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Australian action thriller “2099: The Soldier Protocol,” starring David Arquette, has been picked up for international sales by Los Angeles-based Spotlight Pictures. Directed by transgender woman Dee McLachlan (“The Jammed”) it will be launched for buyers at the European Film Market.

Boosting the film’s sales potential is an agreement with Vertical Entertainment to release it in North American theaters on March 27.

The film, released in Australia as “The Wheel,” is the story of a neuroscientist who is forced to take part in a project to build an enhanced human fighting machine. McLachlan, who was born in South Africa and transitioned gender after moving to Australia, weaves in themes of greed, loss and humanity, and questions our compliance in such atrocity, all in the name of science.

The cast also includes Jackson Gallagher and Kendal Rae. Production is by Melbourne-based shingle SunJive Studios.

“This is a time to recognize the...

The gritty story about Melbourne’s sex slaves started small but became an acclaimed local hit, with powerful performances and dramatic pacing

The very concept of an independent film – one financed outside the traditional system, usually with little to no guarantee of distribution – is a concerning proposition in Australia. There is a sense locally made films battle upstream from the start, fighting for eyeballs against a backdrop of diminished market share and inundation of foreign content.

The release of writer-director Dee McLachlan’s riveting 2007 thriller The Jammed, a fictitious examination of Melbourne sex slaves told with shocking street-level realism, embodied the excitement in discovering a great indie but warned of the heightened challenges such films face in finding an audience. McLachlan’s fast-paced exposé came perilously close to plummeting into instant obscurity, but ultimately achieved one of the most inspiring success stories of any locally made independent film.

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Dee McLachlan.s controversial new comedy 10terrorists had its debut screening on Thursday night at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and while the film has been mostly accepted by audiences, it has been faced with its fair share of naysayers.

.We had one person walk out at a test screening and fill in their form saying the film should never have been made.., recalls McLachlan.

10terrorists follows a Hollywood producer as he sets up the most extreme reality show to date - Amateur Master Terrorist. Borrowing from other popular reality shows, Amateur Master Terrorist consists of segments such as Armed Apprentice, Queer Spy for the Terrorist Guy, Blasterchef and So You Want To Be A Terrorist!.

.It started off as a script called Terry and Isim and was about Guantanamo Bay. Then that fell through because Harold and Kumar came along and Bush got voted out. But the idea shifted...

The XMediaLab: Film X-tended transmedia conference is taking place today in Melbourne, and keynote speakers and participants told Encore what they’re expecting audiences to learn at the event.

For Nathan Mayfield, chief creative officer and co-founder of the award-winning company Hoodlum, “it’s an exciting time for producers to step up and really learn about multi-platform.”

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Lisa Gray, head of content at The Feds, has participated at these events in London and Sydney. “I get to spend some time with new creatives and hear about their ideas, and they can realise their digital opportunities,” she said.

Producer Andrea Buck said she learned about the value of engaging with the audience beyond traditional film marketing when she distributed the feature The Jammed. “This is an opportunity to get an understanding of the value and the power of cross media,...

While the cynical cineaste laments the low ratio of quality Australian films to foreign productions in our cinemas, the motivated and enthusiastic John L. Simpson is actually doing something about it. From August 5 to 19 Sydney's cinephiles have a chance to get their fix of inspiring and entertaining independent Australian cinema as Parramatta's Riverside Theatres plays host to Indie Gems: A Festival of Fresh Aussie Films.   Opening with director Dee McLachlan's thriller, The Jammed, which features Saskia Burmeister, Emma Lung and Andrew S. Gilbert, Indie Gems presents a program of fresh features, a selection of short films and a free filmmaker's workshop headed by John L....

Seems Chris Morris doesn't have a corner on the market for terrorism comedies this year.  No, the creators of very serious minded Australian thriller The Jammed have just taken a turn towards the low-brow and launched production on their terrorism / reality TV spoof Eliminated.  Here's the first official word:

After winning over critics and audiences in 2007 with acclaimed box office breakout hit The Jammed, the same team is back with a new film, Eliminated, which commenced shooting in Melbourne this week.

Written and directed by Dee McLachlan and produced by Andrea Buck from film production company The Picture Tank, Eliminated is a politically incorrect comedy about two of Australia's major obsessions, terrorism and reality television.

In Eliminated, a panel of guerilla judges selects and tests an eager and diverse group of young contestants to see who will take out the crown of 'master terrorist'. Subjected to various challenges, interrogations and torture,...

Currently shooting in Melbourne is the follow-up feature to The Jammed from filmmaker Dee McLachlan (pictured). In contract to the thrills of The Jammed, Eliminated is a politically incorrect comedy set in the world of terrorism and reality TV. According to the press release, the plot sees "a panel of guerilla judges select and test an eager and diverse group of young contestants to see who will take out the crown of ‘master terrorist'. Subjected to various challenges, interrogations and torture, the aspiring terrorists adapt and change - and even learn to work together - as they face tormenting and surprising eliminations.

Former Home and Away and new NBC series Kings star Chris Egan will feature in the new Australian thriller Crush. The film, which has been picked up for theatrical release in the first half of 2009, also stars The Jammed ‘s Emma Lung and Underbelly star Jenna Lind. Written and co-directed by John Soto with Jeff Gerritsen, the film tells the story of university student Julian (Egan) who is seduced by the mysterious Anna (Lung).

SYDNEY -- The Australian film and TV awards season kicked off Wednesday with the announcement of nominations for the annual Inside Film awards, with the Australia -Singapore co-production Home Song Stories dominating the 2007 lineup.

Tony Ayres' semi-autobiographical film about a Chinese singer and her family who settle in Australia in the '70s picked up nine total noms, including best feature film, best director, best actor (Joel Lok) and best actress (Joan Chen).

The IF Awards are considered the people's choice awards, voted by readers of Inside Film magazine, although the awards for best director, best editing, best production design and best sound are voted on by industry professionals in each craft category.

Also vying for best picture are Dee McLachlan's independently-financed and produced thriller The Jammed, about the sex slave trade in underground Melbourne, which was nominated in a total of six categories, and Michael James Rowland's gentle comedy about Iranian and Cambodian refugees, Lucky Miles, which received five nominations.