News

Shannon Murphy’s debut feature has its UK launch at London Film Festival.

Picturehouse Entertainment has picked up UK rights to Shannon Murphy’s debut feature Babyteeth from Celluloid Dreams. It follows the film’s world premiere in Competition at Venice last month.

Murphy’s film is making its UK premiere in the first feature competition at the BFI London Film Festival on Sunday, October 6.

The comedy drama stars Eliza Scanlen as a seriously ill teenager who falls in love with small-time drug dealer, played by Toby Wallace, to the horror of her parents. The Babadook star Essie Davis and...

Sneak Peek new footage, plus images from the Season 3 "Outlander" episode "Freedom & Whiskey", written by Toni Graphia and directed by Brendan Maher, airing October 8, 2017 on Starz:

"...as 'Brianna' grapples with the life-changing revelations of the past summer...

"...'Claire' must help her come to terms with the fact that she is truly her father's daughter – her 18th century 'Highlander' father.

"To complicate matters further, 'Roger' brings news that forces Claire and Brianna to face an impossible choice..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Outlander: Freedom & Whiskey"...

“Freedom and Whiskey,” the fifth episode of season three of the Starz hit drama “Outlander,” was written by Toni Graphia and directed by Brendan Maher. “Outlander” fan Rob Licuria joined by Amanda Spears to dish the highs and lows of this chapter of the fantasy romance saga (watch above). Claire (Caitriona Balfe) helps Brianna (Sophie Skelton) grapple with the life-changing revelations about […]...

“Of Lost Things,” the fourth episode of season three of the Starz hit drama “Outlander,” was written by Toni Graphia and directed by Brendan Maher. “Outlander” fan Rob Licuria is joined by Amanda Spears to dish the highs and lows of this installment in which Claire (Caitriona Balfe) remains in 1960s Scotland, raising her daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and struggling to trace […]...

“Outlander” fan Rob Licuria is joined by Amanda Spears to dish the highs and lows of “Of Lost Things,” the third episode of season three, written by Toni Graphia and directed by Brendan Maher. This season is based on “Voyager,” Diana Gabaldon’s third novel in the series of books. Claire (Caitriona Balfe) remains in 1960s Scotland, raising her daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and struggling to […]...

Sneak Peek the new "Outlander" episode "All Debts Paid", written by Matthew B. Roberts and directed by Brendan Maher, airing September 24, 2017 on Starz and the "W" Network:

"...in prison, 'Jamie' discovers that an old foe has become the warden...

"...and now has the power to make his life a living hell. 

"Over the years, 'Claire' and 'Frank' both put their best foot forward to share a harmonious marriage, but an uninvited guest shatters this illusion, bringing their differences to light..."

Regular cast includes Caitriona Balfe as 'Claire Randall', Sam Heughan as 'Jamie Fraser' and Tobias Menzies as 'Frank Randall'/ 'Jonathan Randall'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Outlander": All Debts Paid":...

Tomorrow When the War Began, the series based on John Marsden's novels, premieres April 23 at 7:30pm on ABC3.

The six-part adventure series tells the story of a group of young Australian friends on the run from a foreign invasion force.

The unsuspecting Australian military is quickly overwhelmed and none of Australia.s allies are willing to risk possible nuclear war to come to our aid.

Veterans Sibylla Budd, Deborah Mailman, James Stewart and Alison Bell are joined by relative newcomers Molly Daniels, Narek Arman, Jon Prasida, Madeleine Clunies-Ross, Madeleine Madden, Andrew Creer, Fantine Banulski and Keith Purcell.

Daniels plays Ellie, the heroine of the books. The young actor starred in two seasons of ABC3's You're Skitting Me, as well as Very Small Business, Party Tricks and The Librarians.

An Ambience Entertainment Production in association with ABC3, Screen Australia and FilmVictoria, the show is produced by Michael Boughen...

Simon Baker will make his feature directing debut, Matchbox Pictures will adapt another Christos Tsiolkas. novel for the ABC and Endemol Australia will produce a female-driven drama for the Nine Network in projects funded by Screen Australia.

Among other funding recipients are a TV spin-off of Tomorrow, When the War Began, a Nowhere Boys telemovie for the ABC and a relationships comedy directed by Tim Ferguson and Marc Gracie.

In total Screen Australia is investing $13.4 million in 12 film and television projects which will trigger production worth $64.3 million.

Baker (The Mentalist) will direct and star in the screen adaptation of Tim Winton.s novel Breath, scripted by Top of the Lake.s Gerard Lee.

The producers are Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, The Notebook), Baker and See Pictures. Jamie Hilton (Backtrack, The Little Death).

Arclight is pitching the 1970s-set project to prospective buyers at the Cannes Film Market. The novel focusses on two teenagers,...

Two young actors lead the cast of The Passing Bells, a new five-part First World War drama for BBC One which is about to start filming in Poland.

The series has been written by Tony Jordan (Hustle, Life On Mars) and commissioned as part of the BBC’s programming to mark the Centenary of the First World War. The drama sees the conflict of the First World War unfold through the eyes of two very ordinary young men, both of whom have enlisted in a war they expect will be over within months

Irish actor 18 year old Patrick Gibson stars as Thomas and Jack Lowden as Michael, two young men for whom the war has little mercy, no matter which side they might be fighting for. Over five chronological years, we follow their lives as they grow up, lose friends and find love amid the horrors of the war.

Patrick Gibson...

Return to Nim’s Island Contest Giveaway Sweepstakes. This Return to Nim’s Island Blu-ray contest, giveaway, sweepstakes illustrates Return to Nim’s Island‘s release on DVD on April 2, 2013. Brendan Maher‘s Return to Nim’s Island stars Matthew Lillard, Bindi Irwin, Toby Wallace, John Waters, Sebastian Gregory, Jack Pearson, and Nathan Derrick. Return to Nim’s Island‘s [...]

Continue reading: Contest: Return To Nim’S Island (2013) Blu-ray: Brendan Maher, Matthew Lillard...

Filming has begun in Queensland for Nim’s Island 2, starring Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi as Nim, a role originally played by Little Miss Sunshine’s Abigail Breslin.

Shot at Village Roadshow Studios, the film is produced by Chris Brown, Paula Mazur and Tom Hoffie for Nims Productions, directed by Sisters of War’s Brendan Maher and written by Cathy Randall.

Scream’s Matthew Lillard plays Nim’s father, Jack with a cast of Australian actors including Offspring’s John Waters, Nathan Derrick of Rush, and Jack Pearson of Winners and Losers.

Brown said: “I am absolutely delighted to be bringing another exciting project to Queensland. This time with our own home-grown star Bindi Irwin.”

Mazur, also producer on the original Nim’s Island which grossed $100m internationally, said: “Nim’s Island 2 follows our hero Nim into another great action adventure story that will appeal to cinema goers of all ages,...

Family adventure film Nim's Island 2, starring Bindi Irwin, has begun shooting on the Gold Coast.

The film also stars Us actor Matthew Lillard (The Descendants, Scooby Doo), who plays marine scientist Jack, the father of Nim (Bindi Irwin), as well as local actors John Waters (Looking Through the Glass Onion, Offspring), Toby Wallace (Surviving Georgia, Neighbours), Nathan Derrick (Rush, Bed of Roses), Sebastian Gregory (Neighbours, Accidents Happen) and Jack Pearson (Winners & Losers).

The original Nim's Island grossed $US48 million in North America and almost $6.2 million at the Australian box office. While it was shot in Queensland, it did not qualify as an Australian production, unlike the sequel which is now underway.

Nim's Island was a far bigger production, starring Jodi Foster, and was distributed by Universal. The sequel will be distributed in Australia by Pinnacle Films, which has specialised in limited theatrical releases, while international distribution is being handled by Walden Entertainment.

A musical from Red Dog director Kriv Stenders, a feature about the choir of hard knocks directed by Jonathan Teplitzky and an untitled project from Joel and Nash Edgerton are three of 16 features that have received a share of $400,000 in development support from Screen Australia. Of these 16 projects, ten are new additions to the development slate, while the remaining six have been receiving ongoing assistance. Screen Australia.s head of development Martha Coleman said in a statement that the calibre of features was outstanding. .There.s a general acknowledgement from the marketplace that our filmmakers have raised the bar and I think the next wave of films in the coming years will be really interesting..

Synchronicity, which is written by Marissa Goodhill,. produced by Leesa Kahn and Catriona Hughes and has Kriv Stenders attached as director, is a musical set to the songs of Kylie Minogue. It follows 17-year-old Kylie...

Some of Australia’s biggest names in film-making have received funding for new projects in the latest round of Screen Australia’s single-project feature development.

The funding round for script development has supported 16 projects totalling $400,000, ten new projects and six which receive continued support.

Martha Coleman, Screen Australia’s head of development said: “The calibre of feature projects coming to the Development Department is outstanding. There’s a general acknowledgement from the marketplace that our film-makers have raised the bar and I think the next wave of films in the coming years will be really interesting.”

Film-makers include Julia Leigh, the Edgerton brothers, Abe Forsythe and Kriv Stenders.

Julia Leigh is to direct her second film, Disquiet following on from Sleeping Beauty, which won best direction in a feature film at the Australian Director’s Guild Awards on Friday night. The psychological horror will be adapted by Leigh from her book of the same name.

Spartacus Vengeance – Episode 3: The Greater Good

Stars: Liam McIntyre, Peter Mensah, Manu Bennett, Viva Bianca, Craig Parker, Katrina Law, Tom Hobbs, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence, Luke Pegler, Lucy Lawless, Dan Feuerriegel, Nick Tarabay, Cynthia Addai-Robinson | Written by Tracy Bellomo | Directed by Brendan Maher

Spartacus: Vengeance is a show with layers, at first glance it’s a men only entertainment, full of nudity, sex and graphic violence; but as the story progresses we get a hint of what these characters would be like in a less violent world. Yes, there’s still plenty of sex, nudity and violence, but they just emphasise what a brutish world the characters live in.

Spartacus and crew continue their search for Naevia, in the process freeing more slaves, and Agron shows he has leadership potential as he pushes for a move to the more defendable Vesuvius. Relationships are evolving for everyone in this episode: Agron sees...

Film Victoria finished its investment production for 2009/10 with $1.45m on eighth projects, including the TV adaptation of The Slap and a second series of Nsw-shot Dance Academy.

Other projects include ABC3 show Prank Patrol, the telemovie Sisters of War, and four documentaries.

The state agency’s board also approved a writer’s fellowship for Roger Monk for the script Romeo and Cheryl. It will allow him to work on the project over a significant period rather than stage-by-stage.

Further funding was approved for market support; Scott Alexander will attend XMediaLab Animation Market China 2010 with his project The Last Andy. It will be a loan, part of the agency’s professional development program.

The funded projects are:

The Slap

Matchbox Pictures. Prod: Helen Bowden and Michael McMahon’ Writers: Alice Bell, Emily Ballou, Brendan Cowell, Kris Mrska and Cate Shortland; Directors: Jessica Hobbs, Tony Ayres, Cate Shortland and Robert Connolly.

At a suburban barbecue,...