as Milena, who travels to...
Alena Lodkina’s Strange Colours and Jessica Leski’s documentary I Used to be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story opened on limited screens last weekend.
Not much store should be placed on ticket sales because both titles have already had a significant impact at Australian and international festivals and both have the upside of ancillary revenues and and foreign sales.
Indeed both have been very effective launching pads for their directors, fulfilling one of Screen Australia’s remits of funding films as a talent escalator, particularly for first-time filmmakers.
“It’s been a life-changing period for me,” Lodkina tells If. “Strange Colours has given me a lot of hope and energy and enabled me to form a lot of relationships during the production and distribution.
Co-written by Lodkina and producer Isaac Wall, who produced with Kate Laurie, the evocative drama follows Kate Cheel as Milena, who travels to...
- 11/26/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Sales to launch at Hot Docs and continue in Cannes.
Seville International will represent international rights to I Used To Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story and will commence sales on the documentary coinciding with its premiere at Hot Docs.
After the Toronto festival, which runs from April 26-May 6, Anick Poirier and her team will continue sales at the Cannes market next month.
Jessica Leski directed and Producer Rita Walsh produced the film – five years in the making – with the help of boyband devotees around the world.
Fangirl communities contributed stories, imagery and artwork to the feature, which spans three...
Seville International will represent international rights to I Used To Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story and will commence sales on the documentary coinciding with its premiere at Hot Docs.
After the Toronto festival, which runs from April 26-May 6, Anick Poirier and her team will continue sales at the Cannes market next month.
Jessica Leski directed and Producer Rita Walsh produced the film – five years in the making – with the help of boyband devotees around the world.
Fangirl communities contributed stories, imagery and artwork to the feature, which spans three...
- 4/9/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
'Vitamania' (Photo: Harry Panagiotidis).
Screen Australia has announced $1.6 million in production investment funding for seven new documentaries. Among them is.Storm Rider,.the first Vr project the agency's documentary unit has funded. The funding comes through its Documentary Producer and Commissioned programs..
.Funding such a broad range of projects from both established and emerging talent points to a promising future for our local documentary industry," said senior manager of documentary, Liz Stevens.
"Australians are passionate documentarians and we are confident these projects will offer Australian and international audiences important, entertaining insights into our world."
The successful projects are:
Princess Pictures. My Year 7 Life for ABC Me, which follows the lives of 16 children as they transition from primary school to high school. From the same team behind My Year 12 Life, which airs in February 2017, this series will be composed of self-shot .vlogs.. This project has also received Film Victoria funding. Vitamania...
Screen Australia has announced $1.6 million in production investment funding for seven new documentaries. Among them is.Storm Rider,.the first Vr project the agency's documentary unit has funded. The funding comes through its Documentary Producer and Commissioned programs..
.Funding such a broad range of projects from both established and emerging talent points to a promising future for our local documentary industry," said senior manager of documentary, Liz Stevens.
"Australians are passionate documentarians and we are confident these projects will offer Australian and international audiences important, entertaining insights into our world."
The successful projects are:
Princess Pictures. My Year 7 Life for ABC Me, which follows the lives of 16 children as they transition from primary school to high school. From the same team behind My Year 12 Life, which airs in February 2017, this series will be composed of self-shot .vlogs.. This project has also received Film Victoria funding. Vitamania...
- 1/18/2017
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Toni Collette will star in Fred Schepisi's 'Andorra' (Photo: Eva Rinaldi).
Seventeen film, TV, online and documentary projects will share in over $2.4 million in funding, thanks to the latest round of Film Victoria.s Assigned Production Investment program and the Victorian Content Initiative.
The combined projects will inject $23 million into the Victorian economy, according to a statement from Film Vic.
Film Victoria CEO Jenni Tosi said the latest projects to be supported capped off a terrific year of screen production in Victoria, with .2017 set to be bumper year with this diverse range of projects joining others already scheduled to go into production..
Projects supported through the Assigned Production Investment program include:
– Essential Media will partner with Carver Films to produce Sunshine for Sbs. The mini-series is.a crime drama that explores the world of South Sudanese refugees in Melbourne, and a young basketball star forced to fight...
Seventeen film, TV, online and documentary projects will share in over $2.4 million in funding, thanks to the latest round of Film Victoria.s Assigned Production Investment program and the Victorian Content Initiative.
The combined projects will inject $23 million into the Victorian economy, according to a statement from Film Vic.
Film Victoria CEO Jenni Tosi said the latest projects to be supported capped off a terrific year of screen production in Victoria, with .2017 set to be bumper year with this diverse range of projects joining others already scheduled to go into production..
Projects supported through the Assigned Production Investment program include:
– Essential Media will partner with Carver Films to produce Sunshine for Sbs. The mini-series is.a crime drama that explores the world of South Sudanese refugees in Melbourne, and a young basketball star forced to fight...
- 12/19/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Ah, the boyband. We love to mock them but they are a cultural phenomenon not to be messed with and the Australian filmmaking team of Rita Walsh and Jessica Leski are heading deep into the heart of pre-teen darkness with I Used To Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story. This is a film about fangirls - the beating heart of boybands, from the Beatles to the Backstreet Boys to One Direction. We've met amazing people making this film and we want to share their stories and insights with you. Over the past three years we've interviewed passionate fans aged 13 to 65 from around the world. We've also spoken to music theorists, songwriters, educators, adolescent psychologists, neurologists, and even former boyband members as we explore...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 11/10/2015
- Screen Anarchy
The Duke of Cambridge has arrived at the University of Cambridge to check in for the start of his special farming course.William, 31, traveled up on Tuesday from his home at Kensington Palace in London to Cambridge, around 60 miles north of the capital. There, in a suit and tie, he was welcomed to King's College in the rain as he enrolled for the first day of a "bespoke" 10-week course in agricultural management. The prince is to take one-on-one classes and join other lectures and tutorials with other students at the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership until mid-March. The Cpsl...
- 1/7/2014
- by Simon Perry and Monique Jessen
- PEOPLE.com
Hit musical drama The Sapphires has scored 12 nominations at the 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) Awards including in the coveted best feature film category.
The Sapphires, which follows four indigenous singers during the Vietnam war, has grossed more than $14 million in Australia to become the biggest local film of the year.
Three other films will be also be vying for the best feature film award: Burning Man (10 nominations in total), Lore (eight nominations in total) and Wish You Were Here (eight nominations in total) at the main Aacta ceremony, which will be held on January 30, 2013, at The Star Event Centre. Last year's event was held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
P.J. Hogan's Mental also scored eight nominations including Best Lead Actress (Toni Collette), Best Supporting Actor (Liev Schreiber) Best Young Actor (Lily Sullivan) and Best Supporting Actress for Rebecca Gibney and Deborah Mailman.
Not Suitable for Children...
The Sapphires, which follows four indigenous singers during the Vietnam war, has grossed more than $14 million in Australia to become the biggest local film of the year.
Three other films will be also be vying for the best feature film award: Burning Man (10 nominations in total), Lore (eight nominations in total) and Wish You Were Here (eight nominations in total) at the main Aacta ceremony, which will be held on January 30, 2013, at The Star Event Centre. Last year's event was held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
P.J. Hogan's Mental also scored eight nominations including Best Lead Actress (Toni Collette), Best Supporting Actor (Liev Schreiber) Best Young Actor (Lily Sullivan) and Best Supporting Actress for Rebecca Gibney and Deborah Mailman.
Not Suitable for Children...
- 12/3/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
The Sapphires has led the Academy of Australian Cinema and Television Arts Awards nominations being nominated in 12 categories.
Awards will be handed out over two events, with an awards luncheon, focused on craft categories on Monday January 28 and the main event on January 30. Both events will be held at the Star Event Centre, the first public events for the venue.
The Sapphires, distributed by Hopscotch/eOne has been nominated for Best Film, Best Direction and best adapted screenplay as well as Best Lead Actor and Actress for Chris O’Dowd and Deborah Mailman, and Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Mauboy.
Burning Man was not far behind on 10 nominations including best film and best direction as well as best lead actor for Matthre Goode and Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis.
Three more films, Lore, Mental and Wish You Were Here received eight nominations while Not Suitable For Children received four.
Awards will be handed out over two events, with an awards luncheon, focused on craft categories on Monday January 28 and the main event on January 30. Both events will be held at the Star Event Centre, the first public events for the venue.
The Sapphires, distributed by Hopscotch/eOne has been nominated for Best Film, Best Direction and best adapted screenplay as well as Best Lead Actor and Actress for Chris O’Dowd and Deborah Mailman, and Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Mauboy.
Burning Man was not far behind on 10 nominations including best film and best direction as well as best lead actor for Matthre Goode and Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis.
Three more films, Lore, Mental and Wish You Were Here received eight nominations while Not Suitable For Children received four.
- 12/3/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts has announced the first round of nominees for the 2012 Aacta Awards.
Among the nominees is a short list of 23 local feature films which screened in theatres across Australia in the last year, or due to screen in the coming months.The feature nominees cross a wide variety of genres, with films The Sapphires, Killer Elite, Mental, Iron Sky, Bait3D, Swerve and Burning Man.
The Australian Film Institute and Aacta CEO Damian Trewhella said: “The goal for a healthy Australian feature film industry has always been to combine festival and critical acclaim with audience appeal. The exceptional collection of Feature Films in Competition demonstrates that this year we are well on the way to achieving this mix, and that despite many challenges, we can celebrate a landmark year in the industry.”
“We are thrilled to see many of our former AFI Award-winning...
Among the nominees is a short list of 23 local feature films which screened in theatres across Australia in the last year, or due to screen in the coming months.The feature nominees cross a wide variety of genres, with films The Sapphires, Killer Elite, Mental, Iron Sky, Bait3D, Swerve and Burning Man.
The Australian Film Institute and Aacta CEO Damian Trewhella said: “The goal for a healthy Australian feature film industry has always been to combine festival and critical acclaim with audience appeal. The exceptional collection of Feature Films in Competition demonstrates that this year we are well on the way to achieving this mix, and that despite many challenges, we can celebrate a landmark year in the industry.”
“We are thrilled to see many of our former AFI Award-winning...
- 8/29/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Two Australian short films, both about the journey of a young boy, have won prizes at the Berlin Film Festival including the Crystal Bear, best short film Award.
The win marks the third year in a row an Australian has won the award.
Julian, written and directed by Matthew Moore was awarded the prestigious Crystal Bear Award for best short film in Generation Kplus at the festival.
The 13 minute film, about the day in a life of a nine-year-old was produced by Matthew Moore and Robert Jago, with executive producers Ian Darling, Mark Kilmurry, Phillip Verity, Joel Moss, Tara O’Sullivan, Lisa Mann and Katrina Moore.
Of Julian, the Berlin jury said: ““A sophisticated film which accompanies a misunderstood boy on his way to popularity with wit and lightness of touch. The fantastic actor displays his phenomenal talent in portraying the smart protagonist – and surprises us in the process. Really great cinema!
The win marks the third year in a row an Australian has won the award.
Julian, written and directed by Matthew Moore was awarded the prestigious Crystal Bear Award for best short film in Generation Kplus at the festival.
The 13 minute film, about the day in a life of a nine-year-old was produced by Matthew Moore and Robert Jago, with executive producers Ian Darling, Mark Kilmurry, Phillip Verity, Joel Moss, Tara O’Sullivan, Lisa Mann and Katrina Moore.
Of Julian, the Berlin jury said: ““A sophisticated film which accompanies a misunderstood boy on his way to popularity with wit and lightness of touch. The fantastic actor displays his phenomenal talent in portraying the smart protagonist – and surprises us in the process. Really great cinema!
- 2/22/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
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