Five Australian films selected for Sitges
The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia has announced five Australian films for its 2013 line-up.
Two Australian shorts will have their world premieres and three Australian features will screen at the festival, to be held in Spain in October.
The short film Swallow, written and directed by Mia'kate Russell, has been invited to have its world premiere in competition in the Official Fantàstic Selection. Produced by Justin Dix, the film follows neighbours Macka and Patty, who are upset with the departure of their local priest and go looking for answers.
Writer/Director Josh Tanner’s short film The Landing will also have its world premiere in competition in the Official Fantastic Competition Shorts section. Produced and written by Jade van der Lei, the film tells the story of Edward, a middle-aged man who returns to the farm of his childhood, desperate to uncover a horrifying secret.
Wolf Creek 2, from writer/director/producer Greg McLean, will screen in the Official Fantàstic Especials section, fresh from its Venice Film Festival world premiere. John Jarratt reprises his role as crazed serial killer Mick Taylor, alongside Ryan Corr, Shannon Ashlyn and Phillipe Klaus. The horror-thriller sequel is co-produced by Helen Leake and Steve Topic and co-written by Aaron Sterns.
The remake of Richard Franklin’s 1970s thriller Patrick, directed by Mark Hartley and produced by Antony I Ginnane, will have its European premiere at the festival in the Official Fantàstic Galas section. The feature film tells the story of a comatose patient in a clinic, who learns to harness his pent-up power with deadly effect.
100 Bloody Acres, written and directed by Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes and produced by Julie Ryan, will also screen at the festival. The film is a comedy-horror about two brothers who run a struggling organic blood and bone fertiliser business, showing the lengths some small business operators will go to.
Now in its 46th year, Sitges is the number one fantasy film festival in the world. A well-established market festival, it annually attracts 110,000 visitors plus around 700 industry attendees.
The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia will take place 11–20 October 2013.
sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng
SHORT FILMS
SWALLOW
10 mins
Production Company Make Trouble Films
Producer Justin Dix
Writer/Director Mia'kate Russell
Synopsis What happens when a gay priest dates a werewolf and the homophobic neighbours come a-knocking?
THE LANDING
18 mins
Production Company Perception Pictures Pty Ltd
Writer/Producer Jade van der Lei
Writer/Director Josh Tanner
Synopsis A man returns to the Midwestern farm of his childhood on a desperate mission to unearth the horrifying truth of what landed there in the summer of 1960.
FEATURE FILMS
PATRICK
Production Company FG Film Productions (Australia) Pty Ltd
Producer Antony I Ginnane
Writer Justin King
Director Mark Hartley
International Sales Bankside Films
Australian Distributor Umbrella Entertainment
Cast Charles Dance, Rachel Griffiths, Sharni Vinson, Damon GameauSynopsis For three years Patrick has been lying mute and immobile, a patient in a clinic for the comatose. When young nurse Kathy starts working at the clinic, Patrick figures out how to utilise his pent-up power with deadly effect. A reimagining of Richard Franklin’s 1970s chiller.
100 BLOODY ACRES
Production Company Cyan Films Pty Ltd
Producers Julie Ryan, Kate Croser
Writers/Directors Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
International Sales The Works International
Australian Distributor Hopscotch/eOne
Cast Damon Herriman, Angus Sampson, Anna McGahan, Oliver Ackland, Jamie Kristian, John Jarratt
Synopsis They’re not psycho killers... they’re just small business operators.
WOLF CREEK 2
Production Company True Crime Australia Pty Ltd
Producers Helen Leake, Steve Topic
Writer/Director/Producer Greg McLean
Writer Aaron Sterns
International Sales Arclight Films
Australian Distributor Roadshow
Cast John Jarratt, Ryan Corr, Shannon Ashlyn, Phillipe Klaus
Synopsis Mick is back! The outback once again becomes a place of mind-bending horror, action and suspense as another unwitting backpacker becomes prey for crazed, serial-killing pig-shooter, Mick Taylor.