Australian talent on show at the Toronto International Film Festival

24 08 2016 - Media release Australian talent on show at the Toronto International Film Festival

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) made further 2016 program announcements overnight, revealing two new Australian film selections joining an already impressive line-up.

TIFF have again shown incredible confidence in Australian content, attracting the World Premiere of Lion and the International Premiere of Goldstone, said Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason. I'm particularly pleased that emerging Australian Directors Nicholas Verso and Sotiris Dounoukos have had their features selected for Discovery. Make no mistake, TIFF is about more than red carpets - the Festival can kick-start international careers for these Australians.

Lion, directed by Garth Davis and starring Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Dev Patel and Rooney Mara, will be screened as a Special Presentation. Adapted from the bestselling book by Saroo Brierley, Lion is the true story of how from his adopted home of Hobart, Saroo used new technology and the power of memory to find his parents in northern India. Lion received Production funding from Screen Australia.

Ivan Sen's outback noir film Goldstone, which opened the 2016 Sydney Film Festival, will compete in Platform. Platform launched in 2015 and comprises up to twelve artistically ambitious international films. The thriller was written and directed by Ivan Sen, and is the tale of two policeman who have to bury their differences to uncover the secrets of their town. Goldstone received Development and Production funding through Screen Australia's Indigenous Department.

Overnight it was announced Boys in the Trees has been selected to compete in Discovery. Directed and written by Nicholas Verso, the film follows teens Corey and Jonah on their last night of high school, embarking on a surreal journey through their memories, dreams and fears. Boys in the Trees received Development and Completion funding from Screen Australia.

Also competing in Discovery is Joe Cinque's Consolation, based on Helen Garner's book of the same name. Set in Canberra in 1997, Joe Cinque's Consolation is the true story of Anu Singh who murdered her boyfriend Joe Cinque at an elaborate farewell dinner party attended by friends. The film received Development and Production funding from Screen Australia and is the first feature from director Sotiris Dounoukos.

Earlier this month it was announced Mirrah Foulkes' short film Trespass will be competing in Short Cuts. The film traces a woman walking her dog in the bush who has a strange encounter. It received Production funding from Screen Australia.

Australian Director Bryn Chainey has been selected for TIFF's Talent Lab and overnight it was confirmed that producers Tania Chambers and Alex White have been selected for the Producers Lab Toronto. Chambers and White were Screen Australia Gender Matters: Brilliant Stories recipients earlier this year.

After the announcement of game-changing initiative Gender Matters, Screen Australia's Head of Production Sally Caplan has been invited to speak at TIFF's Women and the Helm forum alongside representatives from Sweden and Canada.

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 4-14.

Media enquiries Scott Dawkins

+61 403 937 074 scott.dawkins@screenaustralia.gov.au

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