Two Australian features selected for Cannes
April 24th 2009 14:52
Screen Australia is delighted to announce that Bright Star and Samson & Delilah will screen in Official Selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
Bright Star (writer/director Jane Campion, producers Jan Chapman and Caroline Hewitt) has been selected to screen in Competition at Cannes this year. It is the first Australian feature selected for this category since Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge opened the festival in 2001. The Australia/United Kingdom co-production is based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. It is the ninth film directed by Campion to screen at the festival and her fourth feature selected. The Cannes screening will be Bright Star’s world premiere.
Samson & Delilah (writer/director Warwick Thornton, producer Kath Shelper) has been selected to screen in Un Certain Regard, the official section dedicated to highlighting new cinematic works with original message and aesthetics. Samson & Delilah follows the story of two Indigenous teenagers from an isolated desert community who turn their backs on their home and embark on a journey of survival. It is Thornton and Shelper’s feature film debut and follows on from the international festival success of their numerous shorts. Samson & Delilah will have its international premiere at Cannes. Samson & Delilah’s world premiere at the 2009 Adelaide Film Festival was greeted with rave reviews.
Responding to the news about Cannes, Warwick Thornton said, "It's hilarious! We made a little film with a big name and now we're going to a big festival with an even bigger name. From little things big things grow.I've been making films for twenty years and this has always been my dream, but even in my wildest dreams I never thought it would happen. It is SO cool. Long live Australian cinema. Long live the Indigenous Branch of Screen Australia. Long live Samson & Delilah!"
Producer Kath Shelper said, "It's a validation from the world stage that Samson & Delilah is not only an important story for Australia but a universal work of cinema that transcends language and culture. We are simply stoked and perhaps a little in shock."
“It is a wonderful achievement and a testament to the talent of the Australian film industry to have two features in Official Selection at a festival as prestigious as Cannes,” said Ruth Harley, Screen Australia’s Chief Executive. “We congratulate all of the filmmakers involved. We are especially proud that Samson & Delilah is the first feature film to be funded through Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department and equally thrilled to have provided production investment support for Bright Star.”
The line-up for prestigious Competition and Un Certain Regard programs was revealed in Paris today. Three remaining sections of Cannes – Quinzaine des Realisateurs (Directors’ Fortnight), La Semaine de la Critique (Critics’ Week) and the Official Shorts Competition are expected to announce their selections within the next 48 hours.
Both films will be theatrically released in Australia in 2009. Samson & Delilah opens nationally on 7 May through Footprint Films. Bright Star is slated for release through Hopscotch Films later in 2009.
The Cannes Film Festival will run 13 – 24 May 2009. www.festival-cannes.com
Bright Star
www.brightstarthemovie.com
(120 mins)
Production Companies: Jan Chapman Productions, Brightstar Films Ltd
Writer/Director: Jane Campion
Exec. Producers: Francois Ivernel, Cameron McCracken, Christine Langan, David M. Thompson
Producers: Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt
Australian Distributor: Hopscotch Films
International Sales: Pathé Pictures International
Finance: Pathé Productions, Screen Australia, BBC Films, UK Film Council, New South Wales Film and Television Office, Hopscotch International
Cast: Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Paul Schneider, Kerry Fox
Synopsis: John Keats, the romantic poet, wrote the love poem ‘Bright Star’ for his 18-year-old next-door neighbour Fanny Brawne. This is the story of their first love.
Samson & Delilah
www.samsonanddelilah.com.au
(101 mins)
Production Companies: Scarlett Pictures Pty Ltd, CAAMA Productions Pty Ltd
Writer/Director: Warwick Thornton
Producer: Kath Shelper
Australian Distributor: Footprint Films
International Sales: Elle Driver
Finance: Screen Australia, New South Wales Film and Television Office, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival
Cast: Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson, Mitjili Gibson, Scott Thornton
Synopsis: The world is a small place when you’re Samson and Delilah – an isolated community in the desert. Their silent love for each other takes them on a journey of survival. Lost, unwanted and alone, they discover that life isn’t always fair but love never judges.
Source: Screen Australia PR
Bright Star (writer/director Jane Campion, producers Jan Chapman and Caroline Hewitt) has been selected to screen in Competition at Cannes this year. It is the first Australian feature selected for this category since Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge opened the festival in 2001. The Australia/United Kingdom co-production is based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. It is the ninth film directed by Campion to screen at the festival and her fourth feature selected. The Cannes screening will be Bright Star’s world premiere.
Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson - under the bridge
Responding to the news about Cannes, Warwick Thornton said, "It's hilarious! We made a little film with a big name and now we're going to a big festival with an even bigger name. From little things big things grow.I've been making films for twenty years and this has always been my dream, but even in my wildest dreams I never thought it would happen. It is SO cool. Long live Australian cinema. Long live the Indigenous Branch of Screen Australia. Long live Samson & Delilah!"
Producer Kath Shelper said, "It's a validation from the world stage that Samson & Delilah is not only an important story for Australia but a universal work of cinema that transcends language and culture. We are simply stoked and perhaps a little in shock."
“It is a wonderful achievement and a testament to the talent of the Australian film industry to have two features in Official Selection at a festival as prestigious as Cannes,” said Ruth Harley, Screen Australia’s Chief Executive. “We congratulate all of the filmmakers involved. We are especially proud that Samson & Delilah is the first feature film to be funded through Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department and equally thrilled to have provided production investment support for Bright Star.”
The line-up for prestigious Competition and Un Certain Regard programs was revealed in Paris today. Three remaining sections of Cannes – Quinzaine des Realisateurs (Directors’ Fortnight), La Semaine de la Critique (Critics’ Week) and the Official Shorts Competition are expected to announce their selections within the next 48 hours.
Both films will be theatrically released in Australia in 2009. Samson & Delilah opens nationally on 7 May through Footprint Films. Bright Star is slated for release through Hopscotch Films later in 2009.
The Cannes Film Festival will run 13 – 24 May 2009. www.festival-cannes.com
Bright Star
www.brightstarthemovie.com
(120 mins)
Production Companies: Jan Chapman Productions, Brightstar Films Ltd
Writer/Director: Jane Campion
Exec. Producers: Francois Ivernel, Cameron McCracken, Christine Langan, David M. Thompson
Producers: Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt
Australian Distributor: Hopscotch Films
International Sales: Pathé Pictures International
Finance: Pathé Productions, Screen Australia, BBC Films, UK Film Council, New South Wales Film and Television Office, Hopscotch International
Cast: Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Paul Schneider, Kerry Fox
Synopsis: John Keats, the romantic poet, wrote the love poem ‘Bright Star’ for his 18-year-old next-door neighbour Fanny Brawne. This is the story of their first love.
ROWAN McNAMARA as SAMSON credit-Photographer Mark Rogers
www.samsonanddelilah.com.au
(101 mins)
Production Companies: Scarlett Pictures Pty Ltd, CAAMA Productions Pty Ltd
Writer/Director: Warwick Thornton
Producer: Kath Shelper
Australian Distributor: Footprint Films
International Sales: Elle Driver
MARISSA GIBSON as DELILAH credit-Photographer Mark Rogers
Cast: Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson, Mitjili Gibson, Scott Thornton
Synopsis: The world is a small place when you’re Samson and Delilah – an isolated community in the desert. Their silent love for each other takes them on a journey of survival. Lost, unwanted and alone, they discover that life isn’t always fair but love never judges.
Source: Screen Australia PR
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