Five Australian screen projects will screen at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Feature films “Blueback”, pictured above, and “Carmen” will have their world premieres at the event, while “Sweet As”, “We Are Still Here” and TV series “Mystery Road: Origin” will make their international premieres.
“Blueback” is based on the best-selling novel by Tim Winton, and was written and directed by Robert Connolly. The film is an Arenamedia production and will be distributed locally by Roadshow Films, with international sales by Hanway Films.
It stars the likes of Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell, Erik Thomson and Eric Bana.
Writer and director Connolly said he’s thrilled to be invited to premiere the film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“The festival has been a special place for me since it hosted the premiere of my first feature “The Bank” over 20 years ago. I can’t wait to share “Blueback” with audiences at TIFF – the film’s sweeping cinematic scale and message of hope for our oceans are perfectly suited to this prestigious festival,” he said.
“Carmen” will also have its world premiere at the festival. The film is a modern-day retelling of one of the world’s most famous operas.
It was co-written by choreographer and dancer Ben Millepied, who is also making his debut as a feature director, and was a Goalpost Pictures and Chapter 2 production.
Hot off the heels of its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival, “Sweet As” will also hit the Toronto event.
It is the debut feature of Nyul Nyul/ Yawuru director, Jub Clerc.
“Sweet As” is a coming-of-age movie seen through the eyes of a young Indigenous girl who embarks on a life-changing photo safari through Western Australia’s outback landscapes.
Arenamedia was behind the project, with Cinema Plus handling Australian distribution and Sphere Films on board for international sales.
Clerc said: “It was such an honour to hear that “Sweet As” was selected to have its international premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. We are so grateful to Jason Ryle – international programmer, Indigenous cinema – for including us in this year’s festival lineup and I look forward to meeting all the deadly Indigenous filmmakers and wonderful guests at this prestigious festival.”
“We Are Still Here” is also having its international debut in Toronto after opening the Sydney Film Festival and Screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival and Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival.
It was a co-production between Australia and New Zealand, which interweaves eight powerful tales from 10 directors from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific to tell a story of hope and survival.
The No Coincidence Media and Mārama Production film will be distributed locally by Dark Matter.
Producers Mitchell Stanley, Toni Stowers and Mia Henry Teirney said: “The filmmakers are honoured to launch the World Premiere of “We Are Still Here” at the 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival. We are incredibly proud to share our story of survival, love and kinship, and to celebrate the strength and resilience of Indigenous people from Australia, Aotearoa, and the global indigenous community.
“Filmmaking is an amazing privilege. We feel a responsibility to amplify the voices of Indigenous storytellers, and encourage others to do so as well. Thank you to TIFF for this incredible opportunity to represent our people; past, present and future generations to come.”
The final project making its international debut is Bunya Productions’ TV series “Mystery Road: Origin”, which screens locally on the ABC.
The series delves into the early years of fan favourite detective Jay Swan . It explores how a tragic death, an epic love and the brutal reality of life as a police officer straddling two worlds combine to form the man Swan becomes.
International sales are handled by All3media International.
Director Dylan River said: “I am proud to be premiering “Mystery Road: Origin” at TIFF, as we prepare for the North American release of our series.
“My first short film “Nulla Nulla” played at the festival in 2015, it feels fitting that my first attempt at long-form series go there too. Australia’s First Nations peoples and those of Canada share a very similar story of colonisation, today there are direct parallels of intergenerational trauma and the extreme disadvantages faced. Through our shared stories, we hope to bring attention to these issues and continue to heal.”
Graeme Mason, Screen Australia’s CEO, said: “A huge congratulations to the projects selected for this year’s program, demonstrating the wealth of talent we have here and the appetite for Australian stories around the world.”
The Toronto International Film Festival runs from Sept. 8 to 18.