
16 12 2020 - Media release Three Australian projects selected for Sundance Film Festival 2021
Playing with Sharks
Feature documentary Playing with Sharks, virtual reality project Prison X - Chapter 1: The Devil & The Sun and short film GNT will screen at Sundance Film Festival, taking place both online and in-person across the US from 28 January to 3 February 2021.
Sundance has a history of launching Australian works into the US market including feature films Relic (2020), The Nightingale (2019) and Sweet Country (2018), as well as documentaries such as Casting JonBenet (2017).
Screen Australia's CEO Graeme Mason said, Congratulations to these teams, this selection is an incredible accomplishment. These projects each have a distinctive Australian voice and demonstrate the breadth and ingenuity of our industry on the world stage. It's fantastic to have three projects representing Australia all helmed by female directors in this year's program. Last year we saw the influence of the festival and its ability to launch careers with Natalie Erika James' debut feature Relic selected and celebrated and we are delighted that these three can follow in that path.
Playing with Sharks, a documentary about iconic Australian diver and filmmaker Valerie Taylor, will make its world premiere in the World Documentary Competition.
Director Sally Aitken said, To launch this film at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival is a dream come true. Valerie's daredevil exploits and her astounding rich underwater archive are a potent mix for any director. It is a privilege to sink my teeth into her pioneering story. That she is still diving and fighting for sharks at the age of 85 shows Valerie's incredible passion and that her thirst for adventure remains undiminished. Her life-affirming journey as an unlikely conservationist proves to all of us just what is possible with our interconnectedness to the natural world, if we allow it.
Virtual reality animation Prison X The Devil & The Sun will make its world premiere in the New Frontier section which showcases emerging media storytelling, multimedia installations, performances, and films across fiction, nonfiction and hybrid projects. The project takes viewers on a mythological journey inside a Neo-Andean underworld.
Prison X director Violeta Ayala said, As a storyteller, VR gave me the tools and technological capacity to push my imagination to a further degree. But it takes a community to make a film, and I m very proud that the team behind Prison X represents the Australia that we see on the streets. Prison X is a team effort pushing the boundaries of filmmaking, animation and technology from the minds of Bolivian-Australian, Ghanaian-Australian and Filipino-Australian creatives.
Animated short film GNT, which won the Yoram Gross Animation prize at Sydney Film Festival 2020, will screen in the Short Film section. The film follows one woman's outrageous mission to conquer social media and upstage her friends.
Creators Sara Hirner and Rosemary Vasquez-Brown said, We are absolutely thrilled that our debut short film, GNT, will be featured at Sundance Film Festival. We put so much love into this chaotic four minutes, and feel especially humbled that it will be shown at Sundance, alongside the same talent that we are continually inspired by. We hope it makes you giggle, or at the very least, question your choices on social media.
Australian projects at Sundance 2021: PLAYING WITH SHARKS
Wildbear Entertainment Pty Ltd
Director: Sally Aitken
Producer: Bettina Dalton
Executive Producer: Alan Erson
Australian Distributor: Madman
International Sales: Dogwoof
Synopsis: Valerie Taylor is a shark fanatic and an Australian icon. A marine maverick who forged her way as a fearless diver, cinematographer and conservationist. She filmed the real sharks for Jaws and famously wore a chain mail suit, using herself as shark bait, in experiments that changed scientific understanding of sharks forever.
Production credit: Playing with Sharks is a Wildbear Entertainment production. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW.
Media contact: Tracey Mair
PRISON X THE DEVIL & THE SUN
UNF Pty Ltd
Writer/Director: Violeta Ayala
Producers: Violeta Ayala, Dan Fallshaw, Roly Elias
Australian Distribution: Contact UNF Films
International Sales: Contact UNF Films
Synopsis: A virtual reality project where heavy doors open up and suck you in as a world of magical realism swirls around you, where you have to hang onto your soul so the devil doesn t take it away.
Production credit: Prison X The Devil & The Sun is an UNF production. Principal production investment from Screen Australia and developed with support from Screen NSW. Financed with support from Sundance Institute, the MacArthur Foundation and Tribeca Film Institute.
Australian media contact: Annette Lin
International media contact: Ingrid Hamilton, GAT PR
GNT
Writer/Directors: Sara Hirner, Rosemary Vasquez-Brown
Producers: Sara Hirner, Rosemary Vasquez-Brown
Synopsis: An animation that follows Glenn, a woman on an unwholesome mission to conquer her clique and social media at large.
Media contact: Sara Hirner and Rosemary Vasquez-Brown
A history of Australian titles at Sundance is available here
Related MaterialsDownload PDF
Media enquiries Amy Burgess | Senior Publicist
61 2 8113 5800 | 61 413 190 195 | [email protected]
Lidia Williams | Publicist and Events Officer
61 2 8113 1091 | 61 468 784 170 | [email protected]
All other general/non-media enquiries Sydney 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
15/01/2021
LITE Breakfast Show welcomes new announcer, Asha Gill
Date Released:15 Jan 2021
Share
Tweet
Stream LITE Breakfast with Asha and JD' on the SYOK app
...
14/01/2021
Simulcast across SBS and Channel 10, NITV's Sunrise Ceremony moves to Queensland for the first time.
Premiering on NITV, The Whole Table hosted by award-wi...
14/01/2021
TOKYO Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today published the English edition of Toshiba Group Sustainability Report 2020, which outlines the Groups sustainabili...
13/01/2021
Astro Offers Free Preview of Kids and News* Channels till 26 Jan
Date Released:13 Jan 2021
Share
Tweet
To keep customers entertained and informed during ...
11/01/2021
Enjoy More New Premieres on Astro this Ponggal
Date Released:11 Jan 2021
Share
Tweet
Astro customers can enjoy more local and international Pongal specia...
11/01/2021
Astro offers Entertainment and Connectivity from only RM6 a day
Date Released:11 Jan 2021
Share
Tweet
Now, you can work, play, stream, travel, #WhateverF...
06/01/2021
Berhibur dengan personaliti dan program baharu di radio SINAR
Date Released:06 Jan 2021
Share
Tweet
Strim SINAR Solo' dan Rock Jiwang SINAR', s...
06/01/2021
Gempak Terbit Drama Televisyen Pertama The Maid'
Date Released:06 Jan 2021
Share
Tweet
Media Pack
FORMAT DAN INFO SIARAN DRAMA THE MAID'Drama be...
05/01/2021
Radio ERA memperkenalkan personaliti dan program baharu
Date Released:05 Jan 2021
Share
Tweet
Strim segmen baharu ERA: Gempak Hit ERA' menerusi apli...
05/01/2021
Astro ushers in Year of the Metal Ox with Malaysians themed Sharing Abundance' #MooMooDa2021
Date Released:23 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
KUALA LUMPUR 23 DEC...
04/01/2021
Pemerkasaan Wanita Fokus Utama Dua Telefilem Komedi Baharu Astro Ceria
Date Released:04 Jan 2021
Share
Tweet
Media Pack
Astro Ceria dengan berbesar hati...
03/01/2021
Dokumentari Yang Dulu' Singkap Kisah Suka Duka Artis Veteran
Date Released:31 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Media Pack
Program Yang Dulu' ialah sebuah ...
31/12/2020
SYOK Mega Bonanza 2.0' continues till 22 January 2021
Date Released:31 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Celebrate the New Year and win daily cash prizes of RM1,0...
29/12/2020
SBS has launched a new Summer Safety' resource targeted especially at culturally and linguistically diverse Australians. The website offers expert informat...
29/12/2020
Strim konsert Tahun Baru Ciao ERA 2020 bersama Joe Flizzow' di ERA
Date Released:29 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Kolaborasi radio ERA, Universal Music Malay...
29/12/2020
More Tamil shows to premiere on Astro this New Year
Date Released:29 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
All Astro customers can celebrate upcoming New Year with an exc...
28/12/2020
Watch the biggest Korean music festival and awards live on Astro
Date Released:24 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
2020 MBC Korean Music Festival, 2020 KBS Entertain...
23/12/2020
Undian ERA Digital Muzik Awards (EDMA) 2020 dibuka
Date Released:23 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Semua dijemput membuang undi dari sekarang hingga 18 Januari 202...
22/12/2020
National Indigenous Television (NITV) has announced updates to its senior content editorial leadership team to support the continued growth and evolution of the...
21/12/2020
Anbendra Mazhaiyile', local Christmas concert premieres on Astro
Date Released:21 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
This Christmas, Astro customers can celebrate ...
19/12/2020
(Israel, December 16th 2020). ABonAIR is proud to announce the official release of the AB4000 wireless system, a constant effort and commitment to innovation. T...
17/12/2020
17 12 2020 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates cinema with blockbuster line up of films
The Dry, Firestarter, High Ground, Penguin Bloom
Screen Austr...
16/12/2020
16 12 2020 - Media release Three Australian projects selected for Sundance Film Festival 2021
Playing with Sharks
Feature documentary Playing with Sharks, vi...
16/12/2020
TOKYO Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced that it has received the rating detailed below from Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR), and that it...
14/12/2020
Astro 1.0
Date Released:14 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
14 90% SME ...
14/12/2020
SBS has launched a daily news bulletin for new English speakers - SBS News in Easy English. The first episode is now available on the SBS Radio app and all popu...
11/12/2020
Piravi Sittam', new local Tamil documentary premieres on Astro
Date Released:11 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Featuring the lives of local Siddhars' or H...
10/12/2020
Astro's kids offering gets a makeover!
Date Released:10 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Astro refreshes its kids pack with an exciting and fresh new line up.
...
10/12/2020
TOKYO Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) has been selected for the prestigious A List in the Climate Change Report 2020 released by CDP, the international non-...
09/12/2020
09 12 2020 - Media release Screen Australia announces $2.5 million of documentary production funding
Black Summer (Photo credit: Matthew Abbott)
Screen Austr...
08/12/2020
Muzikal Lawak Superstar' Kembali Untuk Musim Kedua
Date Released:08 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Media Pack
Muzikal Lawak Superstar' (MLS) program real...
08/12/2020
Watch the Pre-titles - Stutter School, Birdsville or Bust, Bowled Over
This Summer, SBS takes you on a journey into some of Australia's many unique communi...
04/12/2020
TOKYO Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today held the Toshiba Group FY2020 Technology Strategy Briefing, where it unveiled the strategy and technologies that ...
04/12/2020
TOKYO Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today opened the TOSHIBA SPINEX brand (*1) industrial IoT (IIoT) service (*2) portal site TOSHIBA SPINEX Marketplace (*...
03/12/2020
Perspektif Sebalik Tabir Misi Bantuan Jejak Ebit Lew'
Date Released:03 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Ikuti perjalanan suka duka pendakwah bebas Ebit Lew dala...
03/12/2020
Astro Continues Positive Q-o-Q Results
Date Released:03 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
REVENUE 2%; PATAMI 23%; ADEX 59%
Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad | Result...
02/12/2020
Drama Biar Mereka Cemburu' Pertaruh Genre Komedi Romantik
Date Released:02 Dec 2020
Share
Tweet
Media Pack
Drama bersiri Biar Mereka Cemburu' ...
01/12/2020
01 12 2020 - Media release Online series Scattered for TikTok greenlit
Co-creators Logan Mucha and Kate Darrigan
Web series Scattered from Passionfruit Bites...
30/11/2020
Daripada Francais Filem Komedi No 1 Malaysia, Kini Kampung Pisang' Hadir Dalam Bentuk Bersiri-Siri Eksklusif di Astro
Date Released:30 Nov 2020
Share
...
30/11/2020
Kumi Taguchi is today announced as the new host of SBS's flagship current affairs program, Insight. She joins the program following Jenny Brockie's deci...
27/11/2020
Enjoy 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards' (MAMA) live on Astro
Date Released:27 Nov 2020
Share
Tweet
All K-pop fans can stream one of the biggest Asian mu...
26/11/2020
Astro premieres new local thriller Tamil series, Kuruthi Mazhai'
Date Released:26 Nov 2020
Share
Tweet
All Astro customers can enjoy new thriller se...
26/11/2020
SBS's most ambitious drama yet, New Gold Mountain, starts production
Yoson An and Alyssa Sutherland lead a diverse ensemble cast in SBS's four-part mu...
25/11/2020
Watch Mulan', Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula', Tenet' and more on Astro
Date Released:25 Nov 2020
Share
Tweet
With the temporary closu...
25/11/2020
Astro Media Solutions & Smiley Ink Exclusive Media Licensee Partnership
Date Released:25 Nov 2020
Share
Tweet
Helping brands to create unique consumer ex...
25/11/2020
25 11 2020 - Media release Documentaries to delve into the Archibald and Country Music in 2021
Justine Clarke presents Going Country
ABC and Screen Australia...
25/11/2020
25 11 2020 - Media release Drama Report 2019/20 shows impact of pandemic on screen industry
Mystery Road series 2, Penguin Bloom, Bloom series 2
Screen Austr...
25/11/2020
25 11 2020 - Media release Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths return for more Total Control
Rachel Griffiths and Deborah Mailman
ABC and Screen Australia a...
23/11/2020
SYOK Super Bonanza' contest offers RM15,000 Shopee cash vouchers to all Malaysians
Date Released:23 Nov 2020
Share
Tweet
Stand a chance to win RM1000...
18/11/2020
18 11 2020 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS take Digital Original series Iggy & Ace into production
AB Morrison and Hannah Ngo
Screen Australia and S...