Notizie

Rolf de Heer.s Charlie.s Country got glowing reviews from most Australian film critics, not least for David Gulpilil.s performance for which he was named best actor at the Certain Regard sidebar in Cannes.

Given those plaudits plus eOne.s extensive publicity campaign built around de Heer and the enthusiastic support of exhibitors, the opening weekend of $129,000 at 29 screens, for a per-screen average of less than $4,500, plus $22,300 from previews, isn't great.

However the film may well build on word-of-mouth as audiences respond to the tale of blackfella Charlie, who finds life increasingly tough in his remote community due to the government.s intervention, and resolves to live the old way.

Also, the B.O. figures should be seen in the context of how the director.s films have fared historically in Australia. Tracker, his first collaboration with Gulpilil, grossed $818,000 in 2002. Ten Canoes, the second of the .trilogy,. is...

SYDNEY -- There were no surprises at this year's Australian Film Institute Awards as Somersault cleaned up, taking home a record 13 nods from 15 nominations in an otherwise threadbare year. Now in their 46th year, the AFI Awards are Australia's longest-running and most prestigious awards and were set to be handed out in Melbourne tonight. Somersault, Cate Shortland's acclaimed coming-of-age drama about a girl trying to find her way to love through sex, won best film over Tom White, The Old Man Who Read Love Stories and Love's Brother. Somersault also picked up best original screenplay and direction for auteur Shortland as well as best actress for its star, Abbie Cornish, and best actor for leading man Sam Worthington. In other categories, Somersault nabbed best actress in a supporting role for Lynette Curran, best actor in a supporting role for Erik Thompson, best editing, cinematography, production design, costume design, sound and original music score.

SYDNEY -- The Australian public has responded to three decidedly serious local films this year, nominating Somersault, Tom White and The Old Man Who Read Love Stories for best feature in the sixth annual people's choice Lexus IF Awards, to take place Nov. 10 in Sydney. The IF Awards were started in 1999 by local trade journal Inside Film magazine and have grown in sponsorship and visibility each year. Nominees and winners are determined by the overall average score of films as rated by the public. This year, 42,000 scores were received from cinemagoing Australians through an online scoring system and approved festivals. Somersault has been nominated for a total of eight awards, Tom White for six and The Old Man Who Read Love Stories for five from 11 categories recognizing best film, script, sound, editing, cinematography, production design, music, editing, direction, actor and actress.

SYDNEY -- Australia's awards season kicked off this week with the first official screenings in the lead up to Oct. 29's Australian Film Institute Awards. Tom White, starring Colin Friels, screened to AFI members each night in each of Australia's capital cities this week in the hope of recognition at Australia's most established awards. Other films in the running for AFI Awards are A Cold Summer, Love's Brother, One Perfect Day, Somersault, The Finished People, The Honourable Wally Norman, The Old Man Who Read Love Stories and Under the Radar. In a busy season, between now and December three awards ceremonies will give recognition to Australian films released over the past year.