Australian apocalyptic riller to premiere at Directors Fortnight, Cannes

Australian apocalyptic thriller and directorial debut feature by Zak Hilditch, These Final Hours, will have its international premiere at the Directors' Fortnight, a section held in parallel to the Festival de Cannes and distinguished for its independent outlook.

Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said, Selection for the Directors' Fortnight cements Zak's place as one of Australia's new feature film directors to watch. We are excited to see how international audiences respond to what is a phenomenal feature debut, created by a talented young team of actors and filmmakers. We congratulate them all on a great achievement.

Director and writer Zak Hilditch will be joined by producer Liz Kearney and actors Nathan Phillips, Angourie Rice and Jessica de Gouw for the international screening of the film at the prominent festival next month.

We are feeling so excited and proud to have our debut feature film selected for Directors' Fortnight. We are really looking forward to sharing These Final Hours with an international audience for the first time and could not ask for a better platform to premiere the film internationally. We feel it is a perfect fit! said Zak.

These Final Hours tells the story of a troubled young man who makes his way to the party-to-end-all-parties on the last day on Earth, but ends up saving the life of a little girl searching for her father. Their relationship will lead him on the path to redemption.

The film was developed through Screen Australia's Talent Escalator program, Springboard, a short film initiative enabling filmmakers to develop a short film script that speaks to the sensibilities of their proposed feature film and becomes a strategic tool in its financing. The film was developed and produced with the financial assistance of Screen Australia, ScreenWest, Lotterywest and the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund.

These Final Hours will release nationwide in Australia on 24 July through Roadshow Films.

This is the third Australian film selected to be showcased in Cannes this year, with David Mich d's highly anticipated The Rover selected for a Midnight Screening and Rolf de Heer's powerful drama Charlie's Country screening in Un Certain Regard as part of the Festival de Cannes.

The Australian presence will be further emphasised with attendance by Nicole Kidman for her film Grace of Monaco, which is scheduled to open the festival; Ben Mendelsohn starring in Lost River, which will screen in Un Certain Regard and is eligible for the Camera d'Or; and Maps to the Stars, starring Mia Wasikowska, screening In Competition alongside The Homesman with Miranda Otto. Fellow Australian Sam Holst has been selected for the Cannes Cin fondation R sidence in Paris. Joining the local talent is eminent Sydney-based filmmaker Jane Campion, who will preside over the jury of the 67th Festival de Cannes, which will take place 14 25 May, 2014.

Further information http://www.festival-cannes.com/en.html

THESE FINAL HOURS

Production Company 8th in Line Productions

Writer/Director Zak Hilditch

Producer Liz Kearney

Executive Producer Robert Connolly

Sales Agent Celluloid Dreams/Nightmares

Australian Distributor Roadshow

Cast Nathan Phillips, Angourie Rice, Jessica de Gouw, Daniel Henshall, Sarah Snook, Kathryn Beck, Lynette Curran

Synopsis A troubled young man makes his way to the party-to-end-all-parties on the last day on Earth, but ends up saving the life of a little girl searching for her father. Their relationship will lead him on the path to redemption.

Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaoF6byFQFU

Media enquiries

Teri Calder T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0404 877 887

teri.calder@screenaustralia.gov.au

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2014/mr_140422_final...
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