Media releases - 0 SCREEN AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN REE ANIMATED SHORTS

Screen Australia today announced $350,000 production investment in three animated short films through its Short Animation Production Program.

Screen Australia's Head of Development, Martha Coleman, said, Each of these animations is evocative, emotional and innovative, driven by exciting, strong voices at different stages in their career. The diverse range of teams and projects in this round continues to reflect the breadth and calibre of talent in the Australian film and animation industries.

The Nightingale and the Rose is a collaboration between two-time Archibald-winning artist Del Kathryn Barton and Brendan Fletcher, both of whom will co-direct and write. A visceral reimagining of Oscar Wilde's short story, it's a moving tale of sacrifice and the joy that resides in the experience of true love. Angie Fielder, Brendan Fletcher and Polly Staniford will produce the film and animators Liz Ellis and Richard Swan will also be part of the key creative team. The team are partnering with Method Studios who will create innovative animation techniques in order to bring Del Kathryn Barton's artwork to the screen.

Lost Property Office is a stop-motion animation from writer, director and animator Daniel Agdag and producer Liz Kearney. It tells the story of Ed who, like the objects in his office, is lost and left behind by the world - until he harnesses the power of those objects to escape from his humdrum life. Daniel's intricately constructed cardboard sets are an ongoing signature of his animation style which is reflected in his previous short films Paper City Architects (AFI Award for Best Animation 2008, Dendy Award for Most Innovative Short 2007) and Toil. Liz Kearney produced the live-action Springboard short Transmission (AACTA nominated for Best Short Film 2013, AACTA Award for Best Short Screenplay 2013) and has recently completed filming the feature film These Final Hours.

Screen Australia is also providing completion funds for writer, director and animator Simon Cottee's The Duck. Based on a short story by Ben Loory, The Duck is a touching, fable-like story about the improbable love between a duck and a rock. Simon's previous film, The Wedding, screened at the Cannes Short Film Corner. The Duck is produced by Sara Taghaode and Austin Wintory is attached as the composer.

Screen Australia's Short Animation Production Program is intended to assist the career progression of strong and distinctive animation filmmakers and to showcase their work to an international audience. Shorts funded through the program have achieved numerous festival and award accolades including the AACTA and Dendy Award-winning Nullarbor, produced by Katrina Mathers, Merrin Jensen, Patrick Sarell, Daryl Munton, directed by Alister Lockhart and co-directed and written by Patrick Sarell; Oscar -winning The Lost Thing, produced by Sophie Byrne, written by Shaun Tan and directed by Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann; and Oscar -winning Harvie Krumpet, produced by Melanie Coombs and written, directed and animated by Adam Elliot.

THE DUCK

Genre Drama

Producer Sara Taghaode

Writer Ben Loory

Director Simon Cottee

Synopsis A duck hopelessly in love with a rock that can never love him back must take action before his heart breaks.

LOST PROPERTY OFFICE

Genre Drama

Producer Liz Kearney

Director Daniel Agdag

Synopsis Ed is the sole custodian of a lost property office. In many ways he is like the lost items gathering dust. But although he is content to remain this way a letter on his desk compels him otherwise. How he chooses to move on from his post is somewhat unorthodox.

THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE

Genre Fantasy/Adult Fable

Producers Angie Fielder, Brendan Fletcher, Polly Staniford

Writer/Directors Del Kathryn Barton, Brendan Fletcher

Synopsis A Nightingale bird discovers a true lover' when she sees a young university student from her home in the oak tree. The Nightingale is so taken by the virtue of the student's passion that she commits to help him find the single red rose that his lover requests of him. However, this comes at a price. The chilling ritual that she must put herself through to summon this flower into being is a collision of love, death and nature. The world of the true lover will never be the same again. Based on Oscar Wilde's timeless story of ecstatic first love and the artwork of Del Kathryn Barton.

Media Enquiries

Teri Calder T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0408 440 995

teri.calder@screenaustralia.gov.au

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2013/mr_130424_short...
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