
18 08 2023 - Media release Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023
Shayda
Five Australian projects have been selected for the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which will be held from 7-17 September. Feature film The Convert, an Australian/New Zealand Co-production will have its world premiere at the festival, while The New Boy and Limbo will have their North American premiere, Shayda and The Royal Hotel will have their Canadian Premiere.
Screen Australia's CEO Graeme Mason said, "I'm thrilled that these five extraordinary Australian projects have been selected for TIFF. This is a testament to the amazing talent and skill of our local screen industry. To have such unique and diverse films screening at the festival exemplifies the depth and breadth of our filmmaking excellence on a global stage. This is a real win not only for the creative teams, but also the Australian industry, congratulations to everyone involved."
After making its world premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival in May and opening the Sydney Film Festival, Warwick Thornton's The New Boy will have its North American premiere at TIFF. Starring Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, this spiritual drama film evokes Australia's colonial legacy through the story of one very special child, played by rising star Aswan Reid.
The New Boy writer/director Warwick Thornton said, This is awesome news. It's such an honour to have our North American premiere at TIFF we've always been looked after by them and can't wait to attend the festival.
Shayda, the highly anticipated debut feature from writer/director Noora Niasari, stars Iranian actress Zar Amir-Ebrahimi and follows a young Iranian mother who finds refuge in a women's shelter where her search for freedom brings her face-to-face with the violence that she has fled.
Shayda producer Vincent Sheehan said, I have always loved the TIFF audience having screened Little Fish and The Hunter previously at the festival. So, I m thrilled that Noora Niasari's Shayda, fresh from its closing night screening at Locarno, will play at Toronto as we prepare for our North American release with Sony Pictures Classics.
Making its world premiere in the Special Presentations section is The Convert, an Official Co-production between Australia and New Zealand. Lee Tamahori's action-filled historical drama stars Guy Pearce as a newly arrived preacher in a colonial town in early 19th-century New Zealand, who finds himself at the centre of a long-standing battle between two M ori tribes.
The Convert producers Andrew Mason and Troy Lum said, We have been long-time admirers of Lee Tamahori's work and to be involved in The Convert a film of such power and insight is a great honour. Robin and Te Kohe, our New Zealand co-producers were generous and collaborative, and opened a window to a culture that we feel privileged to have experienced.
Director Kitty Green and actor Julia Garner (The Assistant) reunite in The Royal Hotel, which tells the story of two friends who run out of cash while backpacking in Australia, and are forced to take jobs in an exploitative pub to fund their trip home.
The Royal Hotel producer Liz Watts said, We are thrilled that The Royal Hotel will take its place amongst the world's best cinema at TIFF this year. We can't wait to see the audience response to Kitty Green s finely crafted, edge of the seat thriller as well as the wonderful performances by the Australian and international cast, headed by the amazing Julia Garner.
Limbo is a searing commentary on justice and law enforcement, which investigates the cold case of a murdered Indigenous girl in an outback mining town.
Limbo producers David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin said Ivan Sen wrote, directed, shot, edited, composed and was a producer of the film. Simon Baker delivered a sublime performance in Limbo. He and Ivan formed a deeply creative partnership that generated this mesmerising work. We are thrilled Limbo will have its North American premiere at TIFF.
The Convert
World Premiere
Jump Film and Television Ltd / Brouhaha Entertainment Australia P/L
Director: Lee Tamahori
Writers: Shane Danielsen, Lee Tamahori
Producers: Robin Scholes, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Andrew Mason, Troy Lum
Executive Producers: Maria Logan, Anne Sheehan, David Garrett, David Mepham
Cast: Guy Pearce, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Antonio Te Maioha, Jacqueline McKenzie, Lawrence Makoare
International Sales: Mister Smith Entertainment
Australian Distributor: Kismet
Synopsis: When a lay preacher arrives at a British settlement in 1830s New Zealand, his violent past is drawn into question and his faith put to the test as he finds himself caught in the middle of a bloody war between M ori tribes.
Media contact: Emma Mason, Mister Smith Entertainment: [email protected]
Limbo
North American Premiere
Bunya Productions Pty Ltd
Writer/Director: Ivan Sen
Producers: David Jowsey, Rachel Higgins, Greer Simpkin, Ivan Sen
Executive Producers: Simon Baker, Cecilia Ritchie, David Chiem
Cast: Simon Baker, Rob Collins, Natasha Wanganeen, Nicholas Hope, Mark Coe, Joshua Warrior
International Sales: Dark Matter Media Pty Ltd
Australian Distributor: Dark Matter Media Pty Ltd
Synopsis: Travis, a jaded detective, arrives in the remote outback town of Limbo to investigate the cold case murder of local Indigenous girl Charlotte Hayes 20 years ago. As truths about the murder begin to unfold, the detective gains a new insight into the unsolved case from the victim's fractured family, the surviving witnesses and the reclusive brother of the chief suspect.
Media contact: Greer Simpkin: [email protected]
The New Boy
North American Premiere
Dirty Films & Scarlett Pictures
Writer/Director: Warwick Thornton
Producers: Produce
More from Screen Aus
01/05/2025
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
16 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Paramount Announce New Murder M...
11/09/2024
10 09 2024 - Media release Endemol Shine Australia and Screen Australia announce...
04/09/2024
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
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
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
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
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
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
17 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Onlin...
12/07/2024
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
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
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
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
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
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
24 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates Australian projects bound...
18/04/2024
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
11 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Meta launch fourth year of First...
10/04/2024
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...
15/02/2024
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
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
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
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
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
17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...
14/12/2023
14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...
12/12/2023
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
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
30 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2
Image courtesy: Screen Warriors
Screen Australia has annou...