Six Australian projects have been selected for the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). Feature film Buoyancy directed by Rodd Rathjen and produced by Causeway Films whose credits include The Babadook, Cargo and The Nightingale will have its world premiere at the festival, as well as feature documentary 2040 written and directed by Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film).
This news comes after a historic six Australian feature films were selected to screen at Sundance Film Festival which began yesterday.
Graeme Mason, CEO of Screen Australia said: "Be it thought-provoking documentaries, moving dramas, or short films it's clear that Australian stories and our filmmakers continue to resonate around the world. We congratulate all the Australian teams on their Berlinale selection and we are proud to have such distinctive and diverse projects representing our industry at this esteemed festival."
Producer of feature film Buoyancy Sam Jennings said: "It's a fantastic honour to be launching our film in Berlinale's prestigious Panorama program. Rodd has told an important story in a boldly cinematic way, and we hope it will impact on audiences around the world. Buoyancy was only made possible by the unwavering passion of our Cambodian and South East Asian collaborators and extraordinary crew, who along with our investors put a lot of faith in this project, and it will be a thrilling start for the whole team to share."
Writer and director of feature documentary 2040 that looks at the current and future state of our planet, Damon Gameau said: "We are delighted to premiere 2040 at such a terrific festival and hope that it can spark some important conversations."
Feature documentary She Who Must Be Loved from Erica Glynn will have its international premiere as part of the NATIVe program which celebrates Indigenous storytelling. Critically acclaimed 2015 feature film Tanna directed by Bentley Dean and Martin Butler will also screen in the NATIVe program, as well as short film Blackbird directed by Amie Batalibasi.
The Mermaids, Or Aiden in Wonderland by Karrabing Film Collective, an experimental short film about what might happen at the end of the world will screen as part of the festivals 14th Forum Expanded program.
Two Australian producers Kate Laurie and Peter Ireland have been selected to participate in the Berlinale Talents program, as well as production designer and art director Alicia Clements.
Actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey will sit on the International Generation Kplus jury. Her short film A Field Guide to Being a 12-Year-Old-Girl screened in the festivals Generation Kplus program last year and won the Crystal Bear for Best Short Film in that program.
Australian producer Greer Simpkin from Bunya Productions is part of the international team behind Flesh & Blood which will be pitched at the European Film Market's Co-Production market for Co Pro Series.
The Berlin International Film Festival runs 7-17 February 2019.
High resolution images of the selected films here
AUSTRALIAN FILMS AT BERLINALE 2019
2040
1 x 92mins
GoodThing Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Feature documentary
Director / Writer Damon Gameau
Producers Nick Batzias, Damon Gameu, Anna Kaplan, Virginia Whitwell
Distributor Madman Entertainment
Synopsis A high-concept feature documentary that looks to the future, but is vitally important NOW!
Production Credit: 2040 is a GoodThing Productions and Regen Pictures production. Major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Shark Island Institute, Good Pitch Australia and Diamond Docs. Financed with support from Film Victoria and Cumulus Visual Effects.
Berlin Film Festival World Premiere
Australian Media contact Caroline Whiteway, Madman Entertainment, [email protected]
International Media contact Dheeraj Agnihotri & Kirsty Langsdale, Organic Publicity o[email protected]
International Sales Paul Wiegard [email protected]
Blackbird
1 x 13mins
Victorian College of the Arts - University of Melbourne
Short Period Drama
Director Amie Batalibasi
Associate Producers John Harvey, Lia Pa'apa'a
Australian Distributor Ronin Films
International Sales Ronin Films
Synopsis In the late 1800s, Solomon Islander siblings Kiko and Rosa struggle to survive whilst labouring on a Queensland sugar plantation. This narrative short sheds light on the little known history of Australia's 'sugar slaves'.
Production Credit: Blackbird is a Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) production. Principal production support from the 2015 Regional Arts Development Fund - Queensland Government and Mackay Regional City Council, in association with Mackay Yamadi Lera Yumi Meta Association Inc. Financed with support from Pozible backers; 2015 VCA Margaret Lawrence Social Justice Award, Moving Clickers 'Kickalong' Award and Panavision Script Production Award.
Berlin Film Festival NATIVe program
Media contact Amie Batalibasi: [email protected]
International Sales contact Andrew Pike: [email protected]
Buoyancy
Causeway Films
Genre Drama
Director / Writer Rodd Rathjen
Producers Samantha Jennings, Rita Walsh, Kristina Ceyton
Australian Distributor Umbrella Entertainment
International Sales Charades, Echo Studio
Synopsis An innocent Cambodian boy is enslaved on a Thai fishing trawler and soon realises that his only hope of freedom is to become as violent as his captors.
Production Credit: Buoyancy is a Causeway Films production. Major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Melbourne International Film Festival's MIFF Premiere Fund. Financed with support from Film Victoria, Feracious Entertainment, Anupheap Productions and Definition Films.
Berlin Film Festival World Premiere
Australian and International media contact Samantha Jennings, Causeway Films [email protected]
International Sales contact Carole Baraton, Charades [email protected]
She Who Must Be Loved
1 x 96mins
Since1788 Productions
Genre Feature documentary
Director / Writer Erica Glynn
Producers Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Erica Glynn (co-producer)
Broadcaster NITV
Synopsis She Who Must Be Loved details the life story of Freda Glynn and what it took for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people to stake a claim amongst Australia's media landscape.
Production Credit: She Who Must Be Loved is a Since 1788 Productions production for NITV. Principal production investment from Screen Australia, in association with NITV. Financed with support from the Adelaide Film Festival.
Berlin Film Festival International Premiere as part of the NATIVe series dedicated to the cinematic storytelling of Indigenous peoples from around the world.
Media and Sales contact Tanith Glynn-Maloney [email protected]
Tanna
1 x 104mins
Contact Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Directors Bentley Dean, Martin Butler
Writers John Collee, Bentley Dean, Martin Butler
Producers Martin Butler, Bentley Dean, Carolyn Johnson
Cast Marie Wawa, Mungau Dain, Marceline Rofit, Albi Nangia
Australian Distributor Bonsai Films/Umbrella Entertainment
International Sales Visit Films
Synopsis A groundbreaking glimpse into life, love, war and peace in one of the last tribal societies on earth.
Berlin Film Festival Screening as part of the NATIVe series dedicated to the cinematic storytelling of Indigenous peoples from around the world.
Media contact Jerry Li [email protected]
International Sales contact Visit Films [email protected]
