“6 Festivals,” a music drama film that marks the first Australian feature movie to be commissioned by Paramount+, is to get a local theatrical release.
The picture is the story of three teenage best friends who try to attend six music festivals in as many months. It gets its world premiere on Friday at the Sydney Film Festival, as part of the Sff’s Sounds on Screen section.
The picture will have a limited theatrical release in Australia through Bonsai Films from Aug. 11, 2022. Global accessibility on Paramount+ will follow at an unspecified date later in the year.
Parent company, ViacomCBS also owns Australian linear network Channel 10. Together they gave the Paramount+ platform a local launch last August by including 10’s pre-existing streaming offering, 10 All Access.
“6 Festivals” was written by Sean Nash, Macario De Souza and Lou Sanz and directed by de Souza (“Bra Boys”), who also works as recording artist Kid Mac.
The picture is the story of three teenage best friends who try to attend six music festivals in as many months. It gets its world premiere on Friday at the Sydney Film Festival, as part of the Sff’s Sounds on Screen section.
The picture will have a limited theatrical release in Australia through Bonsai Films from Aug. 11, 2022. Global accessibility on Paramount+ will follow at an unspecified date later in the year.
Parent company, ViacomCBS also owns Australian linear network Channel 10. Together they gave the Paramount+ platform a local launch last August by including 10’s pre-existing streaming offering, 10 All Access.
“6 Festivals” was written by Sean Nash, Macario De Souza and Lou Sanz and directed by de Souza (“Bra Boys”), who also works as recording artist Kid Mac.
- 6/8/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Sydney Film Festival has completed the selection for its first full in-person edition in three years with a strong Australian lineup and a smattering of Cannes titles. The 2022 edition runs June 8 – 19, 2022.
After Covid disruptions saw the 2021 edition delayed from June until November, it has been a quick six-month turnaround to return the 2022 festival to its regular winter slot. The festival will present over 200 films from over 64 countries, including 27 world premieres.
Australian films play throughout. The international competition, which comes with a A60,000 cash prize, includes two local entries: artist Del Kathryn Barton’s feature directorial debut “Blaze”; and Goran Stolevski’s supernatural tale “You Won’t Be Alone.” They will compete with films direct from Cannes including Lukas Dhont’s “Close,” Davy Chou’s “All the People I’ll Never Be” and Emin Alper’s political thriller “Burning Days.”
The festival also hosts world premieres of Australian documentaries including Penny McDonald...
After Covid disruptions saw the 2021 edition delayed from June until November, it has been a quick six-month turnaround to return the 2022 festival to its regular winter slot. The festival will present over 200 films from over 64 countries, including 27 world premieres.
Australian films play throughout. The international competition, which comes with a A60,000 cash prize, includes two local entries: artist Del Kathryn Barton’s feature directorial debut “Blaze”; and Goran Stolevski’s supernatural tale “You Won’t Be Alone.” They will compete with films direct from Cannes including Lukas Dhont’s “Close,” Davy Chou’s “All the People I’ll Never Be” and Emin Alper’s political thriller “Burning Days.”
The festival also hosts world premieres of Australian documentaries including Penny McDonald...
- 5/11/2022
- by Katherine Tulich
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin Golden Bear winner ‘Alcarràs’ among titles.
Sydney Film Festival (June 8-19) has revealed the 12 titles that will play in competition at its 69th edition.
The titles include Carla Simon’s Catalan family drama Alcarràs, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale in February; Colm Bairéad’s Irish-language drama The Quiet Girl, which took the grand prize in Berlin’s Generation Kplus strand; and Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s Bolivian eco-drama Utama, winner of the grand jury prize at Sundance in January.
Scroll down for full list of titles
The sole documentary in the line-up is Sara Dosa’s Fire of Love,...
Sydney Film Festival (June 8-19) has revealed the 12 titles that will play in competition at its 69th edition.
The titles include Carla Simon’s Catalan family drama Alcarràs, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale in February; Colm Bairéad’s Irish-language drama The Quiet Girl, which took the grand prize in Berlin’s Generation Kplus strand; and Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s Bolivian eco-drama Utama, winner of the grand jury prize at Sundance in January.
Scroll down for full list of titles
The sole documentary in the line-up is Sara Dosa’s Fire of Love,...
- 5/11/2022
- by Sandy George
- ScreenDaily
Film comprises eight shorts about resilience and survival.
The world premiere of anthology film We Are Still Here will open the 69th Sydney Film Festival on June 8. It comprises eight stories by and about First Nations people.
The Australian-New Zealand co-production includes the work of 10 directors: Australians Beck Cole, Danielle MacLean, Tracey Rigney and Dena Curtis; and New Zealanders Tim Worrall, Richard Curtis, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Chantelle Burgoyn and Mario Gaoa.
The many First Nations actors involved include Clarence Ryan, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Leonie Whyman and Calvin Tuteao.
No international sales agent is yet attached to the film, which is...
The world premiere of anthology film We Are Still Here will open the 69th Sydney Film Festival on June 8. It comprises eight stories by and about First Nations people.
The Australian-New Zealand co-production includes the work of 10 directors: Australians Beck Cole, Danielle MacLean, Tracey Rigney and Dena Curtis; and New Zealanders Tim Worrall, Richard Curtis, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Chantelle Burgoyn and Mario Gaoa.
The many First Nations actors involved include Clarence Ryan, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Leonie Whyman and Calvin Tuteao.
No international sales agent is yet attached to the film, which is...
- 5/4/2022
- by Sandy George
- ScreenDaily
Reality is set to be reworked across 10 ViacomCBS in 2022, with international formats headlining today’s upfronts.
Endemol Shine Australia will adapt UK programs Hunted and Would I Lie To You? Australia as part of next year’s Network 10 slate, as well as reality series The Bridge for Paramount+.
Warner Bros. will also produce a local version of Showtime docuseries Couples Therapy for the ViacomCBS streamer.
The free-to-air premiere schedule is rounded out by a relaunch of First Dates Australia, which joins returning formats I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Australian Survivor, MasterChef Australia, The Masked Singer Australia, The Project, Gogglebox Australia and Have You Been Paying Attention?
ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand senior vice president for content and programming Daniel Monaghan said the “strong, consistent” line-up was designed to maintain the company’s trajectory.
“Over the past 18 months we’ve grown our viewing share and once again...
Endemol Shine Australia will adapt UK programs Hunted and Would I Lie To You? Australia as part of next year’s Network 10 slate, as well as reality series The Bridge for Paramount+.
Warner Bros. will also produce a local version of Showtime docuseries Couples Therapy for the ViacomCBS streamer.
The free-to-air premiere schedule is rounded out by a relaunch of First Dates Australia, which joins returning formats I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Australian Survivor, MasterChef Australia, The Masked Singer Australia, The Project, Gogglebox Australia and Have You Been Paying Attention?
ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand senior vice president for content and programming Daniel Monaghan said the “strong, consistent” line-up was designed to maintain the company’s trajectory.
“Over the past 18 months we’ve grown our viewing share and once again...
- 10/20/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
After handing over the reins at Endemol Shine Australia last year, Mark Fennessy has officially launched his next venture, Helium.
The Sydney-based company will comprise three arms – Helium Studios, Helium Pictures and Helium Records – blending the producer’s passions of film/TV and music.
As an independent production label, Helium will have a primary focus on premium scripted and premium factual. Fennessy, who will act as the company’s chief creative officer, tells If his focus is on the “premium, contemporary, noisy, disruptive”.
“Via a growing stable of artists and creative talent, coupled with a unique network of storytellers, writers, and producers, we’re committed to building sustainable and truly rewarding partnerships,” he says.
On the Helium launch slate is the previously announced Last King of the Cross, in pre-production for Paramount+; feature film 6 Festivals, also for Paramount+, and crime thriller series Sex and Thugs and Rock n Roll, in advanced development.
The Sydney-based company will comprise three arms – Helium Studios, Helium Pictures and Helium Records – blending the producer’s passions of film/TV and music.
As an independent production label, Helium will have a primary focus on premium scripted and premium factual. Fennessy, who will act as the company’s chief creative officer, tells If his focus is on the “premium, contemporary, noisy, disruptive”.
“Via a growing stable of artists and creative talent, coupled with a unique network of storytellers, writers, and producers, we’re committed to building sustainable and truly rewarding partnerships,” he says.
On the Helium launch slate is the previously announced Last King of the Cross, in pre-production for Paramount+; feature film 6 Festivals, also for Paramount+, and crime thriller series Sex and Thugs and Rock n Roll, in advanced development.
- 10/6/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Yasmin Honeychurch, Rory Potter, Rasmus King, and newcomer Guyala Bayles lead the cast of writer-director Macario de Souza’s Paramount+ feature, 6 Festivals.
An Invisible Republic and Hype Republic film, 6 Festivals follows a group of three best friends, Maxie, Summer and James, who ‘bucket-list’ six music festivals over six months while coming to terms with James’ cancer diagnosis.
Bayles, a poet, model and recording artist plays Marley, an up-and-coming musician.
The film will feature a slew of Australian music acts, some of whom will feature in cameo appearances (as themselves), including G Flip, Dune Rats, Alison Wonderland, Bliss n Eso, Peking Duk, Pnau, Example, Hooligan Hefs, The Amity Affliction, JessB, B Wise and Running Touch.
Filming started earlier this year at music festivals across Wollongong and the Sunshine Coast.
For de Souza, making 6 Festivals is the realisation of his childhood and professional experiences to date.
“Music festivals have had a profound impact on my life.
An Invisible Republic and Hype Republic film, 6 Festivals follows a group of three best friends, Maxie, Summer and James, who ‘bucket-list’ six music festivals over six months while coming to terms with James’ cancer diagnosis.
Bayles, a poet, model and recording artist plays Marley, an up-and-coming musician.
The film will feature a slew of Australian music acts, some of whom will feature in cameo appearances (as themselves), including G Flip, Dune Rats, Alison Wonderland, Bliss n Eso, Peking Duk, Pnau, Example, Hooligan Hefs, The Amity Affliction, JessB, B Wise and Running Touch.
Filming started earlier this year at music festivals across Wollongong and the Sunshine Coast.
For de Souza, making 6 Festivals is the realisation of his childhood and professional experiences to date.
“Music festivals have had a profound impact on my life.
- 7/28/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
The second season of Hoodlum Entertainment’s Five Bedrooms will premiere exclusively on Paramount+ when it launches in Australia August 11, with the ViacomCBS streamer also announcing three new local productions today.
They include comedy Spreadsheet, drama Last King of the Cross and feature film 6 Festivals, each of which is expected to commence production soon.
Paramount+, a rebrand of 10 All Access, will have a have starting subscription price of $8.99 per month, cheaper than competitors Netflix, Stan, Disney+ and Binge.
The content line-up includes series and films such as The First Lady, Dexter, The Luminaries, The Harper House, The Man Who Fell To Earth, The Gilded Age, Yellow Jackets, Coyote, Mayor of Kingston, Everyone is Doing Great, Spy City, Anne Boleyn, Leonardo, The Godfather, Mission: Impossible and Paw Patrol.
Other exclusive titles include Lioness, Halo, The Offer, Y:1883, Flatbush Misdemeanors, Stephen, Crossing Swords, Help, No Return, Line In The Sand and Ripley and documentaries,...
They include comedy Spreadsheet, drama Last King of the Cross and feature film 6 Festivals, each of which is expected to commence production soon.
Paramount+, a rebrand of 10 All Access, will have a have starting subscription price of $8.99 per month, cheaper than competitors Netflix, Stan, Disney+ and Binge.
The content line-up includes series and films such as The First Lady, Dexter, The Luminaries, The Harper House, The Man Who Fell To Earth, The Gilded Age, Yellow Jackets, Coyote, Mayor of Kingston, Everyone is Doing Great, Spy City, Anne Boleyn, Leonardo, The Godfather, Mission: Impossible and Paw Patrol.
Other exclusive titles include Lioness, Halo, The Offer, Y:1883, Flatbush Misdemeanors, Stephen, Crossing Swords, Help, No Return, Line In The Sand and Ripley and documentaries,...
- 5/6/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Macario De Souza, the writer/director behind ‘6 Festivals’.
Screen Australia has announced production funding for three feature films and one online project, to a total of $1.4 million.
The slate includes supernatural drama You Won’t Be Alone from writer/director Goran Stolevski and producers Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings of Causeway Films; and 6 Festivals, a drama centred on a group of friends who commit to a bucket list of music festivals over one summer from writer/director Macario De Souza.
Also receiving funding are writer/director Tyson Johnston’s Streamline, about a prospective teen Olympic swimmer to played by Levi Miller; and Moments of Clarity, an online animated comedy about the existential truths of ordinary life from writer/director Tim Logan.
In addition to the above slate, completion funding was supplied to See Picture’s comedy feature June Again. Written and directed by JJ Winlove and produced by Jamie Hilton,...
Screen Australia has announced production funding for three feature films and one online project, to a total of $1.4 million.
The slate includes supernatural drama You Won’t Be Alone from writer/director Goran Stolevski and producers Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings of Causeway Films; and 6 Festivals, a drama centred on a group of friends who commit to a bucket list of music festivals over one summer from writer/director Macario De Souza.
Also receiving funding are writer/director Tyson Johnston’s Streamline, about a prospective teen Olympic swimmer to played by Levi Miller; and Moments of Clarity, an online animated comedy about the existential truths of ordinary life from writer/director Tim Logan.
In addition to the above slate, completion funding was supplied to See Picture’s comedy feature June Again. Written and directed by JJ Winlove and produced by Jamie Hilton,...
- 10/15/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Distributor Fred Media has signed a deal to represent Garage Entertainment.s two award-winning documentaries and reality series at Mipcom in October.
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Fred will present.Bra Boys.and.Fighting Fear, along with.The Crew, a series currently airing on Australia.s Nine Network and Fox Sports.
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Mike Aldrich, Fred Media general manager said he had been a big fan of Garage Entertainment for years and had always wanted to work with Mick Lawrence and his team.
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"These are truly brilliant offerings in documentary/reality style and will wow international audiences with their strong stories and iconic images and I can.t wait to represent them at Mipcom..
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Garage Entertainment owner and founder,.Michael Lawrence,.said he was excited to have the productions presented at Mipcom.
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.If they.re good enough for Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton, Anthony Keidis, Snoop Dogg,.Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Bj Penn,.we are hoping they...
.
Fred will present.Bra Boys.and.Fighting Fear, along with.The Crew, a series currently airing on Australia.s Nine Network and Fox Sports.
.
Mike Aldrich, Fred Media general manager said he had been a big fan of Garage Entertainment for years and had always wanted to work with Mick Lawrence and his team.
.
"These are truly brilliant offerings in documentary/reality style and will wow international audiences with their strong stories and iconic images and I can.t wait to represent them at Mipcom..
.
Garage Entertainment owner and founder,.Michael Lawrence,.said he was excited to have the productions presented at Mipcom.
.
.If they.re good enough for Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton, Anthony Keidis, Snoop Dogg,.Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Bj Penn,.we are hoping they...
- 9/8/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
The first round of Aacta award winners were announced yesterday in Sydney at the 2nd Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Luncheon. Held at the Sydney.s The Star Event Centre and hosted by Adam Elliot, the luncheon drew a host of industry representatives including actors Damon Herriman, Daniel Henshall and Felicity Price. The Sapphires was a favourite of the day, taking home five coveted gongs in total for cinematography (Warwick Thornton), editing (Dany Cooper Ase), sound (Andrew Plain, Bry Jones, Pete Smith, Ben Osmo and John Simpson), costume design (Tess Schofield) and production design in a feature film (Melinda Doring.) A jovial Thornton told media working with Sapphires director Wayne Blair wasn.t exactly a walk in the park. .He.s an incredibly hard task master,. he said. .You can.t pull the wool over his eyes when you feel like being lazy.. Cooper spoke of the...
- 1/28/2013
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
The Sapphires looks set to dominate this year’s Aacta Awards after dominating the categories announced at yesterday’s awards lunch.
The AACTAs – the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts – were held for the first time last year. Yesterday’s lunch at the Star casino in Sydney comes ahead of tomorrow night’s main Aacta ceremony.
The Sapphires won in five of the early categories, including best editing, sound and cinematography.
The event also paid tribute to producer Al Clark with the Raymond Longford Award. Clark was behind films including The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Absolute Beginners and Nineteen Eighty Four.
Tributes were also paid to producer Pat Lovell, who died over the weekend. Lovell was a producer on films including Picnic At Hanging Rock and Gallipoli.
The winners:
Aacta Raymond Longford Award
Al Clark
Aacta Award For Best Visual Effects
Iron Sky. Samuli Torssonen, Jussi Lehtiniemi,...
The AACTAs – the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts – were held for the first time last year. Yesterday’s lunch at the Star casino in Sydney comes ahead of tomorrow night’s main Aacta ceremony.
The Sapphires won in five of the early categories, including best editing, sound and cinematography.
The event also paid tribute to producer Al Clark with the Raymond Longford Award. Clark was behind films including The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Absolute Beginners and Nineteen Eighty Four.
Tributes were also paid to producer Pat Lovell, who died over the weekend. Lovell was a producer on films including Picnic At Hanging Rock and Gallipoli.
The winners:
Aacta Raymond Longford Award
Al Clark
Aacta Award For Best Visual Effects
Iron Sky. Samuli Torssonen, Jussi Lehtiniemi,...
- 1/28/2013
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
Hit musical drama The Sapphires has scored 12 nominations at the 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) Awards including in the coveted best feature film category.
The Sapphires, which follows four indigenous singers during the Vietnam war, has grossed more than $14 million in Australia to become the biggest local film of the year.
Three other films will be also be vying for the best feature film award: Burning Man (10 nominations in total), Lore (eight nominations in total) and Wish You Were Here (eight nominations in total) at the main Aacta ceremony, which will be held on January 30, 2013, at The Star Event Centre. Last year's event was held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
P.J. Hogan's Mental also scored eight nominations including Best Lead Actress (Toni Collette), Best Supporting Actor (Liev Schreiber) Best Young Actor (Lily Sullivan) and Best Supporting Actress for Rebecca Gibney and Deborah Mailman.
Not Suitable for Children...
The Sapphires, which follows four indigenous singers during the Vietnam war, has grossed more than $14 million in Australia to become the biggest local film of the year.
Three other films will be also be vying for the best feature film award: Burning Man (10 nominations in total), Lore (eight nominations in total) and Wish You Were Here (eight nominations in total) at the main Aacta ceremony, which will be held on January 30, 2013, at The Star Event Centre. Last year's event was held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
P.J. Hogan's Mental also scored eight nominations including Best Lead Actress (Toni Collette), Best Supporting Actor (Liev Schreiber) Best Young Actor (Lily Sullivan) and Best Supporting Actress for Rebecca Gibney and Deborah Mailman.
Not Suitable for Children...
- 12/3/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
The Sapphires has led the Academy of Australian Cinema and Television Arts Awards nominations being nominated in 12 categories.
Awards will be handed out over two events, with an awards luncheon, focused on craft categories on Monday January 28 and the main event on January 30. Both events will be held at the Star Event Centre, the first public events for the venue.
The Sapphires, distributed by Hopscotch/eOne has been nominated for Best Film, Best Direction and best adapted screenplay as well as Best Lead Actor and Actress for Chris O’Dowd and Deborah Mailman, and Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Mauboy.
Burning Man was not far behind on 10 nominations including best film and best direction as well as best lead actor for Matthre Goode and Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis.
Three more films, Lore, Mental and Wish You Were Here received eight nominations while Not Suitable For Children received four.
Awards will be handed out over two events, with an awards luncheon, focused on craft categories on Monday January 28 and the main event on January 30. Both events will be held at the Star Event Centre, the first public events for the venue.
The Sapphires, distributed by Hopscotch/eOne has been nominated for Best Film, Best Direction and best adapted screenplay as well as Best Lead Actor and Actress for Chris O’Dowd and Deborah Mailman, and Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Mauboy.
Burning Man was not far behind on 10 nominations including best film and best direction as well as best lead actor for Matthre Goode and Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis.
Three more films, Lore, Mental and Wish You Were Here received eight nominations while Not Suitable For Children received four.
- 12/3/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
When shooting a documentary about your two best mates, walking the line between being a filmmaker and a friend can be difficult. Just ask Macario De Souza.
.As a friend, you want to put down the camera and be with your mates,. says the 27 year-old director. .But you can.t do that while you.re making a movie..
Fighting Fear is De Souza.s follow up to 2007.s Bra Boys, the highest grossing local (non-imax) documentary in Australian history. Shot over three years, the film tracks the friendship between cage fighter Richie Vas and pro-surfer Mark Matthews from the ages of 12 to 27 as they experience highs and lows, personally and professionally.
.There.s a lot of movies about female friendship,. says executive producer Michael Lawrence. .But Macca and I hadn.t seen a film for a long time about men being mates, and I think mateship is a really great Australian theme.
.As a friend, you want to put down the camera and be with your mates,. says the 27 year-old director. .But you can.t do that while you.re making a movie..
Fighting Fear is De Souza.s follow up to 2007.s Bra Boys, the highest grossing local (non-imax) documentary in Australian history. Shot over three years, the film tracks the friendship between cage fighter Richie Vas and pro-surfer Mark Matthews from the ages of 12 to 27 as they experience highs and lows, personally and professionally.
.There.s a lot of movies about female friendship,. says executive producer Michael Lawrence. .But Macca and I hadn.t seen a film for a long time about men being mates, and I think mateship is a really great Australian theme.
- 4/4/2012
- by Amanda Diaz
- IF.com.au
Action documentary Fighting Fear posted a modest opening over the weekend, after receiving the biggest release in history for an Australian documentary. The film, which is directed by Bra Boys filmmaker Macario De Souza and distributed by Garage Entertainment, opened on 55 screens and grossed $104,555, with a screen average of $1,639. The documentary follows the friendship of mixed martial arts fighter Richie Vas and pro surfer Mark Matthews as they deal with the highs and lows of their personal and professional lives. French-Australian co-production Santa's Apprentice also opened over the weekend, posting a screen average of $833 across 149 screens and grossing $124,092. The film features the voice talents of Shane Jacobson (Kenny) and singer, Delta Goodrem. Feel-good...
- 11/14/2011
- by Amanda Diaz
- IF.com.au
New Australian action documentary Fighting Fear will receive the biggest Australian documentary release in history.
Director Macario de Souza told Encore the film will open across an impressive 60 screens with another possible 6 to be added, while in New Zealand it will open across 15 screens.
Opening November 10, it’s distributed through action sports brand Garage Entertainment with Hoyts and Village/Greater Union both exhibiting.
De Souza, co-director of Bra Boys, is confident Fighting Fear will capture the audiences just as well, after Bra Boys holds the record highest grossing Australian documentary, taking $1,698,976 at the box office.
About the friendship between surfer Mark Matthews and cage fighting hopeful Richie Vaculik, and narrated by Joel Edgerton, d Souza told Encore Fighting Fear is about about capturing ‘the realness’: “I think its the ‘old blue collar, Aussie battler story’ that most people can relate to. It’s that realness rather than the American fictional bullshit.
Director Macario de Souza told Encore the film will open across an impressive 60 screens with another possible 6 to be added, while in New Zealand it will open across 15 screens.
Opening November 10, it’s distributed through action sports brand Garage Entertainment with Hoyts and Village/Greater Union both exhibiting.
De Souza, co-director of Bra Boys, is confident Fighting Fear will capture the audiences just as well, after Bra Boys holds the record highest grossing Australian documentary, taking $1,698,976 at the box office.
About the friendship between surfer Mark Matthews and cage fighting hopeful Richie Vaculik, and narrated by Joel Edgerton, d Souza told Encore Fighting Fear is about about capturing ‘the realness’: “I think its the ‘old blue collar, Aussie battler story’ that most people can relate to. It’s that realness rather than the American fictional bullshit.
- 11/4/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Film and television sales company Odin's Eye Entertaiment has acquired Macario De Souza's Fighting Fear from Garage Entertainment. The action documentary is De Souza's first feature since 2007's Bra Boys - which holds the record for the highest grossing local (non-imax) documentary in Australia. The film follows the friendship and exploits of professional surfer, Mark Matthews and mixed martial arts cage fighter, Richie 'Vas' Vaculik and was shot over three years. .It.s The King.s Speech with action sports,. says executive producer, Michael Lawrence. .It.s about two guys who just got each other.. The film will be released across more than 40 screens from November 10 and hopes to rely on a word-of-mouth strategy. "The...
- 9/28/2011
- by Amanda Diaz
- IF.com.au
Film and television sales company Odin's Eye Entertaiment has acquired Macario De Souza's Fighting Fear from Garage Entertainment. The action documentary is De Souza's first feature since 2007's Bra Boys - which holds the record for the highest grossing documentary in Australia. The film follows the friendship and exploits of professional surfer, Mark Matthews and mixed martial arts cage fighter, Richie 'Vas' Vaculik and was shot over three years. .It.s The King.s Speech with action sports,. says executive producer, Michael Lawrence. .It.s about two guys who just got each other.. The film will be released across more than 40 screens from November 10 and hopes to rely on a word-of-mouth strategy. "The...
- 9/28/2011
- by Amanda Diaz
- IF.com.au
SYDNEY -- To call the production values of the Australian surfer documentary Bra Boys amateurish would be too kind. But there's something strangely compelling about the undiluted machismo of the culture it celebrates. It's a piece of unabashed myth-making from first-time writer-director Sunny Abberton, himself a member of the infamous surf tribe from the working-class beachside suburb of Maroubra, in Sydney.
Footage of world-class surfing and a hard-charging rock soundtrack should attract the niche wave-rider market overseas. The addition of Russell Crowe as narrator of some largely superfluous commentary gives it an imprimatur of professional cool. (Crowe will make his directorial debut with a film based on the docu later this year.) The film became Australia's highest-grossing non-IMAX documentary when it was released locally last year, making mainstream celebrities of its subjects. So far the film has done well at international fringe festivals.
One-eyed and technically inexperienced he may be, Abberton (co-directing with fellow Bra Boy Macario De Souza) is able to provide a raw insider's look into the way an aggressive, dysfunctional environment spawned this territorial clan of blood-brothers. With their penchant for bare-knuckled brawling and run-ins with the police, the Bra Boys have been making headlines in Australia since the mid-1990s. Abberton doesn't shy away from including amateur video of all-in street fights, yet the Bra Boys are generally portrayed as misunderstood outlaws rather than the thuggish gangsters of the authorities' vision.
The self-serving narrative soon zeros in on the Abberton brothers -- Sunny, Jai, pro surfer Koby and Dakota, the youngest. The boys, who have a heroin-addicted mother and three different fathers, find solace in the surf and in the company of other troubled kids from broken homes. We're taken inside a tight-knit community where stabbings, turf wars and police scrapes are as commonplace as the surfing and beach parties that show off the Bra Boys' playful side.
The well-publicized controversies include a 2003 murder trial, in which Jai was charged with, and later acquitted of, killing a fellow Bra Boy and standover man, while Koby was charged with being an accessory.
The narrative is ramshackle, a seemingly ad hoc collection of badly edited talking-head interviews and wobbly, unfocused footage, punctuated by Gothic intertitles mirroring the style of gang members' tattoos. The objectivity of an autobiographical documentary has to be questioned, but it's unlikely a stranger could get the subjects to speak with such candor.
BRA BOYS
Berkela Films
Bradahood Prods./Garage Industries
Sales: Hopscotch Prods.
Credits:
Directors: Sunny Abberton, Macario De Souza
Writer: Sunny Abberton
Producers: Sunny Abberton, Michael Lawrence
Executive producers: Jason Bergh, Sal Masakela, Michael Lythcott, Nicholas Cook, Michael Lawrence, John Mossop
Directors of photography: Macario De Souza, Brook Silvester
Music: Jamie Holt
Narrator: Russell Crowe
Editor: Macario De Souza
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Footage of world-class surfing and a hard-charging rock soundtrack should attract the niche wave-rider market overseas. The addition of Russell Crowe as narrator of some largely superfluous commentary gives it an imprimatur of professional cool. (Crowe will make his directorial debut with a film based on the docu later this year.) The film became Australia's highest-grossing non-IMAX documentary when it was released locally last year, making mainstream celebrities of its subjects. So far the film has done well at international fringe festivals.
One-eyed and technically inexperienced he may be, Abberton (co-directing with fellow Bra Boy Macario De Souza) is able to provide a raw insider's look into the way an aggressive, dysfunctional environment spawned this territorial clan of blood-brothers. With their penchant for bare-knuckled brawling and run-ins with the police, the Bra Boys have been making headlines in Australia since the mid-1990s. Abberton doesn't shy away from including amateur video of all-in street fights, yet the Bra Boys are generally portrayed as misunderstood outlaws rather than the thuggish gangsters of the authorities' vision.
The self-serving narrative soon zeros in on the Abberton brothers -- Sunny, Jai, pro surfer Koby and Dakota, the youngest. The boys, who have a heroin-addicted mother and three different fathers, find solace in the surf and in the company of other troubled kids from broken homes. We're taken inside a tight-knit community where stabbings, turf wars and police scrapes are as commonplace as the surfing and beach parties that show off the Bra Boys' playful side.
The well-publicized controversies include a 2003 murder trial, in which Jai was charged with, and later acquitted of, killing a fellow Bra Boy and standover man, while Koby was charged with being an accessory.
The narrative is ramshackle, a seemingly ad hoc collection of badly edited talking-head interviews and wobbly, unfocused footage, punctuated by Gothic intertitles mirroring the style of gang members' tattoos. The objectivity of an autobiographical documentary has to be questioned, but it's unlikely a stranger could get the subjects to speak with such candor.
BRA BOYS
Berkela Films
Bradahood Prods./Garage Industries
Sales: Hopscotch Prods.
Credits:
Directors: Sunny Abberton, Macario De Souza
Writer: Sunny Abberton
Producers: Sunny Abberton, Michael Lawrence
Executive producers: Jason Bergh, Sal Masakela, Michael Lythcott, Nicholas Cook, Michael Lawrence, John Mossop
Directors of photography: Macario De Souza, Brook Silvester
Music: Jamie Holt
Narrator: Russell Crowe
Editor: Macario De Souza
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
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