AusCelebs Forums

Aussie Cinema Making It Big in Toronto

by Adam Guetti | July 24, 2009 17:54 | Edited July 24, 2009 17:54
SOURCE: Film Ink

Two new Australian films have been selected for the prestigious Toronto Film Festival in September this year.

Australian films are making a big international impact this week with the most recent announcement that both Sean Byrne's The Loved Ones and Rachel Ward's directorial debut Beautiful Kate will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September. They join Jane Campion's Bright Star, The Spierig Brothers' Daybreakers, Glendyn Ivin's Last Ride, Bruce Beresford's Mao's Last Dancer, Granaz Moussavi's My Tehran For Sale, Sarah Watt's My Year Without Sex and Warwick Thornton's Cannes-winning Samson & Delilah in the program of the world renowned non-competitive film festival, which is renowned for attracting major players from film distribution, mixing it up with Toronto locals.

The recently completed The Loved Ones sees Lola Stone's (Robin McLeavy) invitation to the school formal rejected by secret love Brent (new Eclipse star - Xavier Samuels). Upset with the rejection, Lola and her father plan for Brent to be with her regardless. What follows is a demented, sadistic and exclusive party hosted by Lola and her father where the entertainment is Brent himself. Filmed in Melbourne, the movie also stars John Brumpton and Victoria Thaine.

The film is part of Toronto's Midnight Madness program - a fan favourite that draws legions to midnight screenings of wild films. "This year's Midnight Madness line-up is a showcase of some of the most highly anticipated thrillers and chillers of the year," said Colin Geddes, TIFF programmer.

The Loved Ones producer Mark Lazarus is ecstatic over the development. "Midnight Madness is the perfect launchpad for The Loved Ones," he said. Lazarus continued, saying that the film's team "can't wait to show the movie to the audience we made it for at the best genre showcase in the world. Of course, it's terrific that distributors from all over the world will get a chance to see it there, too." Director Sean Byrne also shares the sentiment. "I can't wait to celebrate the movie with fellow hardcore genre fans," he claims.

Beautiful Kate is written and directed by Rachel Ward, starring Ben Mendelsohn, Maeve Dermody, Rachel Griffiths, newcomer Sophie Lowe and hubby Bryan Brown. Set in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, the film is about an isolated family whose all too human mistakes lead to tragedy, recrimination, guilt and salvation, at the same time presenting an emotional and evocative love story.

A part of the Discovery section of the Festival, Ward's film will be showcased among a collection of films that highlight the program's aims - to introduce gifted and innovative directors who are certain to become household names. Other Australian films playing in this strand are Last Ride, Samson & Delilah and My Tehran For Sale.

Rachel Ward said that "we're very pleased to be invited to Toronto. It's an essential market place for independent cinema." Joel Pearlman, Managing Director of Roadshow Films added that "it is justified acknowledgement of Rachel Ward's extraordinary artistic achievement in bringing Beautiful Kate to the screen. We are certain that the Festival audience in Toronto will respond to it just as audiences will in Australia."

The Loved Ones, premieres at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Thursday July 20. Beautiful Kate opens in cinemas on August 6. Last Ride, Samson & Delilah and My Year Without Sex are currently playing in cinemas. Mao's Last Dancer is scheduled for release on October 1. Bright Star is scheduled for release in December. Daybreakers is scheduled for released in January 2010. My Tehran For Sale is currently unscheduled.