MK2 Films has boarded “Blaze,” the feature directorial debut of award-winning Australian painter Del Kathryn Barton, which stars Simon Baker (“High Ground”) and Julia Savage (“Sweet Tooth”).
Now in post-production, the film stars Savage as Blaze, a teenager who is the sole witness to a shocking crime. Struggling to make sense of what she saw, she unleashes the wrath of a dragon coming from her wild imagination. “Blaze” will combine live action with VFX and stop-motion animation techniques.
MK2 Films has acquired world sales rights to the film and is kicking off sales at Venice, where the banner is presenting Mounia Akl’s “Costa Brava, Lebanon” (with Participant and Endeavor Content) in the Horizons section.
Barton previously co-directed “The Nightingale and the Rose,” an animated short film based on an Oscar Wilde story that featured Barton’s illustrative style, with a voice cast headlined by Mia Wasikowska and Geoffrey Rush.
Now in post-production, the film stars Savage as Blaze, a teenager who is the sole witness to a shocking crime. Struggling to make sense of what she saw, she unleashes the wrath of a dragon coming from her wild imagination. “Blaze” will combine live action with VFX and stop-motion animation techniques.
MK2 Films has acquired world sales rights to the film and is kicking off sales at Venice, where the banner is presenting Mounia Akl’s “Costa Brava, Lebanon” (with Participant and Endeavor Content) in the Horizons section.
Barton previously co-directed “The Nightingale and the Rose,” an animated short film based on an Oscar Wilde story that featured Barton’s illustrative style, with a voice cast headlined by Mia Wasikowska and Geoffrey Rush.
- 9/4/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Simon Baker, Yael Stone, Josh Lawson and newcomer Julia Savage are among the key cast of director Del Kathryn Barton’s debut feature Blaze (formerly Puff), which recently wrapped shooting in Sydney.
Barton, a dual Archibald prize winner, wrote the script with Huna Amweero (Jade of Death), with the work inspired by Barton’s painting ‘sing blood-wings sing’, which was in turn inspired by Peter Paul and Mary song ‘Puff, the Magic Dragon’.
A hybrid work of live-action, VFX and animation, Blaze sees Savage plays a young girl who accidentally witnesses a woman being violently attacked, leaving her catatonic with shock and struggling to make sense of what she saw.
She retreats into imaginary worlds, where Zephyr, the shimmering magic dragon who has been her companion since childhood, allows her to activate her own rage and ultimately find renewal.
Also starring are Morgan Davies, Bernie Van Tiel, Remy Hii, John Waters,...
Barton, a dual Archibald prize winner, wrote the script with Huna Amweero (Jade of Death), with the work inspired by Barton’s painting ‘sing blood-wings sing’, which was in turn inspired by Peter Paul and Mary song ‘Puff, the Magic Dragon’.
A hybrid work of live-action, VFX and animation, Blaze sees Savage plays a young girl who accidentally witnesses a woman being violently attacked, leaving her catatonic with shock and struggling to make sense of what she saw.
She retreats into imaginary worlds, where Zephyr, the shimmering magic dragon who has been her companion since childhood, allows her to activate her own rage and ultimately find renewal.
Also starring are Morgan Davies, Bernie Van Tiel, Remy Hii, John Waters,...
- 11/5/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Prince Harry spoke passionately on Thursday about his grandmother Queen Elizabeth’s leadership beginning at age 26, when she ascended the throne.
“The Queen, who assumed the challenge of leadership at such a young age herself, has shown us all the importance of selfless commitment and service,” Harry said at the 2017 Queen’s Young Leaders Awards at Buckingham Palace. “I know all of us aspire to the standard that she has set for people throughout the Commonwealth and the world.”
“At home and abroad, I see people – especially young people – doing incredible things. Young people are using this technology more than...
“The Queen, who assumed the challenge of leadership at such a young age herself, has shown us all the importance of selfless commitment and service,” Harry said at the 2017 Queen’s Young Leaders Awards at Buckingham Palace. “I know all of us aspire to the standard that she has set for people throughout the Commonwealth and the world.”
“At home and abroad, I see people – especially young people – doing incredible things. Young people are using this technology more than...
- 6/29/2017
- by Simon Perry
- PEOPLE.com
Exclusive: New Black Films working on The Ice King, Maiden.
UK production outfit New Black Films, which specialises in making sports films, has beefed up its slate with two titles.
The company, run by Victoria Gregory, James Erskine and Alex Holmes, is teaming with BBC Storyville to produce The Ice King, a biopic of British figure skater John Curry, the 1976 Olympic and World Champion, who also became one of the first openly gay Olympians.
The film finds Curry approaching the end of his life, before he died of an AIDS-related heart attack in 1994. The film charts his violent childhood and his struggle for recognition and includes his own letter and interview.
Goldfinch Pictures is co-financing the film; Dogwoof is handling international sales and also has UK rights.
Maiden tells the story of British sailor Tracy Edwards (pictured), who skippered the first all-female crew in the triennial Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.
Cut together...
UK production outfit New Black Films, which specialises in making sports films, has beefed up its slate with two titles.
The company, run by Victoria Gregory, James Erskine and Alex Holmes, is teaming with BBC Storyville to produce The Ice King, a biopic of British figure skater John Curry, the 1976 Olympic and World Champion, who also became one of the first openly gay Olympians.
The film finds Curry approaching the end of his life, before he died of an AIDS-related heart attack in 1994. The film charts his violent childhood and his struggle for recognition and includes his own letter and interview.
Goldfinch Pictures is co-financing the film; Dogwoof is handling international sales and also has UK rights.
Maiden tells the story of British sailor Tracy Edwards (pictured), who skippered the first all-female crew in the triennial Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.
Cut together...
- 5/21/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Jennifer Kent.
The Nightingale, Jennifer Kent's follow-up to her acclaimed 2014 feature The Babadook, is set to begin shooting this month in Tasmania.
The Fall's Aisling Franciosi will star with Sam Claflin (Their Finest). Aussie actors onboard include Hugo Weaving's son Harry Greenwood, Down Under's Damon Herriman, The Daughter's Ewen Leslie as well as Aboriginal Djuki Mala dancer Baykali Ganambarr and East Arnhem Land Indigenous model Magnolia Maymuru.
Hard to express just how excited I am about this project and all the lovely people involved...
The Nightingale, Jennifer Kent's follow-up to her acclaimed 2014 feature The Babadook, is set to begin shooting this month in Tasmania.
The Fall's Aisling Franciosi will star with Sam Claflin (Their Finest). Aussie actors onboard include Hugo Weaving's son Harry Greenwood, Down Under's Damon Herriman, The Daughter's Ewen Leslie as well as Aboriginal Djuki Mala dancer Baykali Ganambarr and East Arnhem Land Indigenous model Magnolia Maymuru.
Hard to express just how excited I am about this project and all the lovely people involved...
- 3/14/2017
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
Eamon Farren and Amber McMahon in Girl Asleep.
George Miller will present the Cameron Creswell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design at the 6th Annual Australian Production Design Guild Awards.
The event takes place on November 7 at Sydney.s Nida, and celebrates the achievements of designers across 24 categories. New categories this year include Virtual Reality and Game Design.
The Apdg will again acknowledge masters of the craft with three Industry Recognition Awards: The Cameron Creswell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design, the Global Creatures Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement in Live Performance and the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement..
For the first time, the recipient of the Thelma Afford Theatre, Stage, TV or Film Costume Design Award will also be announced at the ceremony..
Nominations include:
Production Design on a Feature Film: Jonathon Oxlade - Girl Asleep, Jo Ford - Holding The Man, Roger Ford a.
George Miller will present the Cameron Creswell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design at the 6th Annual Australian Production Design Guild Awards.
The event takes place on November 7 at Sydney.s Nida, and celebrates the achievements of designers across 24 categories. New categories this year include Virtual Reality and Game Design.
The Apdg will again acknowledge masters of the craft with three Industry Recognition Awards: The Cameron Creswell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design, the Global Creatures Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement in Live Performance and the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement..
For the first time, the recipient of the Thelma Afford Theatre, Stage, TV or Film Costume Design Award will also be announced at the ceremony..
Nominations include:
Production Design on a Feature Film: Jonathon Oxlade - Girl Asleep, Jo Ford - Holding The Man, Roger Ford a.
- 10/28/2016
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia today named the eight new Hot Shots teams who will share in funding of more than $545,000 to produce short films and develop distinctive storytelling and creative production skills.
These shorts will be used as proof of concept for longer form projects to get traction in the market place, part of building career pathways towards.. storytelling across film, television, online and interactive platforms. The teams will also attend two-day Hot Shops workshops and seminars this month at Screen Australia which will immerse writers, directors and producers in a craft-based learning environment to further their filmmaking skills.
The Hot Shops program will connect teams with mentors including director Sophie Hyde (52 Tuesdays), editor Drew Thompson (Down Under), sound designer Jed Palmer (The Infinite Man), and Felicity Abbott (Secret City, Bran Nue Day).
The eight teams are working on a diverse group of projects across genres including drama, thriller, action, horror, romantic and coming-of age stories,...
These shorts will be used as proof of concept for longer form projects to get traction in the market place, part of building career pathways towards.. storytelling across film, television, online and interactive platforms. The teams will also attend two-day Hot Shops workshops and seminars this month at Screen Australia which will immerse writers, directors and producers in a craft-based learning environment to further their filmmaking skills.
The Hot Shops program will connect teams with mentors including director Sophie Hyde (52 Tuesdays), editor Drew Thompson (Down Under), sound designer Jed Palmer (The Infinite Man), and Felicity Abbott (Secret City, Bran Nue Day).
The eight teams are working on a diverse group of projects across genres including drama, thriller, action, horror, romantic and coming-of age stories,...
- 11/18/2015
- by Staff writer
- IF.com.au
Russell Crowe's The Water Diviner is in the running for nine awards from the Film Critics Circle of Australia.
The Babadook and Predestination each scored eight nominations for the awards which will be presented on Tuesday 10 March in Sydney.
There are five nominations apiece for Charlie.s Country, Felony, The Rover and Tracks. Some 12 films released in calendar 2014 got nods.
Up for best film are The Babadook (producers Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere), Charlie.s Country (Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr and Nils Erik Nielsen), Predestination (Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan and Michael Spierig), Tracks (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman) and The Water Diviner ( Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Keith Rodger).
Unlike the Aacta Awards, Crowe was nominated for best director alongside John Curran, de Heer, Jennifer Kent and the Spierig brothers.
Fcca president and ABC Radio host Rod Quinn said, .This year.s nominees show the diversity of the Australian...
The Babadook and Predestination each scored eight nominations for the awards which will be presented on Tuesday 10 March in Sydney.
There are five nominations apiece for Charlie.s Country, Felony, The Rover and Tracks. Some 12 films released in calendar 2014 got nods.
Up for best film are The Babadook (producers Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere), Charlie.s Country (Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr and Nils Erik Nielsen), Predestination (Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan and Michael Spierig), Tracks (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman) and The Water Diviner ( Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Keith Rodger).
Unlike the Aacta Awards, Crowe was nominated for best director alongside John Curran, de Heer, Jennifer Kent and the Spierig brothers.
Fcca president and ABC Radio host Rod Quinn said, .This year.s nominees show the diversity of the Australian...
- 2/4/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The first round of Aacta Award winners have been announced today at the 4th Aacta Award Luncheon held at the Star Event Centre in Sydney.
Celebrating screen craft excellence in Australia, 22 awards were presented, recognising the work of screen practitioners working in television, documentary, short fiction film, short animation and feature film.
The Luncheon was hosted by writer/actor/producer/director Adam Zwar, who was also joined throughout the event by a list of distinguished presenters. including Aacta President Geoffrey Rush, David Stratton, Damian Walshe-Howling, Alexandra Schepisi, Charlotte Best and Diana Glenn.
In the feature film category, Predestination took home the most Awards; with Ben Nott Acs taking out the prize for Best Cinematography, Matt Villa Ase winning the award for Best Editing, and Matthew Putland scooping Best Production Design.
Tess Schofield was honoured with the Aacta Award for Best Costume Design for her work on The Water Diviner while...
Celebrating screen craft excellence in Australia, 22 awards were presented, recognising the work of screen practitioners working in television, documentary, short fiction film, short animation and feature film.
The Luncheon was hosted by writer/actor/producer/director Adam Zwar, who was also joined throughout the event by a list of distinguished presenters. including Aacta President Geoffrey Rush, David Stratton, Damian Walshe-Howling, Alexandra Schepisi, Charlotte Best and Diana Glenn.
In the feature film category, Predestination took home the most Awards; with Ben Nott Acs taking out the prize for Best Cinematography, Matt Villa Ase winning the award for Best Editing, and Matthew Putland scooping Best Production Design.
Tess Schofield was honoured with the Aacta Award for Best Costume Design for her work on The Water Diviner while...
- 1/27/2015
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
Russell Crowe-Directed Movie Up for Australian Film Award; Crowe Shortlisted Only in Acting Category
Director Russell Crowe Movie up for Best Film: Australian Academy Awards 2015 nominations (photo: Actor-director Russell Crowe in 'The Water Diviner') Aacta Awards: Feature Film Categories Best Film The Babadook Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere Charlie's Country Nils Erik Nielsen, Peter Djigirr and Rolf de Heer Predestination Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan, Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Railway Man Chris Brown, Andy Paterson and Bill Curbishley Tracks Emile Sherman and Iain Canning The Water Diviner Andrew Mason, Keith Rodger and Troy Lum Best Director The Babadook Jennifer Kent Charlie's Country Rolf de Heer Predestination Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Rover David Michôd Best Actress Kate Box The Little Death Essie Davis The Babadook Sarah Snook Predestination Mia Wasikowska Tracks Best Actor Russell Crowe The Water Diviner David Gulpilil Charlie's Country Damon Herriman The Little Death Guy Pearce The Rover Best Supporting Actor Patrick Brammall The Little Death Yilmaz Erdogan...
- 12/3/2014
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
We chat to the director of the magnificent Australian horror The Babadook about filmmaking, genre snobbery and more...
If you're looking for proof that a horror film can do something more than just make you jump, then you have to see The Babadook. Essie Davies stars as Amelia, a recently-bereaved mother with a boisterous and imaginative young son, Robbie (Noah Wiseman). When Robbie becomes convinced that a monster from a story book - The Babadook of the title - is going to come out and eat them both, Amelia ignores the boy's ramblings. But gradually, she too begins to fear that The Babadook might be real...
Although laden with all the terror you'd expect from a good horror flick, The Babadook has all kinds of things brewing under its surface: the corrosive effects of depression and trauma, the exhausting experiences of being a mother, the vulnerability of being a child.
If you're looking for proof that a horror film can do something more than just make you jump, then you have to see The Babadook. Essie Davies stars as Amelia, a recently-bereaved mother with a boisterous and imaginative young son, Robbie (Noah Wiseman). When Robbie becomes convinced that a monster from a story book - The Babadook of the title - is going to come out and eat them both, Amelia ignores the boy's ramblings. But gradually, she too begins to fear that The Babadook might be real...
Although laden with all the terror you'd expect from a good horror flick, The Babadook has all kinds of things brewing under its surface: the corrosive effects of depression and trauma, the exhausting experiences of being a mother, the vulnerability of being a child.
- 10/10/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Volunteers who took part in the opening ceremony say it was the experience of a lifetime
NHS worker Helen O'Kelly, 34, assistant director at the South London Cardiac and Stroke Network
As soon as I heard that NHS staff would have the chance to be in the opening ceremony, I knew I would audition. I am not a dancer and, although I will happily do a presentation in front of a few thousand people for my job, in my personal life I am not one for the limelight.But the idea of representing an organisation I am so proud to work for intrigued me.
The early rehearsals were stressful – the dance steps seemed like torture and there was often nothing to do but laugh at our chaotic attempts. They were also physically exhausting; the mornings after were like a hangover without the headache.
I couldn't help but smile when we first...
NHS worker Helen O'Kelly, 34, assistant director at the South London Cardiac and Stroke Network
As soon as I heard that NHS staff would have the chance to be in the opening ceremony, I knew I would audition. I am not a dancer and, although I will happily do a presentation in front of a few thousand people for my job, in my personal life I am not one for the limelight.But the idea of representing an organisation I am so proud to work for intrigued me.
The early rehearsals were stressful – the dance steps seemed like torture and there was often nothing to do but laugh at our chaotic attempts. They were also physically exhausting; the mornings after were like a hangover without the headache.
I couldn't help but smile when we first...
- 7/28/2012
- by Alexandra Topping, Rachel Williams
- The Guardian - Film News
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