02 09 2015 - Media release

Blockbuster year for Australians at Toronto International Film Festival 2015 with 13 films selected

Screen Australia congratulates the directors, producers and creative teams behind the thirteen extraordinary Australian films that have been selected for the 40th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). These include six world premieres, three international premieres (outside Australia), three North American premieres and one Canadian premiere. Other Australian talent including Toni Collette, Naomi Watts, Guy Pearce, Jacki Weaver, Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Joel Edgerton, and Nicole Kidman will feature in other films shown throughout the Gala and Special Presentations sections.

Graeme Mason, CEO at Screen Australia, says: “We’re incredibly proud of the Australian talent and productions selected for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Having strong representation across seven different categories is an incredible achievement. It shows how strongly Australian film is performing at a global level, and gives us reason to be immensely proud of our industry. We congratulate all the film makers and talent who have worked long and hard on making these films so successful.”

This year’s TIFF selection of Australian films is the largest since 2009, with the Festival comprising eight categories recognising different genres and qualities. These include Gala Presentation (movie stars, red-carpet premieres and major audience interest), Special Presentations (high-profile premieres and the world's leading filmmakers), Contemporary World Cinema (compelling stories and global perspectives), Discovery (directors to watch and the future of world cinema), TIFF Docs (candid and unscripted: the best non-fiction cinema from around the world), Midnight Madness (the wild side: midnight screenings of the best in action, horror, shock and fantasy cinema), Short Cuts (the best short films from emerging and established Canadian and international filmmakers) and Platform (recognising films of high artistic merit that demonstrate a strong directorial vision).

The thirteen Australian films selected are:

FEATURE FILMS

The Dressmaker (World Premiere)
Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse
Gala Presentations
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

The Daughter (North American Premiere)
Directed by Simon Stone
Special Presentations
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Looking for Grace (North American Premiere)
Directed by Sue Brooks
Platform
More information available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

A Month of Sundays (World Premiere)
Directed by Matthew Saville
An Adelaide Film Festival production
Contemporary World Cinema
More information available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Last Cab to Darwin (International Premiere)
Directed by Jeremy Sims
Contemporary World Cinema
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Sherpa (Canadian Premiere)
Directed by Jennifer Peedom
TIFF Docs
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Women He’s Undressed (International Premiere)
Directed by Gillian Armstrong
TIFF Docs
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Spear (World Premiere)
Directed by Stephen Page
Discovery
More information available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Beast (World Premiere)
Directed by Tom McKeith and Sam McKeith
Discovery
More information available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Downriver (International Premiere)
Directed by Grant Scicluna
Discovery
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

SHORT FILMS

The Boyfriend Game (World Premiere)
Directed by Alice Englert
Short Cuts International
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Deszcz (World Premiere)
Directed by Malina Maria Mackiewicz
Short Cuts International
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Nulla Nulla (North American Premiere)
Directed by Dylan River
Short Cuts International
More information and trailer available at AustraliaOnScreen.com

Screen Australia is again taking part in the Producers Lab Toronto, providing places for two Australian producers to participate during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The sixth edition of the international co-production forum will take place 9 - 12 September and the chosen Australian producers are Raquelle David (Damsel Pictures) and Rebecca Summerton (Closer Productions). They will participate in a number of seminars and events with 22 other producers from Europe, Canada and New Zealand who will come together to pitch and discuss their projects.

Rebecca Summerton has also been selected for the 10th annual Ontario Media Development Corporation’s International Financing Forum (IFF) which is feature co-financing market for English-language projects. IFF will run 13 - 14 September during Toronto International Film Festival, and Australian producer Laura Sivis (Courage Films) will also be in attendance.

OTHER AUSTRALIAN TALENT ATTENDING TIFF

Gala Presentations

• Jai Courtney in Dito Montiel’s Man Down also starring Shia LaBeouf, Kate Mara, Gary Oldman.
• Toni Collette in Catherine Hardwicke’s Miss You Already also starring Drew Barrymore, Dominic Cooper, Paddy Considine, Tyson Ritter and Jacqueline Bisset.
• Ben Mendelsohn in Ryan Fleck’s Mississippi Grind also starring Ryan Reynolds, Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton and Alfre Woodard.
• Wayne Blair’s Septembers of Shiraz starring Salma Hayek and Adrien Brody and shot by Warwick Thornton, will have its world premiere in the Gala Presentations.
• Naomi Watts will star alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Cooper in the Opening Night film Demolition from director Jean-Marc Vallée.
• Emily Browning stars opposite Tom Hardy in Legend, which is directed by Brian Helgeland.

Special Presentations

• Naomi Watts (also in opening night film Demolition) Gaby Dellal’s About Ray also starring Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon, Tate Donovan, Linda Emond, Sam Trammell and Maria Dizzia.
• Guy Pearce and Jacki Weaver (also in Last Cab to Darwin) in Drake Doremus’ Equals also starring Kristen Stewart, Nicholas Hoult.
• Rose Byrne in Lorene Scafaria’s The Meddler also starring Susan Sarandon and J.K. Simmons.
• Cate Blanchett in James Vanderbilt’s Truth also starring Elisabeth Moss, Robert Redford, Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid and Bruce Greenwood.
• Joel Edgerton will star alongside Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rory Cochrane, Jesse Plemons, Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson, Julianne Nicholson, Corey Stoll and Peter Sarsgaard in Black Mass from director Scott Cooper.
• Nicole Kidman will star with Jason Bateman and Christopher Walken in The Family Fang directed by Bateman.
• Mountains May Depart by Jia Zhang-ke was partially shot in Western Australia.

Midnight Madness

• Australian director Sean Byrne’s The Devil’s Candy will have its world premiere in the Midnight Madness, the same section that premiered his debut feature, The Loved Ones in 2009 where it won the People’s Choice Award.

Toronto International Film Festival 10–20 September 2015

Screen Australia and Ausfilm will share a stand at the Festival and can be found in the Industry Centre, Mezzanine Level, Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Screen Australia’s new website celebrating Australia’s presence at international film festivals and markets is now live at AustraliaOnScreen.com

MORE INFORMATION
Scott Dawkins: 0403 937 074 scott.dawkins@screenaustralia.gov.au
Imogen Corlette: 0410 520 776 imogen.corlette@screenaustralia.gov.au