Six Australian feature films will screen at the Sundance Film Festival, surpassing the record set in 1997 of five features. , , , and will all make their World Premieres at the Utah-based festival. will make its North American Premiere, after taking home the at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
Sundance has a history of launching Australian works that go on to be hits including in 2010 (World Cinema Jury Prize), in 2005, in 1996 and more recently documentary (2017) and FX television series (2018). The festival is particularly important for introducing Australian creatives to the US market.
“The six films selected by Sundance display the array of stories Australians now tell, and the demand for our screen content internationally,” said Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason. “From quintessentially Australian tales Top End Wedding and The Nightingale, to Australian takes on sci-fi and dark comedy I Am Mother and Little Monsters, to international stories Animals and Judy and Punch – this is an incredible slate of premieres.”
“The fact that all the films revolve around central female characters, and half of the films are directed by women, is a milestone for the Australian industry. Change is coming – slowly, but surely.”
Starring Mia Wasikowska and Damon Herriman, Judy and Punch will compete in World Cinema Dramatic. Director Mirrah Foulkes said of the selection, “I am so happy that Judy and Punch will have its world premiere at Sundance in 2019. I owe a huge thank you to my enormously hard working cast and crew and everyone who invested in the film. Sundance holds some pretty special memories for me, many of work has screened at the festival over the years and the festival has been formative to the careers of many of my peers. It’s an absolute privilege to be premiering my first feature there.”
Top End Wedding’s Miranda Tapsell noted, “Hearing the news that Top End Wedding has been accepted to the Sundance Film Festival is absolutely a dream come true. As a co-writer, producer and actor in this film, it’s been a labour of love for me and having the opportunity to showcase the Northern Territory to an international audience, through a different lens, at such a prestigious festival, makes this such a rewarding experience. I’m so proud of this film and the people that were part of it.”
Sophie Hyde took home the Sundance Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic for her film in 2014, and returns with Official Australian/Irish Co-production Animals. “Making this film has been such a pleasure – from the development, helping Emma [Jane Unsworth] adapt her own novel, through the shoot in Dublin with our glorious cast and international team, and right through our Australian post. I loved immersing myself in the world of Animals and I can’t wait to have audiences immersing themselves too. We couldn’t think of a better launchpad for this film than Sundance, so I am delighted to be returning with this fierce and beautiful story of friendship and competing desires.”
Little Monsters features an international cast, including Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther), Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast) and Australia’s Alexander England (Alien: Covenant). Writer/Director Abe Forsythe said of the feel-good dark comedy, “A lot of people worked very hard bringing this logistically punishing story to life. I’m so happy that everyone’s work will be premiered at a festival I’ve always dreamed of attending.”
The runs 24 January to 3 February 2019.
High resolution images of the selected films
ABOUT FESTIVAL SELECTIONS
Festival selections are influenced by multiple factors, including when a project is completed, how it is perceived by the selection panel and the overall themes of the program, the volume of other titles vying for selection, competition between festivals for the premiere and when the producers want the title in market.
The 2019 contingent is a record for Australian feature films at Sundance. Only the 1985 and 1986 Sundance festivals included more Australian features, due to them having dedicated Australian showcases. A history of Australian titles at Sundance is available
AUSTRALIAN FILMS AT SUNDANCE 2019
Closer Productions Pty Ltd
Director Sophie Hyde
Writer Emma Jane Unsworth
Producers Sarah Brocklehurst, Rebecca Summerton, Cormac Fox, Sophie Hyde
Australian Distributor Bonsai Films
International Sales Cornerstone Films
Synopsis After a decade of partying, Laura (Holliday Grainger) and Tyler’s (Alia Shawkat) friendship is strained by Laura’s new love and her focus on her novel. A snapshot of a modern woman with competing desires, at once a celebration of female friendship and an examination of the choices we make when facing a crossroads
Production credit: Animals is an Official Australian/Irish Co-production by Closer Productions. Principal production investment from Screen Australia and the Irish Film Board. Financed with support from Adelaide Film Festival and South Australian Film Corporation.
Sundance Film Festival World Premiere
Australian Media Rebecca Summerton
International Media Anna Bohlin
International Sales Alison Thompson
Mother Film Holdings Pty Ltd
Director Grant Sputore
Writer Michael Lloyd Green
Producers Timothy White, Kelvin Munro
Co-Producers Anna Vincent, Michael Lloyd Green
Executive Producers Terry Dougas, Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis, Jean-Luc Di Fanti, Grant Sputore, Philip Wade, Bryce Menzies and John Wade
Australian Distributor Studiocanal
USA Sales Endeavor Content
International Sales Mister Smith Entertainment
Synopsis In the wake of humanity’s extinction, a teenage girl (Clara Rugaard) is raised by a robot (voiced by Rose Byrne) designed to repopulate the earth. But their unique bond is threatened when an inexplicable stranger (Hilary Swank) arrives with alarming news.
Production credit I Am Mother is a The Penguin Empire and Southern Light Films production. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with South Australian Film Corporation and Screenwest. Financed with support from Adelaide Film Festival.
Sundance Film Festival World Premiere
Australian Media Rosie Braye
International Media Nastasya Morauw
USA Sales: Christine D’Souza Gelb
International Sales David Garrett
Seaside Productions Pty Ltd
Director / Writer Mirrah Foulkes
Producers Michele Bennett, Nash Edgerton, Danny Gabai
Executive Producers Eddy Moretti, Vincent Landay, Natalie Farrey, Jennifer Semler
Australian Distributor Madman Entertainment
US Sales Endeavor Content
International Sales Cornerstone Films
Synopsis Seaside (nowhere near the sea), puppeteers Judy and Punch are trying to resurrect their marionette show in an anarchic town on the brink of mob rule. Stars Mia Wasikowska and Damon Herriman.
Production Credit Judy and Punch is a Seaside Productions film. Principal production investment from Vice Studios and Screen Australia, in association with Film Victoria. Financed with support from Create NSW.
Sundance Film Festival World Premiere. In competition.
Australian Media Fiona Nix
USA Media Perri Cohen
USA Sales Christine D’Souza Gelb
International Sales Mark Gooder , Alison Thompson
Made Up Stories Pty Ltd
Director / Writer Abe Forsythe
Producers Jodi Matterson, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Keith Calder, Jessica Calder
Executive Producer Jeanne Snow
Australian Distributor Universal
International Sales Protagonist
Synopsis A film dedicated to all the kindergarten teachers who motivate children to learn, instil them with confidence and stop them from being devoured by zombies. Stars Lupita Nyong’o, Josh Gad and Alexander England.
Production Credit Little Monsters is a Made Up Stories production. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Snoot Entertainment. Financed with support from Create NSW.
Sundance Film Festival World Premiere
Australian Media Fiona Nix
International Media TBA
International Sales Vanessa Saal
Causeway Films HQ Pty Ltd and Made Up Stories Pty Ltd
Writer/Director Jennifer Kent
Producers Kristina Ceyton, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Jennifer Kent
Australian Distributor: Transmission
US Sales Endeavor Content
International Sales: FilmNation
Synopsis Set in 1825, Clare, a young Irish convict woman (Aisling Franciosi), chases a British officer (Sam Claflin) through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. On the way she enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr), who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.
Production Credit The Nightingale is a Causeway Films and Made Up Stories production. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Bron Creative. Financed with support from Screen Tasmania, South Australian Film Corporation and the Adelaide Film Festival.
Sundance Film Festival North American Premiere
Venice Film Festival for Baykali Ganambarr
Australian Media Amy Burgess
International Media Selena Saldana
International Sales Alice Laffillé , Rob Carney
Goalpost Pictures Australia
Director Wayne Blair
Writers Joshua Tyler, Miranda Tapsell
Producers Rosemary Blight, Kylie du Fresne, Kate Croser
Executive Producers Ben Grant, Glen Condie
Australian Distributor eOne Films
International Sales Films Boutique
Synopsis Lauren (Miranda Tapsell) and Ned (Gwilym Lee) are engaged, they are in love, and they have just ten days to find Lauren’s mother who has gone AWOL somewhere in the remote far north of Australia, reunite her parents and pull off their dream wedding.
Production Credit Top End Wedding is a Goalpost Pictures Australia production in association with Tapsell, Tyler & Condie and Kojo Entertainment. Principal production investment from Screen Australia. Financed with support from South Australian Film Corporation with Adelaide Film Festival. Supported by Tourism NT.
Sundance Film Festival World Premiere
Australian Media Tracey Mair
International Media TBA
International Sales Films Boutique
