Warwick Thornton's feature documentary The Darkside and Australian short films Emo (The Musical) and Snowblind have been added to the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival line up, joining previously announced Australian features Galore, 52 Tuesdays and The Turning. Three Australian films, Ruin, Canopy and experimental short animation Dot Matrix, have also been selected to screen at the 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam.Screen Australia's Chief Executive, Graeme Mason, said, Australian filmmakers are using their unique voices to make ambitious, bold and visionary projects that are not only resonating with local audiences but are being acclaimed around the world. These announcements further reflect Australian filmmakers' ability to grasp the global nature of the film industry and demonstrate the diversity and health of our industry, which performs strongly in a highly saturated and competitive global space.
The Darkside has been selected to have its international premiere at the Berlinale's 44th International Forum of New Cinema (the Forum), which is screening the most daring and experimental works at the festival.
The Darkside was conceived and directed by filmmaker Warwick Thornton and produced by long time collaborator Kath Shelper. Supported through Screen Australia's Indigenous Department, The Darkside features some of Australia's finest acting talent.
Two Australian short films will have their international premieres in the Generation 14plus program of the festival. Emo (The Musical) is written and directed by Neil Triffett and produced by Lee Matthews, and was supported through Screen Australia's Short Film Completion Fund. From writer/director Sean Kruck and produced by Caroline Barry, Snowblind was funded by Screen Australia through its Springboard Short Film Initiative.
The European Film Market (EFM), which runs alongside Berlinale, is the first major film market of the year and attracts leading producers, distributors, buyers and sales agents from around the world. Within it is the industry-revered Berlinale Co-Production Market for international producers, sales agents, distributors and broadcasting and funding representatives. The Australian screenplay Lonely Girl, written by Lynne Vincent McCarthy, has been selected to participate, and is one of only 20 projects chosen from a field of 550 proposals. The erotic psychological thriller has Natasha Pincus attached to direct, and has received development support from Screen Australia and Jan Chapman's Waking Dream. Producer Samantha Jennings will attend, supported by Screen Australia.
The Co-Pro Market's selection also includes 10 projects in the Talent Project Market, including feature film script The Insect King, from Australian producer Bridget Callow-Wright and director Priscilla Cameron, which was developed with assistance from Screen Australia.
Renowned for showcasing diverse and outstanding independent films from around the world, the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will screen writers/directors/producers Amiel Courtin-Wilson and Michael Cody's Ruin, a surreal and meditative love story filmed in Cambodia. Ruin had its international premiere in the 2013 Venice Film Festival, and won a Special Jury Prize. The feature film was developed and supported for production by Screen Australia and will be screened in the Bright Future section of the festival.
Aaron Wilson's debut feature, Canopy, will screen in Rotterdam's Signals: How to Survive section. The film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in September and also screened at Busan International Film Festival, Stockholm International Film Festival and Abu Dhabi International Film Festival.
Written and directed by Wilson, produced by Katrina Fleming of Melbourne-based production company Finer Films, and co-produced by Mabelyn Ow of Chuan Pictures, Singapore, Canopy is a cinematic exploration of the collision of war and nature, and its impact on humanity, told through one man's journey. Filmed on location in Singapore and Australia, it follows the story of an Australian fighter pilot shot down in combat in wartime Singapore, 1942.
Director Richard Tuohy's experimental short animation Dot Matrix will have its world premiere at IFFR, screening as part of IFFR's Spectrum Shorts section. Produced by Dianna Barrie, Dot Matrix is an animated symphony of dots that collide and move against each other in a trance-like flow of images. Tuohy's short film Etienne's Hand also screened at IFFR in 2012.
The 43rd International Film Festival Rotterdam will take place 22 January 2 February 2014.
www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/
The Berlin International Film Festival will take place 6 16 February 2014.
www.berlinale.de
CANOPY
Production Company Finer Films
Producer Katrina Fleming
Co-producers Mabelyn Ow, Aaron Wilson
Writer/Director Aaron Wilson
International Sales Odin's Eye Entertainment
Cast Khan Chittenden, Mo Tzu-Yi
Synopsis Wartime, 1942. Singapore. An Australian fighter pilot shot down in combat awakens suspended in the treetops. As night devours day, he must navigate through dangerous jungle in search of sanctuary. Transcending language and culture, Canopy is a cinematic tour de force exploring the collision of war and nature and its impact on humanity. Aaron Wilsons film marks the debut of an exciting new voice in Australian cinema.
THE DARKSIDE
Production Company Scarlett Pictures Pty Ltd
Producer Kath Shelper
Director Warwick Thornton
International Sales Artscope (Memento Films)
Cast Deborah Mailman, Bryan Brown, Aaron Pedersen, Shari Sebbens, Claudia Karvan, Sacha Horler
Synopsis Cam ra dOr-winning director Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah) assembles a collection of poignant, sad, funny and absurd true ghost tales from across Australia and bri
