- Australian survival-thriller film, We Bury The Dead, to be filmed in regional Western Australia
- Actor Daisy Ridley to take on lead role
- Acclaimed WA based filmmaker Zak Hilditch to write and direct
Western Australia's Great Southern region will provide a stunning backdrop for a survival-thriller film featuring international star Daisy Ridley (Star Wars sequel trilogy).
Filming of We Bury the Dead, written and directed by Zak Hilditch (These Final Hours, 1922), will start in February 2024 with support from Screenwest, Lotterywest and the State Government's Western Australian Regional Screen Fund (WARSF).
This will be Hilditch's fourth feature film and the project is being produced by local company The Penguin Empire along with Campfire Studios and Gramercy Park in the United States.
The film is described as a moving story about grief, loss and the undead as a desperate woman searches for her missing husband in the aftermath of a catastrophic military experiment.
The WARSF aims to build Western Australian regional capacity and contribute to the liveability and vibrancy of the State's regional communities. The fund has supported many high-profile productions such as the multi-award-winning film Sweet As and the critically acclaimed series Mystery Road: Origin, plus popular documentaries including Ningaloo Nyinggulu.
The WARSF is funded by the State Government through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and managed by Screenwest.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"The State Government's Western Australian Regional Screen Fund continues to support exceptional productions, and this film will provide an amazing opportunity to showcase our Great Southern region and our local talent.
"I'm sure there is great excitement in the region and throughout WA about this thrilling project, which will begin filming in February next year.
"I look forward to seeing how the intriguing plot unfolds when the film hits the big screen."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"This production will bring employment and business opportunities to locations in our unique Great Southern, which will be a great boost to the region.
"Projects like these clearly show that our regional areas are willing and able to successfully support a myriad of enterprises including film and television productions.
"The support for this project is part of the State Government's ongoing commitment to stimulating growth and jobs in our regions."
