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The new Australian-produced animated feature “200% Wolf”, directed by Alexs Stadermann, stars Ilai Swindells, Elizabeth Nabben, Jennifer Saunders, Sarah Georgina, Peter McAllum, Samara Weaving, Janice Petersen, Heather Mitchell and Michael Bourchier, now playing in theaters:

“…a heroic poodle struggles to maintain the respect of his ‘werewolf' pack when a wayward wish transforms him, dropping off a troublemaking 'fairy’ on earth…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The new Australian-produced animated feature “200% Wolf”, directed by Alexs Stadermann, stars Ilai Swindells, Elizabeth Nabben, Jennifer Saunders, Sarah Georgina, Peter McAllum, Samara Weaving, Janice Petersen, Heather Mitchell and Michael Bourchier, releasing September 20, 2024 in theaters:

“…a heroic poodle struggles to maintain the respect of his ‘werewolf' pack when a wayward wish transforms him, dropping off a troublemaking 'fairy’ on earth…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The new Australian-produced animated feature “200% Wolf”, directed by Alexs Stadermann, stars Ilai Swindells, Elizabeth Nabben, Jennifer Saunders, Sarah Georgina, Peter McAllum, Samara Weaving, Janice Petersen, Heather Mitchell and Michael Bourchier, releasing in 2024 Tba:

“…a heroic poodle struggles to maintain the respect of his ‘werewolf' pack when a wayward wish transforms him, dropping off a troublemaking 'fairy’ on earth…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Two animated children’s projects and two live-action series will share in $3.2 million of production funding from Screen Australia.

Northern Pictures’ Tom Weekly Versus… and Werner Film Productions’ Surviving Summer are being made for ViacomCBS and Netflix, respectively, while animation offerings 100% Wolf: The Book of Hath from Flying Bark Productions and Kangaroo Beach Summer Special from Cheeky Little Media will both appear on the ABC.

Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said the funding reflected Screen Australia’s commitment to supporting quality Australian screen stories for young audiences.

“It’s important that Australian kids can see their stories and experiences reflected on screen and families around the country will be in for a treat with these new projects,” she said.

“Northern Pictures are going from strength to strength – building on the success of Hardball, they are now set to bring popular book series Tom Weekly to the screen.

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...

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...

New South Wales actor Remy Brand has been cast as the lead in the upcoming Slr Productions series Sam Fox: Extreme Adventures. The 22-year-old has appeared in a number of television commercials before as well as holding a guest role in Seven Network.s iconic series Home and Away. However, the part of Sam Fox is his first major acting role. Executive Producer and CEO of Slr Productions, Suzanne Ryan, says, .I am thrilled to have Remy Brand cast as Sam Fox, he absolutely captures the complete character of Sam Fox. His rugged good-looks, boyish charm and action-adventure spirit means he will strongly translate the character from Justin D.Ath.s books into an on-screen hero. We also have the cream of Australia.s producing talent on board for Sam Fox: Extreme Adventures . each bringing their own individual experience and knowledge to collaborate on a project that will...

Spaa will host a Parliamentary Breakfast in Canberra tomorrow, to discuss measures to boost TV production, as well as the distributor Commercial Film Fund Initiative and an increase in funding for Sbs.

Executive director Geoff Brown said that while commercial networks had already received a “massive boost” to their bottom line with the reduction of their licence fees, content creators should be acknowledged for the role they will play in the digital switchover – not with financial incentives, but with an immediate lift in drama (adult/children’s) and documentary sub-quotas for the multi-channels.

The organisation also wants Government to institute minimum licence fees for television sub-quotas in adult drama, children’s television and documentary.

Another point of discussion will be the three-year $30m film fund to stimulate distributor investment in mid-range features ($7-30m) that Spaa discussed in the April issue of Encore (10 Solutions to Heal the Industry) and as...

Viasat has inked for the exclusive free TV rights for "NCIS: Los Angeles," the spinoff of "NCIS" from CBS Studios International. Viasat will air the new series during spring 2010 on its terrestrial stations -- TV3 in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Viasat also is the current license holder of the original "NCIS" series, which continues to perform well across Scandinavia. Viasat and CBS also renewed a multiple-year licensing deal which includes "Dr. Phil" and "America's Next Top Model." The Scandi service also unveiled the launch of its TV1000 Russian Kino movie channel in Los Angeles on Time Warner Cable, following a similar deal for the New York City area with the same Mso in February.

BBC Worldwide Channels unveiled in Cannes a commission for a live-action children's series "Penelope K, By the Way," its first-ever original production for the international CBeebies channel. Set to debut on CBeebies in Australia next year,...

The latest addition to the talking pooch genre, "Napoleon" is no bone apart.

A "Babe" wannabe, this live action Aussie import offers colorful nature footage, but the clumsy storytelling, ill-fitting dialogue and shrill voice characterizations leave it in the doghouse.

While clearly aimed at the kiddies, the story is fraught with peril and references to death and killing, while much of the humor is surprisingly mean-spirited.

A cuddly golden retriever puppy, Napoleon (called Muffin by his mom) yearns to leave the domestic life behind and heed the call of his wild brethren.

He gets his wish when a makeshift hot-air balloon carries him from his suburban backyard home out to the Australian bush, where he befriends a talkative Galah (a native Australian migratory bird) called Birdo Lucci.

Napoleon picks up a few quick pointers in survival skills during bouts with a feral cat, not to mention stampeding horses, a sugar cane blaze and flash flooding. Ultimately the frisky pup learns, like many screen creatures before him, that there's no place like home.

Writer-director Mario Andreacchio and director of photography Roger Dowling offer up an exotic menagerie of co-stars, including wallabies, wombats, lorikeets, and dingos in addition to the obligatory kangaroo.

But the accompanying story and dialogue have a slapped-together, after-the-fact feel and the inclusion of a handful of banal songs, credited to score composer Bill Conti and lyricist Mark Saltzman, do nothing to infuse the film with some much-needed charm.

NAPOLEON

MGM Distribution

Australian Film Finance Corp.,

Herald Ace Inc., Goldwyn Entertainment Co. present in association with Nippon Herald Films,

Fuji Television & Pony Canyon

a Film Australia, Herald Ace

and Furry Feature Films production

Director Mario Andreacchio

Screenwriters Michael Bourchier,

Mario Andreacchio, Mark Saltzman

Producers Michael Bourchier,

Mario Andreacchio

Executive producers Masato Hara,

Ron Saunders

Director of photography Roger Dowling

Production designer Vicki Niehus

Editor Edward McQueen-Mason

Music Bill Conti

Lyrics Mark Saltzman

Color/stereo

Voices:

Napoleon Jamie Croft

Birdo Philip Quast

Conan Casey Siemaszko

Mother Penguin Joan Rivers

Parenti Lizard/Father Penguin Stuart Pankin

Kangaroo Dame Edna Everage

Running time - 81 minutes

MPAA rating: G...