Justin McMillan’s feature debut Sweet River will premiere as a Netflix Original on Saturday, a “dream come true” for the director.
The psychological thriller follows Hanna (Lisa Kay), who returns to the sleepy town of Billins, nestled deep in the sugar cane fields, where her four-year-old son Joey was abducted by notorious serial killer Simpkins (Jack Ellis), and is now presumed dead.
On hearing the news that Simpkins had died and her son’s DNA was found on his property, the emotionally damaged Hana rents a small farmhouse in the valley near to where Simpkins lived and mounts her own investigation.
Starring alongside Kay and Ellis are Martin Sacks, Genevieve Lemon, Chris Haywood, Rob Carlton, Baroo, Sam Parsonson, Bryan Roberts and Jeremy Waters.
The screenplay, which was written by Marc Furmie (Terminus) and Eddie Baroo, is based on an original story by McMillan.
The film was produced by Ashley McLeod...
The psychological thriller follows Hanna (Lisa Kay), who returns to the sleepy town of Billins, nestled deep in the sugar cane fields, where her four-year-old son Joey was abducted by notorious serial killer Simpkins (Jack Ellis), and is now presumed dead.
On hearing the news that Simpkins had died and her son’s DNA was found on his property, the emotionally damaged Hana rents a small farmhouse in the valley near to where Simpkins lived and mounts her own investigation.
Starring alongside Kay and Ellis are Martin Sacks, Genevieve Lemon, Chris Haywood, Rob Carlton, Baroo, Sam Parsonson, Bryan Roberts and Jeremy Waters.
The screenplay, which was written by Marc Furmie (Terminus) and Eddie Baroo, is based on an original story by McMillan.
The film was produced by Ashley McLeod...
- 12/4/2020
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
In Sweet River, to premiere on Netflix December 5, Hanna returns to the sleepy town of Billins, nestled deep in the sugar cane fields, where her four-year-old son Joey was abducted by notorious serial killer Simpkins (Jack Ellis), and is now presumed dead.
Sweet River is directed by Justin McMillan in his feature debut. The screenplay is written by Marc Furmie (Terminus) and Eddie Baroo, and the film produced by Ashley McLeod and distributed by Filmink Presents.
The post ‘Sweet River’ (Trailer) appeared first on If Magazine.
Sweet River is directed by Justin McMillan in his feature debut. The screenplay is written by Marc Furmie (Terminus) and Eddie Baroo, and the film produced by Ashley McLeod and distributed by Filmink Presents.
The post ‘Sweet River’ (Trailer) appeared first on If Magazine.
- 11/24/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The film is being sold at AFM by Reason8 Films.
UK-based sales company Reason8 Films has closed a North American deal with Gravitas Ventures for Sweet River.
Gravitas is looking to release the Australian mystery thriller theatrically in April next year. The deal was negotiated between Anna Krupnova of Reason8 and Brett Rogalsky of Gravitas.
Sweet River tells a story of Hannah, whose search for her son’s body leads her to a sleepy rural town that hides dark secrets. It’s the narrative directorial debut for Justin McMillan (Storm Surfers 3D); Ashley McLeod is the producer.
The cast includes Lisa Kay,...
UK-based sales company Reason8 Films has closed a North American deal with Gravitas Ventures for Sweet River.
Gravitas is looking to release the Australian mystery thriller theatrically in April next year. The deal was negotiated between Anna Krupnova of Reason8 and Brett Rogalsky of Gravitas.
Sweet River tells a story of Hannah, whose search for her son’s body leads her to a sleepy rural town that hides dark secrets. It’s the narrative directorial debut for Justin McMillan (Storm Surfers 3D); Ashley McLeod is the producer.
The cast includes Lisa Kay,...
- 11/11/2020
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Ben O’Toole in ‘Bloody Hell’ (Photo credit: Daniel Berghofer).
The virtual Cannes Film Market is underway with a raft of titles driven by Australian talent being pitched to buyers either as pre-sales or completed films.
The slate includes Daina Reid’s Run Rabbit Run, Frances O’Connor’s directing debut Emily, Alister Grierson’s Bloody Hell, Christopher Nelius’ feature doc Girls Can’t Surf and Justin McMillan’s Sweet River.
In addition, Hanway is looking to sell worldwide rights to Kim Mordaunt’s Wildlands, a thriller to be shot in Africa starring Matthias Schoenaerts as Richard Thomas, a jaded bomb disposal expert.
The script by Mordaunt and John Collee is based on the director’s experiences in the bomb disposal world in Asia and Africa. After being dismissed from Un forces following a failed mission in Afghanistan, Thomas gets a final shot at redemption when he’s sent to Angola, one...
The virtual Cannes Film Market is underway with a raft of titles driven by Australian talent being pitched to buyers either as pre-sales or completed films.
The slate includes Daina Reid’s Run Rabbit Run, Frances O’Connor’s directing debut Emily, Alister Grierson’s Bloody Hell, Christopher Nelius’ feature doc Girls Can’t Surf and Justin McMillan’s Sweet River.
In addition, Hanway is looking to sell worldwide rights to Kim Mordaunt’s Wildlands, a thriller to be shot in Africa starring Matthias Schoenaerts as Richard Thomas, a jaded bomb disposal expert.
The script by Mordaunt and John Collee is based on the director’s experiences in the bomb disposal world in Asia and Africa. After being dismissed from Un forces following a failed mission in Afghanistan, Thomas gets a final shot at redemption when he’s sent to Angola, one...
- 6/22/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Leanne Tonkes, Martin Sacks and Victoria Garrett.
Martin Sacks enjoyed working with director Victoria Garrett in her debut feature Don’t Tell so much that he was keen to collaborate with her again.
The actor had been mulling the idea of a film about a father and son relationship which is tested by an unforeseen tragedy, so he pitched the concept to Garrett early last year.
She immediately sparked to the idea and is now developing the project with Sacks, screenwriter John Ridley and producer Leanne Tonkes.
Sacks will play the lead, the father of two teenage sons who live in a small country town. He’s an ordinary man on an ordinary day until he finds his life turned upside down by an indiscriminate tragedy.
Susie Porter, Nathaniel Dean and Daniela Farinacci will play supporting roles.
For the key role of the 15-year-old son the producers are keen to find a fresh face.
Martin Sacks enjoyed working with director Victoria Garrett in her debut feature Don’t Tell so much that he was keen to collaborate with her again.
The actor had been mulling the idea of a film about a father and son relationship which is tested by an unforeseen tragedy, so he pitched the concept to Garrett early last year.
She immediately sparked to the idea and is now developing the project with Sacks, screenwriter John Ridley and producer Leanne Tonkes.
Sacks will play the lead, the father of two teenage sons who live in a small country town. He’s an ordinary man on an ordinary day until he finds his life turned upside down by an indiscriminate tragedy.
Susie Porter, Nathaniel Dean and Daniela Farinacci will play supporting roles.
For the key role of the 15-year-old son the producers are keen to find a fresh face.
- 1/19/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Sweet River.’
English actor Lisa Kay, Martin Sacks and Geneviève Lemon lead the cast of Sweet River, a psychological thriller which is now shooting in Byron Bay.
The screenplay by Marc Furmie and Eddie Baroo, based on an original story by the director Justin McMillan, is set in a fictional sugar cane town which harbours a dark secret.
The Brisbane-based Kay, who starred in Neighbours and Home and Away after moving to Australia, plays Hanna Montague, whose son Joey was abducted by a serial killer and is presumed dead.
Searching for his body, she moves in to a cottage on a sugar cane farm. John and Ellenor Drake, live in the neighbouring farmhouse and own the surrounding sugar cane fields.
Both women have something in common: Ellenor’s daughter lost her life in a bus crash which killed several other children. As Hanna investigates her son’s disappearance amid some unexplained encounters with the supernatural,...
English actor Lisa Kay, Martin Sacks and Geneviève Lemon lead the cast of Sweet River, a psychological thriller which is now shooting in Byron Bay.
The screenplay by Marc Furmie and Eddie Baroo, based on an original story by the director Justin McMillan, is set in a fictional sugar cane town which harbours a dark secret.
The Brisbane-based Kay, who starred in Neighbours and Home and Away after moving to Australia, plays Hanna Montague, whose son Joey was abducted by a serial killer and is presumed dead.
Searching for his body, she moves in to a cottage on a sugar cane farm. John and Ellenor Drake, live in the neighbouring farmhouse and own the surrounding sugar cane fields.
Both women have something in common: Ellenor’s daughter lost her life in a bus crash which killed several other children. As Hanna investigates her son’s disappearance amid some unexplained encounters with the supernatural,...
- 11/5/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Nick Nolte and Luke Bracey are pairing for the action thriller Poacher.
Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, Australia Day) will helm the heist pic from a script by Thomas Martin (All That Way for Love). Arclight Films has launched international sales outside of North America at the American Film Market.
Inspired by true events, Poacher tells the cautionary tale of a young man (Bracey), motivated by vengeance, who goes to war with a fishing baron (Nolte) who rules the town, sending him on a journey which transforms him from a small-time abalone poacher into a criminal gang boss.
Ashley McLeod, Teresa Ticehurst and...
Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, Australia Day) will helm the heist pic from a script by Thomas Martin (All That Way for Love). Arclight Films has launched international sales outside of North America at the American Film Market.
Inspired by true events, Poacher tells the cautionary tale of a young man (Bracey), motivated by vengeance, who goes to war with a fishing baron (Nolte) who rules the town, sending him on a journey which transforms him from a small-time abalone poacher into a criminal gang boss.
Ashley McLeod, Teresa Ticehurst and...
- 11/3/2017
- by Ashley Lee
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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