Adelaide Film Festival x Cannes Film Festival sees Adelaide Film Festival partner with the Festival de Cannes Marché du Film (film market) to connect 10 South Australian filmmakers with producers and directors globally.
The initiative sought out filmmakers with a film that was in post-production or completed, who were seeking an international agent. Five films have been selected to be presented to sales agents, investors, programmers and other market delegates on 17 May 2024 under the umbrella of a formal market presentation Adelaide Film Festival Goes to Cannes. The filmmakers will also engage in a curated roundtable program, and networking activities while in Cannes.
The films chosen to be showcased at Adelaide Film Festival x Cannes are:
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- Lesbian Space Princess (directed by Emma Hough-Hobbs and Leela Varghese) – Space princess Saira is thrust out of her sheltered life and into a galactic guest to save her bounty hunter ex-girlfriend from a group of forgotten incels known as the Straight White Maliens.
- Kangaroo Island (directed by Timothy Piper) – after hitting rock bottom in Hollywood, Lou reluctantly accepts a ticket home to Kangaroo Island from her estranged father. The reunion becomes complicated when she discovers her father is terminally ill and her born-again sister wants to act against his final wishes.
- With or Without You (directed by Kelly Schilling) – a mother and daughter’s road trip to Byron Bay, to remove the mother from the temptation of alcohol, with a mysterious West African man Dalu who is also looking to make a better life for himself. Misconceptions, misunderstandings and miscommunications abound.
- The Iron Winter (directed by Kashmir Burgess); – In Mongolia’s coldest valley, herders nominate their bravest young men to protect 2000 horses from ferocious arctic storms in the Iron Winter. This coming of age ritual is being threatened and two young friends are given the responsibility of protecting the herd, as well as the sacred practice; and
- Mockbuster (directed by Anthony Firth) – With only a micro- budget and six-day shoot, Anthony, who had a once-promising career filled with creative ambition, must deliver 90 minutes of usable footage towards his debut feature, a challenge that will push him and his ragtag crew to their limits. Will Anthony finally be able to balance his artistic aspiration with commercial reality? Or will this destroy his career and creativity entirely?
Filmmakers Leela Varghese, Timothy Piper and Kelly Schilling will represent their films along with Mockbuster writer and producer Sandy Cameron. and The Iron Winter producer Ben Golotta. Other filmmakers to join the delegation include Travis Akbar, Nara Wison, Josh Trevorrow, Lisa Scott and Matt Vesely. Each of these will present a slate of new work, engaging directly with investors and agents in the market.
Mat Kesting, CEO & Creative Director of Adelaide Film Festival said:
“Development and support for the filmmaking community is a critical part of Adelaide Film Festival’s strategy and this exciting collaboration will see the Festival leverage its extensive networks and strong relationship with Cannes to connect Australian filmmakers to the global market and showcase South Australia as a centre of creative endeavour. This is a fantastic line-up of films and an impressive delegation of filmmakers”.
The Adelaide Film Festival x Cannes initiative is funded by the Government of South Australia, Department for Premier and Cabinet with the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) funding the participation of two First Nations South Australian filmmakers.
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For events related to France and the Francophonie happening in Australia this month, check out our What’s on in April
