For its first edition the International Migration Film Festival has assembled a diverse lineup of eight titles tackling the plight of refugees and migrants around the world and running the gamut from feelgood comedy to gut-wrenching dramas and docs.
They will vie for a best feature film award worth €15,000 and also a prize for most inspiring script worth €5,000, both to be decided by a prestigious international jury comprising Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who serves as jury president, American actor Danny Glover, Iranian actor Shahab Hosseini, Bosnian actor Emir Hadzihafizbegovic, Danish filmmaker Lone Scherfig, and British costume designer Sandy Powell.
The selection, which will be visible in Turkey June 14-21 on the FestivalScope platform, serves as a nice primer of recent pics tackling the topic, but also as “a reminder to not let people forget about refugees” during this time when the coronavirus pandemic – which has also greatly added to...
They will vie for a best feature film award worth €15,000 and also a prize for most inspiring script worth €5,000, both to be decided by a prestigious international jury comprising Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who serves as jury president, American actor Danny Glover, Iranian actor Shahab Hosseini, Bosnian actor Emir Hadzihafizbegovic, Danish filmmaker Lone Scherfig, and British costume designer Sandy Powell.
The selection, which will be visible in Turkey June 14-21 on the FestivalScope platform, serves as a nice primer of recent pics tackling the topic, but also as “a reminder to not let people forget about refugees” during this time when the coronavirus pandemic – which has also greatly added to...
- 6/15/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Turkey, which hosts the largest number of migrants in the world, is launching the International Migration Film Festival that aims to boost awareness of their plight and will also serve as a primer of global cinematic output on this timely topic.
There are currently an estimated roughly 4 million migrants in Turkey, most of whom are refugees from war-torn Syria. The festival is a Turkish government initiative being organized by a team of independent local film event professionals. For its first edition the team has assembled a rich lineup of more than 40 films from 25 countries and recruited some big names including Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who serves as jury president (see interview), F. Murray Abraham, Danny Glover, Lone Scherfig, Matt Dillon and Turkish star Tuba Buyukustun, her country’s first International Emmy Award Nominee, also known across the Middle East as Lamiss.
Abraham, who is the son of a Syrian migrant and...
There are currently an estimated roughly 4 million migrants in Turkey, most of whom are refugees from war-torn Syria. The festival is a Turkish government initiative being organized by a team of independent local film event professionals. For its first edition the team has assembled a rich lineup of more than 40 films from 25 countries and recruited some big names including Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who serves as jury president (see interview), F. Murray Abraham, Danny Glover, Lone Scherfig, Matt Dillon and Turkish star Tuba Buyukustun, her country’s first International Emmy Award Nominee, also known across the Middle East as Lamiss.
Abraham, who is the son of a Syrian migrant and...
- 6/15/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Zenia Starr in ‘The End’ (Photo credit: Foxtel).
Zenia Starr made her screen debut in Mark Grentell’s 2013 cricket comedy Backyard Ashes but this year has been the first when she has worked virtually non-stop.
The Indian-born, Australian-raised actor modestly credits that to a number of factors including audiences’ growing appetite to see diversity on screens and those producers and directors who were willing to take a risk in hiring her.
Equally graciously she also thanks her agent, Catherine Poulton Management, luck and “maybe some divine intervention.”
After a string of roles in the ABC’s The Unlisted, the second series of Seven Network’s Drop Dead Weird, Stan’s upcoming The Gloaming, Foxtel’s The End and Maziar Lahooti’s debut feature Below, she says: “It’s the most momentum I’ve ever had.”
Playing a Mumbai resident in Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai alongside Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Jason Isaacs...
Zenia Starr made her screen debut in Mark Grentell’s 2013 cricket comedy Backyard Ashes but this year has been the first when she has worked virtually non-stop.
The Indian-born, Australian-raised actor modestly credits that to a number of factors including audiences’ growing appetite to see diversity on screens and those producers and directors who were willing to take a risk in hiring her.
Equally graciously she also thanks her agent, Catherine Poulton Management, luck and “maybe some divine intervention.”
After a string of roles in the ABC’s The Unlisted, the second series of Seven Network’s Drop Dead Weird, Stan’s upcoming The Gloaming, Foxtel’s The End and Maziar Lahooti’s debut feature Below, she says: “It’s the most momentum I’ve ever had.”
Playing a Mumbai resident in Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai alongside Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Jason Isaacs...
- 12/19/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Fayssal Bazzi. (Photo: Amelia J Dowd)
Actor Fayssal Bazzi’s father is Lebanese and his mother is Syrian, so for much of his career he was determined to avoid being typecast as Arabic characters, particularly criminals and terrorists.
After scoring the lead role in Mark Grentell’s comedy-drama The Merger, he has enjoyed a higher profile and portrayed a diverse range of characters.
“I just want to play characters whose ethnicity is incidental and I’ve been lucky to be able to do that in the past few years,” he tells If.
Earlier this year he played the son-in-law of Damon Herriman’s seedy night club owner in the second season of FX/Foxtel’s Mr Inbetween, created by and starring Scott Ryan and directed by Nash Edgerton. That was his second collaboration with Herriman following Abe Forsythe’s 2015 Cronulla race riot drama Down Under.
Currently he is in Adelaide shooting Stateless,...
Actor Fayssal Bazzi’s father is Lebanese and his mother is Syrian, so for much of his career he was determined to avoid being typecast as Arabic characters, particularly criminals and terrorists.
After scoring the lead role in Mark Grentell’s comedy-drama The Merger, he has enjoyed a higher profile and portrayed a diverse range of characters.
“I just want to play characters whose ethnicity is incidental and I’ve been lucky to be able to do that in the past few years,” he tells If.
Earlier this year he played the son-in-law of Damon Herriman’s seedy night club owner in the second season of FX/Foxtel’s Mr Inbetween, created by and starring Scott Ryan and directed by Nash Edgerton. That was his second collaboration with Herriman following Abe Forsythe’s 2015 Cronulla race riot drama Down Under.
Currently he is in Adelaide shooting Stateless,...
- 6/23/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Phi and Me’.
Screen Australia has provided almost $800,000 in production funding for five online projects, featuring talent such as Mark Grentell, Enzo Tedeschi, Rosie Lourde, Kristy Best, Geraldine Hickey and Diana Nguyen.
Online investment manager Lee Naimo said: “I’m excited to support such a wide range of original ideas in this slate, including Cloudy River presenting a contemporary perspective on relationships and Lgbtqi+ experiences, and Deadhouse Dark breaking the mould with a series of online horror films.”
“We have been impressed by the quality of the applications coming through and have started to see teams coming with fully formed pilots and very clear plans for producing and marketing their work. Creators are becoming very aware of their audience, with some teams leveraging their existing online fanbases or transferring audiences from live acts to screen projects. This innovation is evident in finance plans too, where we are seeing much more...
Screen Australia has provided almost $800,000 in production funding for five online projects, featuring talent such as Mark Grentell, Enzo Tedeschi, Rosie Lourde, Kristy Best, Geraldine Hickey and Diana Nguyen.
Online investment manager Lee Naimo said: “I’m excited to support such a wide range of original ideas in this slate, including Cloudy River presenting a contemporary perspective on relationships and Lgbtqi+ experiences, and Deadhouse Dark breaking the mould with a series of online horror films.”
“We have been impressed by the quality of the applications coming through and have started to see teams coming with fully formed pilots and very clear plans for producing and marketing their work. Creators are becoming very aware of their audience, with some teams leveraging their existing online fanbases or transferring audiences from live acts to screen projects. This innovation is evident in finance plans too, where we are seeing much more...
- 5/9/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
By Giacomo Selloni
The 6th Socially Relevant Film Festival kicked off at the Cinema Village theater on 12th Street in New York City last Monday night in fine fashion. Literally. "The Merger" is a wonderfully sweet and ultimately moralistic comedy from Down Under that centers around the sport of Australian Rules Football, or "Footy."
It's set in the fictional, rural village of Bodgy Creek Australia - a town in trouble. A population decrease, caused by the "greenie-led" closure of the timber mill, has left the footy team short handed. so much so that their only choices are to either merge with another team or fold.
"What's a merger?" asks young Neil Barlow (played by the charismatic 11 year-old (Rafferty Grierson), grandson to the club manager "Bull" Barlow. "That's where one shit team joins with another shit team to make a slightly less shit team," a player responds. The Bodgy Creek Roosters...
The 6th Socially Relevant Film Festival kicked off at the Cinema Village theater on 12th Street in New York City last Monday night in fine fashion. Literally. "The Merger" is a wonderfully sweet and ultimately moralistic comedy from Down Under that centers around the sport of Australian Rules Football, or "Footy."
It's set in the fictional, rural village of Bodgy Creek Australia - a town in trouble. A population decrease, caused by the "greenie-led" closure of the timber mill, has left the footy team short handed. so much so that their only choices are to either merge with another team or fold.
"What's a merger?" asks young Neil Barlow (played by the charismatic 11 year-old (Rafferty Grierson), grandson to the club manager "Bull" Barlow. "That's where one shit team joins with another shit team to make a slightly less shit team," a player responds. The Bodgy Creek Roosters...
- 3/19/2019
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Dev Patel has partnered with his Hotel Mumbai co-star Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Happy Feet writer John Collee to pen an animated short about a murderous hamster.
The Lion star has co-written Roborovski with the pair and it has received funding from Screen Australia.
Roborovski is a 12-minute animated short and virtual reality project. It follows the eponymous thimble sized hamster, who spends his days in Marvin’s Pet Shop, hoping to find a family. However, when he is constantly overlooked by the people and animals around him his seething resentment and intense jealousy soon takes hold and a murderous side of little Roborovski is released.
Patel and Cobham-Hervey will also co-direct and produce alongside Jomon Thomas (Hotel Mumbai) and co-produced by Mark Grentell (The Merger), and Elaine Beckett. Spectre Studios are working on the Vr side and it has been co-funded by Create Nsw.
It is the latest project to...
The Lion star has co-written Roborovski with the pair and it has received funding from Screen Australia.
Roborovski is a 12-minute animated short and virtual reality project. It follows the eponymous thimble sized hamster, who spends his days in Marvin’s Pet Shop, hoping to find a family. However, when he is constantly overlooked by the people and animals around him his seething resentment and intense jealousy soon takes hold and a murderous side of little Roborovski is released.
Patel and Cobham-Hervey will also co-direct and produce alongside Jomon Thomas (Hotel Mumbai) and co-produced by Mark Grentell (The Merger), and Elaine Beckett. Spectre Studios are working on the Vr side and it has been co-funded by Create Nsw.
It is the latest project to...
- 2/27/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Sigrid Thornton and Aaron Pedersen.
Screen Australia has announced $4 million worth of production investment for one film, two television series and three online projects. They include a film adaptation of book Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts and produced by Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories; a second season of ABC series Mystery Road; Nine’s Seachange reboot; and Roborovski, a Vr project from Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Dev Patel.
Penguin Bloom, to be directed by Glendyn Ivin, is based on the book by Bradley Trevor Greive and has been adapted for the screen by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps. It follows the true story of a family from Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Watts is Sam Bloom, a young mother who has a near-fatal accident that leaves her unable to walk. As her family struggles to come to terms with their new situation, an injured magpie chick dubbed “Penguin” enters their lives and helps them to cope.
Screen Australia has announced $4 million worth of production investment for one film, two television series and three online projects. They include a film adaptation of book Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts and produced by Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories; a second season of ABC series Mystery Road; Nine’s Seachange reboot; and Roborovski, a Vr project from Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Dev Patel.
Penguin Bloom, to be directed by Glendyn Ivin, is based on the book by Bradley Trevor Greive and has been adapted for the screen by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps. It follows the true story of a family from Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Watts is Sam Bloom, a young mother who has a near-fatal accident that leaves her unable to walk. As her family struggles to come to terms with their new situation, an injured magpie chick dubbed “Penguin” enters their lives and helps them to cope.
- 2/27/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Ladies in Black.’
As the Australian feature films and feature docs released in cinemas this year have surpassed the calendar 2017 total exhibitors generally are happy with the diversity of product and the number of titles that have resonated with mainstream audiences.
While some say there have been too many niche and small-scale films, the consensus is that local films overall have held their own in a fragmented theatrical market and in the face of competition for eyeballs from the burgeoning Netflix and Stan.
Their outlook for 2019 is even more optimistic – if distributors and exhibitors are smart with their dating.
Through Wednesday, Oz films and feature docs including holdovers have racked up $54.2 million, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (Mpdaa), beating last year’s $49.4 million, which was a market share of 4.1 per cent.
So the industry will finish the year ahead of the 2009 total of $54.8 million. The stand-out...
As the Australian feature films and feature docs released in cinemas this year have surpassed the calendar 2017 total exhibitors generally are happy with the diversity of product and the number of titles that have resonated with mainstream audiences.
While some say there have been too many niche and small-scale films, the consensus is that local films overall have held their own in a fragmented theatrical market and in the face of competition for eyeballs from the burgeoning Netflix and Stan.
Their outlook for 2019 is even more optimistic – if distributors and exhibitors are smart with their dating.
Through Wednesday, Oz films and feature docs including holdovers have racked up $54.2 million, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (Mpdaa), beating last year’s $49.4 million, which was a market share of 4.1 per cent.
So the industry will finish the year ahead of the 2009 total of $54.8 million. The stand-out...
- 11/2/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Ladies in Black.’
The Australian titles released in cinemas this year including holdovers will overtake the calendar 2017 total in the next week or so, boosted by Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black.
Through the end of September the Oz films and feature docs had grossed $47.8 million, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (Mpdaa), within spitting distance of last year’s $49.4 million.
After a second weekend drop of just 10 per cent Ladies in Black’s takings have increased by nearly $800,000 to $5.97 million, including $361,000 on Tuesday, so the 1950s-set comedy-drama distributed by Sony is on course to surpass $12 million.
Distributed by Universal Pictures as an alternate content release, Mark Joffe’s biopic Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy rang up $823,000, ranking as the year’s second biggest feature doc behind Paul Damian Williams’ Gurrumul, which made $984,000.
Among the other September debutantes, Mark Grentell’s The Merger collected $405,000 and Benjamin Gilmour...
The Australian titles released in cinemas this year including holdovers will overtake the calendar 2017 total in the next week or so, boosted by Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black.
Through the end of September the Oz films and feature docs had grossed $47.8 million, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (Mpdaa), within spitting distance of last year’s $49.4 million.
After a second weekend drop of just 10 per cent Ladies in Black’s takings have increased by nearly $800,000 to $5.97 million, including $361,000 on Tuesday, so the 1950s-set comedy-drama distributed by Sony is on course to surpass $12 million.
Distributed by Universal Pictures as an alternate content release, Mark Joffe’s biopic Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy rang up $823,000, ranking as the year’s second biggest feature doc behind Paul Damian Williams’ Gurrumul, which made $984,000.
Among the other September debutantes, Mark Grentell’s The Merger collected $405,000 and Benjamin Gilmour...
- 10/3/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘In Like Flynn.’
Robert Slaviero has joined Umbrella Entertainment as head of sales as the distributor continues its commitment to release a sizable slate of Australian feature films and documentaries.
While some distributors have largely shied away from handling local films Umbrella is keeping the faith with three titles scheduled to open in October and eight on the slate for 2019.
“We like working with people who are passionate about their work and who have a commercial sensibility,” Umbrella MD Jeff Harrison tells If, pointing to collaborators including Causeway Films’ Kristina Ceyton and Sam Jennings, Catherine Scott, Carver Films’ Sarah Shaw and Anna McLeish, Paul Ireland and Damian Hill, Steve Jaggi and Justin Dix. “We are very happy with what we’re doing.”
Head of acquisitions Ari Harrison says the firm evaluates up to 50 scripts at any one time and he laments the shortage of projects aimed at older females. “People...
Robert Slaviero has joined Umbrella Entertainment as head of sales as the distributor continues its commitment to release a sizable slate of Australian feature films and documentaries.
While some distributors have largely shied away from handling local films Umbrella is keeping the faith with three titles scheduled to open in October and eight on the slate for 2019.
“We like working with people who are passionate about their work and who have a commercial sensibility,” Umbrella MD Jeff Harrison tells If, pointing to collaborators including Causeway Films’ Kristina Ceyton and Sam Jennings, Catherine Scott, Carver Films’ Sarah Shaw and Anna McLeish, Paul Ireland and Damian Hill, Steve Jaggi and Justin Dix. “We are very happy with what we’re doing.”
Head of acquisitions Ari Harrison says the firm evaluates up to 50 scripts at any one time and he laments the shortage of projects aimed at older females. “People...
- 9/18/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘The Predator’ (Photo: 20th Century Fox).
Does the world need another iteration of the Predator franchise, 31 years after soldier of fortune Arnold Schwarzenegger first tangled with the extra-terrestrial creature?
That’s debatable in light of the soft launches in the Us, Australia and other territories last weekend for Fox’s $88 million-budgeted The Predator.
Here Shane Black’s action-adventure was beaten by the third weekend of Warner Bros’ blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians although it outpaced the other openers, Roadshow’s A Simple Favour, Disney’s Christopher Robin, WB’s Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and Sony’s Searching.
Meanwhile Mark Grentell’s football-themed comedy/drama The Merger eased by 30 per cent in its second weekend, making $66,000 on 77 screens, playing just one session a day at most locations. The Umbrella Entertainment release starring Damian Callinan, Kate Mulvany and John Howard has scored $301,000 including festival screenings.
Receipts for the top 20 titles totalled $13.5 million,...
Does the world need another iteration of the Predator franchise, 31 years after soldier of fortune Arnold Schwarzenegger first tangled with the extra-terrestrial creature?
That’s debatable in light of the soft launches in the Us, Australia and other territories last weekend for Fox’s $88 million-budgeted The Predator.
Here Shane Black’s action-adventure was beaten by the third weekend of Warner Bros’ blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians although it outpaced the other openers, Roadshow’s A Simple Favour, Disney’s Christopher Robin, WB’s Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and Sony’s Searching.
Meanwhile Mark Grentell’s football-themed comedy/drama The Merger eased by 30 per cent in its second weekend, making $66,000 on 77 screens, playing just one session a day at most locations. The Umbrella Entertainment release starring Damian Callinan, Kate Mulvany and John Howard has scored $301,000 including festival screenings.
Receipts for the top 20 titles totalled $13.5 million,...
- 9/17/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Rafferty Grierson and Damian Callinan in ‘The Merger.’
Glowing reviews and copious publicity for Mark Grentell’s The Merger and Jeremy Sims’ feature documentary Wayne counted for very little as both titles had mediocre openings last weekend.
That surprised and disappointed exhibitors as the business was heavily reliant on the buoyant second weekend of Crazy Rich Asians and a feisty debut by The Nun, a spin-off of The Conjuring franchise.
McQueen, the biopic of the brilliant but tortured British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, had a middling opening. Underlining the challenges facing the ailing art-house market, You Were Never Really Here, Juliet, Naked and The Miseducation of Cameron Post bombed. Clearly each relied on festival screenings as the main revenue source.
Umbrella Entertainment launched The Merger, the warm-hearted comedy-drama about a struggling, small town football team that recruits refugees to survive, on 80 screens, generating $93,000. The total including festival screenings for the...
Glowing reviews and copious publicity for Mark Grentell’s The Merger and Jeremy Sims’ feature documentary Wayne counted for very little as both titles had mediocre openings last weekend.
That surprised and disappointed exhibitors as the business was heavily reliant on the buoyant second weekend of Crazy Rich Asians and a feisty debut by The Nun, a spin-off of The Conjuring franchise.
McQueen, the biopic of the brilliant but tortured British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, had a middling opening. Underlining the challenges facing the ailing art-house market, You Were Never Really Here, Juliet, Naked and The Miseducation of Cameron Post bombed. Clearly each relied on festival screenings as the main revenue source.
Umbrella Entertainment launched The Merger, the warm-hearted comedy-drama about a struggling, small town football team that recruits refugees to survive, on 80 screens, generating $93,000. The total including festival screenings for the...
- 9/10/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ah, the sports comedy. It's a tried and true formula that - when executed well - is one of the most reliable things going. Witha few notable recent exceptions - Canada's Goon springs to mind - they've also been an overwhelmingly American phenomenon but Australian director Mark Grentell is looking to put a very local - and also very not local spin on the approach with The Merger. The township of Bodgy Creek has seen better days: the population is dwindling, jobs are scarce & the litter has built up around the fading Tidy Town sign. The next victim of the town's decline is the cash strapped Aussie Rules footy club. Barely able to field a team, the club is reeling from news that their...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 7/18/2018
- Screen Anarchy
Kate Mulvany. (Photo: Amelia Dowd)
Kate Mulvany and John Howard have joined the cast of The Merger, a comedy/drama which will star Damian Callinan.
Callinan has written the script based on his one-man show about a country football coach who hatches an unorthodox plan to rebuild the local football team by recruiting recently-settled asylum seekers.
Mulvany will play the mother of Neil, an inquisitive, mischievous nine-year-old who is mourning the death of his father.
Howard will portray the cantankerous former boss of the long-closed local steelworks who resents the presence of the asylum seekers.
Callinan is Troy Carrington, a former professional football player who returns to his country town after an abrupt end to his sporting career and is persuaded to coach the hapless local footy team, the Roosters.
Shooting is due to start in Wagga Wagga in October, produced by Anne Robinson and directed by Mark Grentell, the...
Kate Mulvany and John Howard have joined the cast of The Merger, a comedy/drama which will star Damian Callinan.
Callinan has written the script based on his one-man show about a country football coach who hatches an unorthodox plan to rebuild the local football team by recruiting recently-settled asylum seekers.
Mulvany will play the mother of Neil, an inquisitive, mischievous nine-year-old who is mourning the death of his father.
Howard will portray the cantankerous former boss of the long-closed local steelworks who resents the presence of the asylum seekers.
Callinan is Troy Carrington, a former professional football player who returns to his country town after an abrupt end to his sporting career and is persuaded to coach the hapless local footy team, the Roosters.
Shooting is due to start in Wagga Wagga in October, produced by Anne Robinson and directed by Mark Grentell, the...
- 6/15/2017
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Damian Callinan..
With production funding from Screen Australia and Create Nsw, comedian Damian Callinan will adapt his live act into a feature, The Merger.
The film reunites writer and actor Callinan with the team behind 2014 comedy Backyard Ashes, producer Anne Robinson and director Mark Grentell.
The Merger will follow a country football coach who has a plan to rebuild the local football team by recruiting recently settled asylum seekers. It's an adaptation of Callinan.s 2009 live show, which toured nationally for six years and earned him nominations for the Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the West Australian Editors. Choice Award at Perth Fringe.
.The live version of.The Merger,.which has toured every nook of the nation, used empathy to simplify the confusion over the refugee issue and was well received by audiences of all ilks,. said Callinan.and Grentell in a joint statement. .We are...
With production funding from Screen Australia and Create Nsw, comedian Damian Callinan will adapt his live act into a feature, The Merger.
The film reunites writer and actor Callinan with the team behind 2014 comedy Backyard Ashes, producer Anne Robinson and director Mark Grentell.
The Merger will follow a country football coach who has a plan to rebuild the local football team by recruiting recently settled asylum seekers. It's an adaptation of Callinan.s 2009 live show, which toured nationally for six years and earned him nominations for the Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the West Australian Editors. Choice Award at Perth Fringe.
.The live version of.The Merger,.which has toured every nook of the nation, used empathy to simplify the confusion over the refugee issue and was well received by audiences of all ilks,. said Callinan.and Grentell in a joint statement. .We are...
- 5/29/2017
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Jessica Marais in 'Love Child'..
Screen Nsw has announced it will invest in 20 new Australian film and television projects..
These will include seven TV dramas to be funded under the $20 million Made in Nsw Fund, announced by the Nsw Government earlier this year..
Among the Made in Nsw fund projects are Monkey, a family action-adventure series based on the Chinese legend 'Journey to The West', to be produced by See-Saw Films; Fighting Season, about Australian soldiers returning from Afghanistan, from the producers of The Sapphires and Cleverman; and Friday on My Mind, the story of legendary Australian rock band The Easybeats from the producers of Love Child and The Code. Love Child has also been funded for a further season.
Nash Edgerton is set to make his TV debut, directing Jungle.s Mr In Between, the story of a charismatic yet volatile hitman. Michelle Bennett will produce.
Screen Nsw has announced it will invest in 20 new Australian film and television projects..
These will include seven TV dramas to be funded under the $20 million Made in Nsw Fund, announced by the Nsw Government earlier this year..
Among the Made in Nsw fund projects are Monkey, a family action-adventure series based on the Chinese legend 'Journey to The West', to be produced by See-Saw Films; Fighting Season, about Australian soldiers returning from Afghanistan, from the producers of The Sapphires and Cleverman; and Friday on My Mind, the story of legendary Australian rock band The Easybeats from the producers of Love Child and The Code. Love Child has also been funded for a further season.
Nash Edgerton is set to make his TV debut, directing Jungle.s Mr In Between, the story of a charismatic yet volatile hitman. Michelle Bennett will produce.
- 11/14/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
After their successful collaboration on Backyard Ashes, the producers and Umbrella Entertainment are teaming up on another sports-themed comedy with a topical, dramatic twist.
Set in the fictional country town Bodgy Creek, The Merger will follow a struggling Afl club which enlists newly-settled asylum seekers to make up the numbers in a desperate effort to break a 27-game losing streak.
The screenplay by Damian Callinan is adapted from his one-man stage show which toured Australia and was nominated for a Barry award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2010.
Callinan, who will play the team.s captain coach in the film, delighted attendees at last week.s Australian International Movie Convention, with routines from the show.
Mark Grentell will direct and produce with Callinan and Anne Robinson. Grentell tells If, .It.s a comedy but there are some intense and dramatic scenes dealing with racism, asylum seekers and life in a small town.
Set in the fictional country town Bodgy Creek, The Merger will follow a struggling Afl club which enlists newly-settled asylum seekers to make up the numbers in a desperate effort to break a 27-game losing streak.
The screenplay by Damian Callinan is adapted from his one-man stage show which toured Australia and was nominated for a Barry award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2010.
Callinan, who will play the team.s captain coach in the film, delighted attendees at last week.s Australian International Movie Convention, with routines from the show.
Mark Grentell will direct and produce with Callinan and Anne Robinson. Grentell tells If, .It.s a comedy but there are some intense and dramatic scenes dealing with racism, asylum seekers and life in a small town.
- 10/20/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Producer-director Stanley Joseph is aiming to bridge the cultural gap between India and Australia by making mainstream films shot in both countries.
The Indian-born founder of World Pictures Australia is preparing to launch My Cornerstone, a romantic comedy which explores multiculturalism and spiritual faith, in Australia in late September.
It stars 24 year-old Indian-Australian Zenia Starr as an Indian nurse who moves to Sydney where she's hired to care for the ailing matriarch of a wealthy Indian-Australian family.
New Zealand-born, Sydney-based writer-actor James Morcan, who wrote the screenplay based on Joseph.s story, plays an enigmatic neighbour named Chris who enters her life. The film was shot in Mumbai and Sydney, with 90% of the dialogue in English, the rest in Hindi.
Reel to Deal Pictures, a newly-formed New Zealand-based distributor, will launch the film on 16-18 screens in Australia, Joseph tells If.
Via sales agents the film will be released theatrically...
The Indian-born founder of World Pictures Australia is preparing to launch My Cornerstone, a romantic comedy which explores multiculturalism and spiritual faith, in Australia in late September.
It stars 24 year-old Indian-Australian Zenia Starr as an Indian nurse who moves to Sydney where she's hired to care for the ailing matriarch of a wealthy Indian-Australian family.
New Zealand-born, Sydney-based writer-actor James Morcan, who wrote the screenplay based on Joseph.s story, plays an enigmatic neighbour named Chris who enters her life. The film was shot in Mumbai and Sydney, with 90% of the dialogue in English, the rest in Hindi.
Reel to Deal Pictures, a newly-formed New Zealand-based distributor, will launch the film on 16-18 screens in Australia, Joseph tells If.
Via sales agents the film will be released theatrically...
- 7/17/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Responding to criticism about the cost of submitting films for the Aacta Awards, the AFI has cut the entry fee for shorts - but the fees for features are unchanged.
In another initiative to widen the eligibility of titles that can compete in the features categories, films that did not have a conventional cinema release can be submitted for pre-selection.
The AFI believes this concession could apply to as many as 10 films that have had or are planning a less traditional release strategy, including Sarah Spillane.s Around the Block, Mark Grentell.s Backyard Ashes, Aaron Wilson.s Canopy and David Field and George Basha.s Convict.
Features that have been released on VOD platforms and on DVD and had at least one festival or event screening in at least three Sates can be submitted for pre-selection.
However in a change from previous years, entries will only be accepted from Aacta members.
In another initiative to widen the eligibility of titles that can compete in the features categories, films that did not have a conventional cinema release can be submitted for pre-selection.
The AFI believes this concession could apply to as many as 10 films that have had or are planning a less traditional release strategy, including Sarah Spillane.s Around the Block, Mark Grentell.s Backyard Ashes, Aaron Wilson.s Canopy and David Field and George Basha.s Convict.
Features that have been released on VOD platforms and on DVD and had at least one festival or event screening in at least three Sates can be submitted for pre-selection.
However in a change from previous years, entries will only be accepted from Aacta members.
- 5/18/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Riding high on the unexpected success of his debut film Backyard Ashes, writer- director Mark Grentell next plans to tackle a comedy about a struggling Aussie Rules team in a bush town.
The film is based on The Merger, Damian Callinan.s one-man show in which he played all the characters. Callinan is set to play the lead, Troy Carrington, the coach of the fictitious Bodgy Creek Roosters Football Club.
Desperately short of men and faced with the prospect of the team folding or merging with its arch rivals, Troy has the bright idea of recruiting players from the local asylum seekers. refuge centre.
.It.s very funny,. says Grentell, who cast Callinan as Spock in Backyard Ashes, the comedy set in Wagga Wagga about two neighbours who settle their differences with a bizarre game of backyard cricket, featuring Felix Williamson, John Wood, Andrew S. Gilbert and Rebecca Massey.
Callinan is a stand-up comic,...
The film is based on The Merger, Damian Callinan.s one-man show in which he played all the characters. Callinan is set to play the lead, Troy Carrington, the coach of the fictitious Bodgy Creek Roosters Football Club.
Desperately short of men and faced with the prospect of the team folding or merging with its arch rivals, Troy has the bright idea of recruiting players from the local asylum seekers. refuge centre.
.It.s very funny,. says Grentell, who cast Callinan as Spock in Backyard Ashes, the comedy set in Wagga Wagga about two neighbours who settle their differences with a bizarre game of backyard cricket, featuring Felix Williamson, John Wood, Andrew S. Gilbert and Rebecca Massey.
Callinan is a stand-up comic,...
- 1/29/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
An analysis of the Australian films released in cinemas in 2013 makes for grim reading, with a handful of critical and/or commercial successes outnumbered by misfires and under-achievers.
On the positive side, the debut films from directors Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), Catriona McKenzie (Satellite Boy) and Mark Grentell (Backyard Ashes) unearthed talent with plenty of potential.
The year ended on a strong note with the Boxing Day launch of Jonathan Teplitzy.s The Railway Man, which ranks as the second-highest local grosser behind Baz Luhrmann.s The Great Gatsby, which amassed $27.4 million to become the fifth-biggest Australian title of all time.
Tellingly, the drama starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman raked in more money in its first week than the lifetime earnings of every other title. According to If.s estimate, the combined B.O. tally of the 26 local films and documentaries is $38.88 million, well short of 2012.s $47.9 million.
Only...
On the positive side, the debut films from directors Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), Catriona McKenzie (Satellite Boy) and Mark Grentell (Backyard Ashes) unearthed talent with plenty of potential.
The year ended on a strong note with the Boxing Day launch of Jonathan Teplitzy.s The Railway Man, which ranks as the second-highest local grosser behind Baz Luhrmann.s The Great Gatsby, which amassed $27.4 million to become the fifth-biggest Australian title of all time.
Tellingly, the drama starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman raked in more money in its first week than the lifetime earnings of every other title. According to If.s estimate, the combined B.O. tally of the 26 local films and documentaries is $38.88 million, well short of 2012.s $47.9 million.
Only...
- 1/5/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Australian cinemagoers flocked to the latest edition of The Hunger Games and the Doctor Who anniversary special last weekend, but Adoration was unloved.
Box-office takings shot up to 72% to $20 million, thanks to the two newcomers and a reasonable hold by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hauled in $12.5 million, 34% bigger than the opening of the original and on par with the debut of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2.
The first Hunger Games wound up with $31.2 million so the sequel starring Jennifer Lawrence as feisty heroine Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Philip Seymour Hoffman has an excellent chance of beating that, particularly with no new films targeting that demographic in the next few weeks.
Worldwide, the fantasy adventure directed by Francis Lawrence scored $US308 million last weekend, including $160.6 million in North America.
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor 3D rang up $1.5 million from 107 locations on Sunday,...
Box-office takings shot up to 72% to $20 million, thanks to the two newcomers and a reasonable hold by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hauled in $12.5 million, 34% bigger than the opening of the original and on par with the debut of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2.
The first Hunger Games wound up with $31.2 million so the sequel starring Jennifer Lawrence as feisty heroine Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Philip Seymour Hoffman has an excellent chance of beating that, particularly with no new films targeting that demographic in the next few weeks.
Worldwide, the fantasy adventure directed by Francis Lawrence scored $US308 million last weekend, including $160.6 million in North America.
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor 3D rang up $1.5 million from 107 locations on Sunday,...
- 11/25/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Are Australian audiences getting soft and avoiding darker and more confronting, challenging material?
That.s the theory of one Australian distributor as he surveyed last weekend.s openings of The Counselor, Insidious: Chapter 2, Mr Pip and Fruitvale Station.
Perhaps giving weight to his theory, Aussie comedy Backyard Ashes had a boisterous opening at just four screens in regional areas.
Ridley Scott.s The Counselor opened with $1.2 million which, pro-rata, is rather better than its lousy $US7.8 million debut in the Us. Some critics admired the Cormac McCarthy-scripted thriller about a respected lawyer.s disastrous involvement with a Mexican drug deal, starring Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz.
But maybe audiences were deterred by the reviews which spoke of the sordid setting, dark-hearted individuals behaving badly, bloodshed and leaden dialogue.
James Wan.s haunted house sequel again featuring Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson took $527,000 on 118 locations.
That.s the theory of one Australian distributor as he surveyed last weekend.s openings of The Counselor, Insidious: Chapter 2, Mr Pip and Fruitvale Station.
Perhaps giving weight to his theory, Aussie comedy Backyard Ashes had a boisterous opening at just four screens in regional areas.
Ridley Scott.s The Counselor opened with $1.2 million which, pro-rata, is rather better than its lousy $US7.8 million debut in the Us. Some critics admired the Cormac McCarthy-scripted thriller about a respected lawyer.s disastrous involvement with a Mexican drug deal, starring Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz.
But maybe audiences were deterred by the reviews which spoke of the sordid setting, dark-hearted individuals behaving badly, bloodshed and leaden dialogue.
James Wan.s haunted house sequel again featuring Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson took $527,000 on 118 locations.
- 11/11/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Umbrella Entertainment is turning the conventional notion of theatrical distribution on its head with Backyard Ashes, an Aussie comedy about two neighbours who settle their differences with a bizarre game of backyard cricket.
The release plan rules out booking the film into any capital city and the distributor is doing its best to keep it away from critics, perhaps fearing reviews that might raise the spectre of cricket-themed misfire Save Your Legs!
The self-funded film from first-time director Mark Grentell will premiere on November 6 at the Forum 6 Cinemas in Wagga Wagga, where it was shot largely in the backyard of Mark.s mother.s house.
The filmmakers and key cast will fly in for the premiere on a helicopter owned by a mate of Mark.s which was used to film aerial shots of the town in the opening sequence.
The comedy will open on November 7 in four towns: Wagga Wagga,...
The release plan rules out booking the film into any capital city and the distributor is doing its best to keep it away from critics, perhaps fearing reviews that might raise the spectre of cricket-themed misfire Save Your Legs!
The self-funded film from first-time director Mark Grentell will premiere on November 6 at the Forum 6 Cinemas in Wagga Wagga, where it was shot largely in the backyard of Mark.s mother.s house.
The filmmakers and key cast will fly in for the premiere on a helicopter owned by a mate of Mark.s which was used to film aerial shots of the town in the opening sequence.
The comedy will open on November 7 in four towns: Wagga Wagga,...
- 10/22/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
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