Media Release: Thursday, August 11, 2016
Foxtel and Hoodlum announce Australia Day
– a new Australian film
Production starts August 22 in Brisbane
Foxtel and Emmy-Award winning producers Hoodlum today announced co-production on a bold, new original Australian film which will be released in 2017 and have its Australian television premiere on Foxtel.
Iconic actor Bryan Brown leads a stellar cast in Australia Day, directed by acclaimed film and television director Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, Kill Me Three Times, The Principal) and written by Stephen M. Irwin (Secrets & Lies).
Also starring in the exciting new project are Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires, The Gods of Wheat Street), Sean Keenan (Lockie Leonard, Glitch), Matthew Le Nevez (The Kettering Incident, Offspring) and Daniel Webber, Elias Anton, Isabelle Cornish and Phoenix Raei. Australia Day will also introduce rising star 14-year-old Miah Madden.
Set in Brisbane over 12 hours, Australia Day explores the lives of three Australians from diverse backgrounds whose different worlds collide, illuminating contemporary issues that simmer beneath the surface of modern Australia. The heartfelt drama interweaves these three stories and highlights the aspirations of everyday Australians on the most controversial national holiday, Australia Day.
Production commences in and around Brisbane from August 22 and is financed by Foxtel, Screen Australia and Screen Queensland. Executive Producers are Nathan Mayfield, Tracey Robertson, Leigh McGrath and Foxtel’s Head of Drama Penny Win and Producer Edward Herbert.
Foxtel’s Director of Movies Ross Crowley said: “As we expand Foxtel’s ongoing commitment to original drama and telling Australian stories it is natural that we work directly within the feature film format. We’re excited to work with Hoodlum, the acclaimed Kriv Stenders and the entire creative team to tell this compelling and contemporary Australian story.”
Hoodlum’s Executive Producer Nathan Mayfield said: “This powerful story is one that every Australian will connect with. We are constantly questioning what it means to be Australian and what it means for both our newest and oldest Australians. Working closely with local communities, Australia Day offers a rare insight into our current hopes and fears at a grass roots level. We are so excited by the ensemble of cast who bring their own unique perspective to the project. Australia Day is bold storytelling we could only make with Foxtel and with Kriv at the helm we are destined to see a drama that will provoke conversation and give hope to audiences.”
In 2016 Foxtel is premiering more original Australian drama than ever before with the diverse slate of Wentworth season four, Secret City and The Kettering Incident launched with great critical and ratings success and the fourth season of A Place to Call Home starting September 11 on showcase. Dramas already announced for 2017’s schedule are the fifth season of Wentworth (showcase) and Top of the Lake: China Girl (BBC First).
-Brad