Screen Aus bankrolls eclectic foursome

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Finance News

Screen Australia, Australia's federal funding agency, has committed finance to four upcoming feature films. These include high-profile pictures by David Michod and Matthew Saville and an odd tribute to former North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il (pictured).

In total the agency says it is providing almost A$20 million ($20.5 million) across the four features and a further 8 TV dramas and kids' series. It says these will trigger A$100 million ($103 million) of production investment.

Screen Australia also confirmed that Twilight star Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce will head the cast of The Rover, David Michod's futuristic western. The film is backed by US-based sales and production finance house FilmNation and by David Linde's Lava Bear as well as Australian producer Liz Watts. It was conceived by Animal Kingdom director Michod and Joel Edgerton.

Edgerton is also producer, writer and star of Felony, a drama about the different courses taken by three detectives after a tragic accident. It is produced by The Sapphires producer Rosemary Blight.

Screen Australia is also backing Aim High In Creation, a docu-drama "celebrating the cinematic genius of the late Kim Jong-il," by writer/director Anna Broinowski (Forbidden Lie$) and producer Lizzette Atkins.

Matrix-star Hugo Weaving stars in the fourth feature, Healing, a redemptive prison drama by producer/writer/director Craig Monahan, with producer Tait Brady and writer Alison Nisselle. The cast also includes Don Hany (East West 101).

"The Rover is a powerful well-crafted script from a talented team with an impressive cast. Anna Broinowski's Aim High in Creation is a distinctive, ambitious film with a humorous and entertaining story. Felony has international breakout potential and Healing promises to be a highly emotional and moving story on screen," Screen Australia's chief executive Ruth Harley said in a statement.

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