18 12 2013 - Media release

The Turning selected for Berlinale

The Turning will have its international premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in February 2014 in the Berlinale Special program, which honours the greatest cinema from around the world, past and present.

Created by Australian filmmaker Robert Connolly, The Turning is based on Tim Winton’s book of the same name and features some of the country’s most talented filmmakers, writers and actors. The cast features stars such as Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, Miranda Otto, Susie Porter, Matthew Nable, Wayne Blair, Callan Mulvey, and the directors include Robert Connolly, Mia Wasikowska, David Wenham, Tony Ayres, Justin Kurzel, Rhys Graham and Warwick Thornton.

Robert Connolly said, “As a collaboration between filmmakers, producers, writers, cinematographers, designers and more, The Turning has brought together a huge number of inspiring creative minds to interpret Tim’s exceptional work. It has been an incredibly exciting adventure for us all, and we look forward to your thoughts, impressions and experiences of this unique work. To have The Turning’s international premiere in Berlinale and return to such a fantastic festival, where my international feature film career started with The Boys, is particularly exciting.”

Screen Australia’s Head of Marketing, Kathleen Drumm, said, “After resonating so well with Australian audiences during its theatrical release this year, we’re thrilled that The Turning will now have its international debut at such a high profile event. Berlin offers a perfect showcase for the incredible range of creative ability behind this film. The Turning is a tribute to the diversity, depth of talent and collaborative power of the Australian film industry.”

Screen Australia provided development support and production investment to The Turning and will also be supporting the filmmakers to showcase their film at the festival.

The Berlin International Film Festival will take place 6–16 February 2014.

www.berlinale.de

THE TURNING
www.theturningmovie.com.au
Producers Robert Connolly, Maggie Miles, Donna Chang, Kath Shelper, Liz Kearney, Tenille Kennedy, Anthony Lucas, Philippa Campey, Sonya Humphrey, Julie Eckersley, Sue Italiano, John Harvey, Katherine Slattery, Jo Dyer, Sarah Shaw, Anna McLeish, Ben Knapton, Alex Barnes, Rita Walsh, Rose Grandile
Writers Warwick Thornton, Jub Clerc, Justin Monjo, Kris Mrksa, Rhys Graham, Ashlee Page, Marcel Dorney, Claire McCarthy, Emily Ballou, Mia Wasikowska, Andrew Upton, David Wenham, Jonathan auf der Heide, Justin Kurzel, Circa Contemporary Circus, Ian Meadows
Directors Marieka Walsh, Warwick Thornton, Jub Clerc, Robert Connolly, Anthony Lucas, Rhys Graham, Ashlee Page, Tony Ayres, Claire McCarthy, Stephen Page, Shaun Gladwell, Mia Wasikowska, Simon Stone, David Wenham, Jonathan auf der Heide, Justin Kurzel, Yaron Lifschitz, Ian Meadows
Created by Robert Connolly
Based on the book The Turning by Tim Winton
International Sales LevelK
Cast Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, Miranda Otto, Susie Porter, Matthew Nable, Wayne Blair, Callan Mulvey
Synopsis Seventeen Australian directors each create a chapter from the hauntingly beautiful novel by Tim Winton. The linking and overlapping stories explore the extraordinary turning points in ordinary people’s lives. As characters face second thoughts and midlife regret, relationships irretrievably alter, resolves are made or broken and lives change direction forever. This watershed film reinterprets and re-imagines the work for the screen.
 

Teri Calder T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0408 440 995
teri.calder@screenaustralia.gov.au