Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Eight Australian projects bound for Berlinale 2023 with two films in Main Competition

24/01/2023

24 01 2023 - Media release Eight Australian projects bound for Berlinale 2023 with two films in Main Competition

Simon Baker in Limbo Bunya Productions

Seven new Australian works have been selected for the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival including Ivan Sen's Limbo and Rolf de Heer's The Survival of Kindness which will both premiere in Competition. Also selected are drama series Bad Behaviour directed by Corrie Chen; features Hello Dankness from Soda Jerk, Jub Clerc's Sweet As and Talk to Me from directors Danny and Michael Philippou; and short film Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black).

Australian classic Muriel's Wedding will screen in the Retrospective program at the festival, which runs from 16 26 February 2023.

Screen Australia's CEO Graeme Mason said, It's a real coup for Australia to have such strong representation across a range of categories at this prestigious festival, including new features, episodic drama, short film, and a retrospective. This is evidence of the wide scope of Australian filmmaking talent and the demand for our diverse stories in the international market. It's the first time an Australian film has been featured in Competition since 2006 and it's fantastic to have two selected this year.

We're proud to see two feature directorial debuts already gaining fantastic international traction - YouTube sensation RackaRacka with Talk To Me and Sweet As from Jub Clerc alongside drama series Bad Behaviour which continues a track record of high quality Australian television dramas launching at Berlin. A huge congratulations to all of the teams, Mason continued.

Ivan Sen's desert noir Limbo, produced by Bunya Productions and starring Simon Baker, will make its world premiere in Competition. Sen's first feature film Beneath Clouds screened in Competition in 2002 where it won the Premiere First Movie Award.

Also returning to Berlin is director Rolf de Heer with feature film The Survival of Kindness making its international premiere in Competition. This is de Heer's second invitation to the Main Competition after Alexandra's Project in 2003, and his Cannes-winning Ten Canoes (2006) was celebrated at Berlin in 2013.

Four-part drama series Bad Behaviour, set to debut next month on Stan in Australia, will make its international premiere in Berlinale Series. Based on the book by Rebecca Starford, the series is written by Pip Karmel and Magda Wozniak, produced by Amanda Higgs and directed by Corrie Chen.

Creative duo Soda Jerk's feature Hello Dankness will make its international premiere in the Panorama section after debuting at Adelaide Film Festival last year.

Talk To Me is the debut feature from internet sensation RackaRacka, Danny and Michael Philippou, and produced by Causeway Films' Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton. The film will make its European premiere in Berlinale Special after its international premiere at Sundance Film Festival this month. It has also been selected for South by Southwest Film Festival 2023.

Nyul Nyul/Yawuru director Jub Clerc's debut feature, Sweet As, will make its European premiere in the Generation KPlus section after screening at Toronto International Film Festival last year where it won the NETPAC Award for Best Feature Film from the Asia-Pacific Region. Sweet As, produced by Liz Kearney for Arenamedia, also took home the Innovation Award at Melbourne International Film Festival 2022.

Short film Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) from writer/directors Matthew Thorne and Derik Lynch will screen as part of Berlinale Shorts.

Cate Blanchett will attend the festival for her new film TAR premiering in Berlinale Special, and she will also speak as part of the Berlinale Talents program. Participating in Berlinale Talents this year are Australian actor Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth) in the Directing discipline, and Australian Nisa East in the Cinematography discipline.

A history of Australian titles at Berlin Film Festival is available here.

Australian projects at Berlinale 2023: LIMBO World Premiere, Main Competition

Bunya Productions

Writer/Director/DOP: Ivan Sen

Producers: David Jowsey, Rachel Higgins, Greer Simpkin, Ivan Sen

Executive Producers: Simon Baker, Cecilia Ritchie, David Chiem

Australian Distributor: Dark Matter Distribution

International Sales: Dark Matter

Synopsis: Detective Travis Hurley arrives in a small Australian outback town to investigate a 20-year-old unsolved murder of a local Aboriginal girl. Forming bonds with the victim's fractured family, Travis unravels a series of hard truths, highlighting the complexities of loss and injustice experienced by First Nations Australians.

Production credit: Limbo is presented by the ABC and Screen Queensland in association with Windalong Films and the South Australian Film Corporation.

Media contact: Tracey Mair Publicity

THE SURVIVAL OF KINDNESS International Premiere, Main Competition

Vertigo Productions and Triptych Pictures

Writer/Director: Rolf de Heer

Producers: Rolf de Heer, Julie Byrne

Co-Producer: Ari Harrison

Executive Producers: Sue Murray, Bryce Menzies, Molly Reynolds, Domenico Procacci

Australian Distributor: Umbrella Entertainment

International Sales: Fandango SPA

Synopsis: The Survival of Kindness is a film inimitably of its time an allegorical tale of race and inequality, it is an exquisite, thought-provoking and immersive journey from the distinctive lens of Rolf de Heer.

Production credit: Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with the South Australian Film Corporation and Adelaide Film Festival. Financed with support from Screen Tasmania.

Media contact: ABCG Film - Cathy Gallagher, 0416 227 282

BAD BEHAVIOUR International Premiere, Berlinale Series

Matchbox Pictures

Director: Corrie Chen

Writers: Pip Karmel, Magda Wozn
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2023/01-24-aus...
See more stories from screenaustralia

More from Screen Aus

01/05/2025

Screen Australia empowers 100+ distinctive Australian narratives

01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...

09/04/2025

Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase

09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...

01/04/2025

Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June

01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...

06/03/2025

Powerhouse Speakers named for Untapped 2025

06 03 2025 - Media release Powerhouse Speakers named for Untapped 2025 Top (L-R): Jet Wilkinson, Michael Shanks. Bottom (L-R): Ryan O Connell, Megan Park. Au...

20/02/2025

Feisty Feminist Murder Mystery He Had It Coming Announced

18 02 2025 - Media release Feisty Feminist Murder Mystery He Had It Coming Announced Stars of He Had It Coming, Lydia West, Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Liv Hewso...

20/02/2025

Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes

18 02 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes Gnomes writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven, and creato...

05/02/2025

Sanctuary Pictures Unveils Punk-Horror Feature Penny Lane Is Dead

04 02 2025 - Media release Sanctuary Pictures Unveils Punk-Horror Feature Penny Lane Is Dead Writer/Director of Penny Lane Is Dead, Mia'Kate Russell Sanc...

12/12/2024

Screen Australia, ABC and NITV announce Proper Loved Up Short Film Initiative

12 12 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, ABC and NITV announce Proper Loved Up Short Film Initiative Short Film Last Drinks at Fridas from Pitch Short Bla...

21/11/2024

Much-loved series Austin returns for a second season

21 11 2024 - Media release Much-loved series Austin returns for a second season Austin season 2: Ingrid (Sally Phillips), Julian (Ben Miller), Austin (Michael...

21/11/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce new documentary series Eat The Invaders

21 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new documentary series Eat The Invaders Eat The Invaders: Tony Armstrong, Kirsha Kaechele and Vin...

21/11/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce drama series The Family Next Door

21 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce drama series The Family Next Door Teresa Palmer as Isabelle in The Family Next Door. Photo credit...

20/11/2024

Screen Australia, SBS and NITV unveil Digital Originals shortlist for 2024

20 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV unveil Digital Originals shortlist for 2024 Digital Originals recipients with Screen Australia, SBS ...

31/10/2024

SBS, NITV and Screen Australia announce documentary series 2.6 Seconds

30 10 2024 - Media release SBS, NITV and Screen Australia announce documentary series 2.6 Seconds 2.6 Seconds. Photo credit: Jesse Marlow. SBS, NITV and Scr...

10/10/2024

Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects

10 10 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects L-R: Love Adjacent director Louise Alston, Watching Y...

17/09/2024

Screen Australia and Paramount+ Announce New Murder Mystery, Playing Gracie Darling

16 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Paramount Announce New Murder M...

11/09/2024

Endemol Shine Australia and Screen Australia announce Early Career Writers Program

10 09 2024 - Media release Endemol Shine Australia and Screen Australia announce...

04/09/2024

Screen Australia invests over $2 million in Australian Games Industry

04 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia invests over $2 million in Australian Games Industry Zodiac Mountain Screen Australia has announced over $2 milli...

28/08/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce four new children's programs

28 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce four new children's programs Andy Lee at Richmond Primary School with his nephews Freddy Mile...

22/08/2024

Screen Australia announces $3 million for 13 documentaries

22 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $3 million for 13 documentaries We Are Jeni Screen Australia has announced 11 documentaries through the...

19/08/2024

Production starts on RFDS season three

19 08 2024 - Media release Production starts on RFDS season three RFDS cast. Photo Credit John Platt. Pre-production on the third season of the Seven Network...

15/08/2024

Maggie and Arthur return to the ABC for a second season of Mother and Son

15 08 2024 - Media release Maggie and Arthur return to the ABC for a second season of Mother and Son Denise Scott and Matt Okine in Mother and Son Fans of t...

06/08/2024

Bruce Beresford's Film Overture starts production in Western Australia

06 08 2024 - Media release Bruce Beresford's Film Overture starts production in Western Australia Overture cast (L-R) Susie Porter, Luke Bracey and Bryan ...

17/07/2024

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Online Creators set to Skip Ahead

17 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Onlin...

12/07/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce new comedy series Optics

12 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new comedy series Optics Optics. Photo credit: Joel Pratley ABC and Screen Australia have annou...

10/07/2024

Shipwreck Hunters Australia back on the water for Season 2

10 07 2024 - Media release Shipwreck Hunters Australia back on the water for Season 2 Shipwreck Hunters Australia Screen Australia and The Walt Disney Compan...

09/07/2024

Applications Open for Digital Originals, and three new dramas coming to screens

09 07 2024 - Media release Applications Open for Digital Originals, and three new dramas coming to screens (L-R) Moonbird director, co-creator and co-writer N...

30/05/2024

Screen Australia, Australians in Film and VicScreen announce FUTURE VISION

30 05 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, Australians in Film and VicScreen announce FUTURE VISION Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo Australians in Film, Scree...

08/05/2024

Olivia Colman and John Lithgow Star in Sophie Hyde's New Project JIMPA

08 05 2024 - Media release Olivia Colman and John Lithgow Star in Sophie Hyde's New Project JIMPA Olivia Colman and John Lithgow in JIMPA. Photo credit: M...

29/04/2024

Screen Australia announces James J. Robinson's debut feature First Light

29 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces James J. Robinson's debut feature First Light First Light Principal Photography is underway on Firs...

24/04/2024

Screen Australia celebrates Australian projects bound for Cannes Film Festival 2024

24 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates Australian projects bound...

18/04/2024

Screen Australia and Dynamic Television announce new Scripted Initiative

18 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Dynamic Television announce new Scripted Initiative Savage River Screen Australia and Los Angeles-based telev...

11/04/2024

Screen Australia and Meta launch fourth year of First Nations Creators Program for Instagram

11 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Meta launch fourth year of First...

10/04/2024

Screen Australia announces over $2.3 million for nine documentaries

10 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $2.3 million for nine documentaries Guardians of the River Screen Australia has announced nine doc...

21/03/2024

Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry

21 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry Which Way Up: Galaxy Games Screen Australia has anno...

18/03/2024

Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative

18 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative LTR Denise Eriksen, Esther Coleman Hawkins, Caroline Pitcher, K...

15/03/2024

The Creators 2024 Participants Announced

15 03 2024 - Media release The Creators 2024 Participants Announced The Creators program recipients. L-R Thomas Duncan-Watt, Vanessa Gazy, Sarah Lambert, Lea...

13/03/2024

Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan

13 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan Critical Incident: Akshay Khanna and Zoe Boe. Photo c...

28/02/2024

Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects

28 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects Willy Screen Australia has announced 23 feature fi...

27/02/2024

Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair

27 02 2024 - Media release Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair Michael Ebeid AM and Megan Brownlow The Hon. Minister for the Arts, Tony...

21/02/2024

Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce Applications Open for UNTAPPED 2024

21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...

15/02/2024

Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs

15 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs Liz Keogh Palmer (Australian Production Design Guil...

13/02/2024

Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US

22 01 2024 - Media release Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai Six Australian screen projec...

12/02/2024

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9

12 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9 Uncovering Street Dance: Australia from Skip Ahead 8. Photographed by Ry...

08/02/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two

08 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two Marta Dusseldorp as Stella in Bay of Fires ABC, Screen Austr...

22/01/2024

Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US

22 01 2024 - Media release Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai Five Australian screen proj...

17/01/2024

Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Australia and ABC's new drama series Plum

17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...

14/12/2023

Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of production funding for 11 projects

14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...

12/12/2023

Applications open for The Creators program

22 04 2025 - Media release Applications Open for the Creators Program The Creators program Screen Australia and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) have annou...

11/12/2023

Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023

11 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023 Enoch Mailangi, Noora Niasari, Hannah Carroll Chapman Screen Austr...

30/11/2023

Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2

30 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2 Image courtesy: Screen Warriors Screen Australia has annou...