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Tanna and Early Winter lead an all-star Aussie charge at Venice and London Film Festivals

It’s the first year that Australia had films in all categories at the Venice Film Festival, two of which are coming home with awards. At the same time, a record-breaking 13 Aussie films are headed to the London Film Festival. Still more are rolling out at Toronto.

At the same time, a record-breaking 13 Aussie films are headed to the London Film Festival and still more are rolling out at Toronto.

Tanna screened in competition at Venice Critics’ Week where it won the 5,000 Audience Award for Best Film. Tanna co-director Bentley Dean was also awarded Best DoP at Venice Critics’ Week, awarded by the Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean.

Early Winter won the 20,000 Venice Days Jury Award, after screening in competition. The 28-person jury at Venice Days was headed up by director Laurent Cantet. Tanna and Early Winter are supported by Screen Australia.

This news came as a record-breaking 13 Australian films were announced for the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival. 10 of the 13 films are Screen Australia-supported. The selections include The Daughter, which closed Venice Days and is currently screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Sherpa, which screened at Telluride and is at TIFF too, the award-winning Tanna, and more.

TIFF comes to a close this weekend, having had the biggest number of Australian films screening as part of the festival since 2009.

Richard Harris, our Head of Business and Audience, says this festival success can be chalked up to two things: the quality and diversity of the slate, and the long-term relationship with festivals and their selectors that’s constantly nurtured by Screen Australia.

“Not only do we regularly bring out selectors to watch films, but we get them to meet emerging and established creatives, making sure that they are able to get to know the talent that we have in this country,” Harris says.

“It’s wonderful to see the fruits of these labours, and Australian talent being showcased on a world stage so brilliantly,” he adds.

Reviews for Tanna

  • Variety has described Tanna as “an emotionally engaging story of forbidden love”. Read the review in full
  • The Hollywood Reporter calls it a “distinctive move into narrative features” for Aussie documentarians Bentley Dean and Martin Butler.

Reviews for Early Winter

  • Screen Daily describes Early Winter as “meticulous and measured”. Read the review

Reviews for The Daughter

  • Indiewire calls The Daughter an “immensely affecting triumph”. Read more
  • Variety says it’s “powerful, low-key yet achingly intense”. Read the review in full

Reviews for Sherpa

  • The New York Times describes Sherpa as “a breakout success”. Read more

Stay tuned for our full wrap-up of Toronto International Film Festival. Coming soon!