‘Blueback’ set to make its Australian premiere at Perth Festival
Starring Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell and Eric Bana, Robert Connolly's family-friendly feature will premiere at Perth Festival as part of the 2022-23 Lotterywest Films program.
Highly anticipated Western Australian feature Blueback, filmed in the Great Southern region, will make its Australian premiere later this month as part of the upcoming Perth Festival, ahead of opening in cinemas Australia-wide on New Year’s Day.
Written and directed by Robert Connolly (The Dry, Paper Planes), the film is returning to its home state after making its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, where it screened as part of the festival’s Special Presentations strand.
Based on the best-selling book of the same name by acclaimed WA author Tim Winton, Blueback is a universal fable about friendship, family, connection to the ocean and the power of one young girl to make a difference. The film follows the story of Abby, a young girl living with her environmentalist mother on the pristine southern coast. While diving Abby forms a bond with a magnificent wild blue groper living in her local reef; realising that the fish is under threat, Abby takes inspiration from her activist Mum and takes on poachers to help protect the ocean that she so loves.
Writer/director Robert Connolly spent many years developing the project, which he also produces alongside Liz Kearney and James Grandison of Arenamedia. Predominately filmed in Bremer Bay on the rugged Great Southern coast of WA, Blueback is a cinematic journey into the beauty and fragility of the natural world, featuring breathtaking cinematography from Director of Photography Andrew Commis and Underwater Cinematographer Rick Rifici.
Blueback stars internationally acclaimed Australian actors Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell and Eric Bana, alongside newcomers Ariel Donoghue and Ilsa Fogg. They are joined by Liz Alexander, Pedrea Jackson, Erik Thomson and Western Australians Clarence Ryan and Eddie Baroo.
Blueback will screen from 21 – 27 November 2022 at Somerville Auditorium, UWA as part of Perth Festival’s Lotterywest Film Program.
“Screenwest is incredibly proud to see this immersive family-friendly film premiere under the pine trees in its home state. I can’t wait to see the festival’s audience become swept up in Blueback’s incredible Great Southern scenery and poignant storytelling.” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO.
Tickets are on sale now through the Perth Festival website.
Blueback will hit cinemas in Australia and New Zealand on Sunday, 1 January 2023.
Production Credit: Blueback is an Arenamedia production with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Film Fund. Financed with support from VicScreen, Soundfirm and the Great Southern Development Commission. ANZ distribution by Roadshow Films and international sales by HanWay Films.
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