News

South Australian Anthony Frith’s close encounter with “Sharknado” prodco The Asylum in “Mockbuster” is among five handpicked titles to be showcased at the Adelaide Film Festival Goes to Cannes showcase, held at Cannes Marché du Film on May 17.

The five works in progress range from queer adult anime, comedic doc, and traditional non-fiction to family dramas, helmed mostly by newcomers, and reflect the dynamic filmmaking community of Southern Australia, set to tempt potential co-financiers in Cannes.

So far two titles have received international backing. “Mockbuster” has been pre-sold to Giant Pictures and Drafthouse Films for North America, on top of domestic distribution in Australia via Umbrella Entertainment; Kelly Schilling’s drama “With or Without You,” handled locally by Icon Film Distribution, has been picked up by global sales agent LevelK.

Aimed at bringing together selected South Australian creators and producers with global industry delegates and to promote South Australia as a filmmaking hub,...

Production is underway on “Kangaroo Island,” the feature film debut from Australian director Tim Piper and screenwriter Sally Gifford.

The family relationship drama-comedy centers around a struggling Hollywood actress forced to reunite with her sister as part of her father’s last wishes. It stars Rebecca Breeds, Erik Thomson, Adelaide Clemens and Joel Jackson.

Lou Wells (portrayed by Breeds) was set to become Hollywood’s next big thing – but a few years later, she’s hit rock bottom. Broke and aimless, she reluctantly accepts a ticket from her estranged father (Thomson), home to Kangaroo Island for a “family reunion.” When her father’s real agenda unfolds, years of tension resurface, and Lou struggles between continuing to run away from her past or working to repair the damage done.

“Kangaroo Island” is a Pouch Potato Productions production, in conjunction with Piro Inc. Ot has financial support from the South Australian Film...

South Australian Film Corporation board chair Peter Hanlon has announced he will step down from the role in December to become a partner with city-based creative hub Light Adelaide.

The retired corporate executive was appointed to the position in 2018 and has since overseen the appointment of CEO Kate Croser, as well as the extension of the state’s 10 per cent post-production, digital and visual effects (Pdv) rebate to cover video game development.

He also served as the chair of the Screen Sa Advisory Committee, which was established to oversee the growth of screen-related industries and job opportunities in the state.

Hanlon told If while he had mixed feelings about his departure, it was necessary to avoid any potential conflict of interest, given the post-production capabilities of Light Adelaide.

“The South Australian industry is in a great position at the moment and we’re heading into the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Safc,...

Emma Hough Hobbs.

Emma Hough Hobbs has won the inaugural $35,000 Hanlon Larsen Screen Fellowship, which will provide her support to produce her experimental film project, Film On Film (working title).

Envisioned as a three to six minute doc-animation hybrid, Film on Film will explore the compelling charm of celluloid, and how to spot when a film has been shot with the “good stuff”. It will be shot on Kodak stock and the animation will then be captured frame by frame on Kodak film itself. The short will pair soundbites from experts and film-centric directors, like Hirokazu Kore-eda, Sean Baker and Sophia Coppola, with handcrafted 2D animation, to create an odeto the medium against the backdrop of 35mm’s contemporary renaissance.

Hough Hobbs was presented the fellowship yesterday at the Screen Makers Conference. The emerging designer, animator and filmmaker has credits in the art department on shows such as Upright and The Hunting,...

Kate Croser. (Photo: Claudio Raschella)

Producer Kate Croser has been appointed the CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation (Safc), succeeding Courtney Gibson.

Croser was most recently the head of production and development at Kojo Entertainment. Prior to this, she ran Hedone Productions with partner Sandy Cameron, and was a co-founder of Cyan Films with Julie Ryan. Her credits include Top End Wedding, The Infinite Man, Boys in the Trees, Danger 5 and My Tehran for Sale. She has sat on the Safc board since 2016.

Croser’s term will span three years from September.

“Having produced numerous film and television projects and run several production companies in South Australia I am deeply plugged into the fantastic wealth of talent, businesses, crews, and advantages within the South Australian screen industry,” she said.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the team at the South Australian Film Corporation to...

Amanda Duthie.

The South Australian Film Corporation board has appointed head of production, development, attraction and studios Amanda Duthie as acting CEO, following the resignation of Courtney Gibson.

Duthie joined the Safc last November from the Adelaide Film Festival, where she had been CEO and artistic director for six years. Duthie is also a former head of ABC TV’s arts and entertainment, and has held various roles at the ABC, Sbs and the Nsw Film and Television Office (now Screen Nsw) throughout her career.

Gibson, a former CEO of Screen Nsw and executive at the ABC, Nine Network, Southern Star and Sbs, announced her resignation yesterday after 15 months in the CEO role. She will to return to Sydney to be closer to family.

Safc chair Peter Hanlon said “The board and I are delighted that the myriad opportunities and collaborations offered by the Safc will continue to be delivered...

Courtney Gibson.

South Australian Film Corporation CEO Courtney Gibson has resigned after 15 months at the helm. She will finish at the end of this month, moving back to Sydney to be closer to family.

Gibson, a former CEO of Screen Nsw and executive at the ABC, Nine Network, Southern Star and Sbs, joined the Safc in April 2018, with a stated aim to boost production levels in the state, including a greater share of TV production.

Notably South Australia has recently scored New Line/Warner Bros.’ Mortal Kombat, and series like Matchbox Pictures/Dirty Films Stateless, Closer Productions’ The Hunting, Lingo Pictures’ comedy drama Upright, Epic Films’ First Day, the first ever children’s drama series starring a transgender teen and The Letdown season 2.

Other recent Sa productions include Daniel Radcliffe-starrer Escape from Pretoria, and Mark Lamprell’s Never Too Late, while Daina Reid’s upcoming Run Rabbit Run, based...