Funding for Sapphires and new De Heer film
Screen Australia announced its last investment round for 2010, with almost $18m for five features, three drama series, two low budget TV dramas, a children’s TV series, and 17 docos.
The films include the musical The Sapphires (dir. Wayne Blair), The King is Dead! (dir. Rolf de Heer), Dead Europe (dir. Tony Krawitz), Venice (dir. Miro Bilbrough) and Summer Coda (dir. Richard Gray).
Summer Coda was released in October, and today’s announcement by Screen Australia refers to a September decision that provided the film with post-production funding.
The projects are:
Feature Drama
DEAD EUROPE
See Saw Films Pty Ltd
Producers Emile Sherman, Iain Canning
Writer Louise Fox
Director Tony Krawitz
Sales and Distribution Cross City Sales, Wild Bunch International Sales, Transmission Films
Synopsis Isaac, a late 20s Greek Australian, spirals out of control when he’s forced to confront
his own family’s cursed legacy on his first trip to Europe – with the continent’s haunted past and
troubled present pressing in on him.
THE KING IS DEAD!
Vertigo Productions Pty Ltd
Producers Rolf de Heer, Nils Erik Nielsen
Writer/Director Rolf de Heer
Sales and Distribution Fandango Portobello, Pinnacle
Synopsis An unsuspecting couple buy a house in what appears to be a quiet street… a dark
comedy about neighbours, ice and baseball bats.
THE SAPPHIRES
Goalpost Pictures
Producers Rosemary Blight, Kylie du Fresne
Executive Producers Ben Grant, Tristan Whalley
Writers Tony Briggs, Keith Thompson
Director Wayne Blair
Sales and Distribution Goalpost Film/Quickfire Film, Hopscotch Films
Synopsis Gail, Cynthia, Julie and Kay are sexy, black, young and talented – and they’ve never
set foot outside Australia. Until, in the chaos of 1968, they’re plucked from the obscurity of a
remote Aboriginal mission, branded as Australia’s answer to The Supremes, and – grasping the
chance of a lifetime – dropped into the jungles of Vietnam to entertain the troops. Inspired by the
hit stage-play of the same name.
Excuse me for asking the obvious, but why is Summer Coda getting funding when its already in theaters and was completed months ago?
The only film that looks moderately entertaining here is “The Sapphires”.
Dean, we were just told by Screen Australia that the Summer Coda part of the announcement refers to a September 2010 decision to provide completion funds to that film. They just had not announced it officially, but the amount given to Summer Coda is part of their $18m end of the year investment.
I’ll go and see Rolf’s film but I’m a fan of his. I go see all his films. The synopsis doesn’t say much, but it will probably be another low budget wonder.
And I think Danger 5 is going to blow people away. It’s the same people who did that Italian Spiderman thing on youtube that got like a billion hits.