WA feature films He Ain’t Heavy, Kid Snow and 200% Wolf to premiere at Sydney Film Festival
Three Western Australian feature films, He Ain’t Heavy, Kid Snow and 200% Wolf have been officially selected to make their world premieres at the 71st Sydney Film Festival (SFF).
Screenwest is thrilled to announce three Western Australian feature films, He Ain’t Heavy, Kid Snow and 200% Wolf have been officially selected to make their world premieres at the 71st Sydney Film Festival (SFF).
From Wednesday 5 to Sunday 16 June 2024, the three WA films will be part of an exciting season of cinema amidst a whirlwind of premieres, red-carpet openings, in-depth discussions, film guests and more at SFF, one of the world’s longest-running film festivals. All three films have also received support from Screen Australia.
He Ain’t Heavy sees a desperate woman kidnap and enforce rehab on her violent brother in a last-ditch effort to save their lives, Kid Snow is a film about breaking free from the cycle of loss and regret, set in a 1970s sweat-drenched world of tent boxing in outback Western Australia, and 200% Wolf is the highly-anticipated sequel to animated feature film, 100% Wolf, in which Freddy Lupin had to grapple with the shock revelation that he is destined to be not a mighty werewolf like all of his family, but a tiny pink poodle!
“We are delighted to have three Western Australian features premiering at the Sydney Film Festival this year. Western Australia is home to a talented and vibrant screen industry – it is great to see their work being shared. Congratulations to the creatives, cast and crew.” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO.
HE AIN’T HEAVY is the debut feature film from WA writer/director, David Vincent Smith and was made possible by Screenwest’s highly coveted West Coast Visions initiative. Filmed in Gosnells in Perth’s Eastern suburbs, the feature was born from the proof of concept short, I’m Not Hurting You, which also made its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival.
Jade, played by Leila George (Animal Kingdom, The Kid, Mortal Engines) is fed up sacrificing her life to rescue her little brother, Max played by Sam Corlett (The Dry, Vikings: Valhalla, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) from his violent drug addiction. After a near fatal car accident, her mum, Bev, played by award-winning Australian stage and screen actress Greta Scacchi (White Mischief, Presumed Innocent, Looking for Alibrandi) refuses to press charges, and Jade decides to take drastic action, kidnapping Max and forcing him into a home-made rehab in their empty grandparents’ home. But her plan quickly deteriorates when Bev unexpectedly arrives, and they discover Max is wanted for a heinous crime.
Produced by Jess Parker of WA production company, No Labels, a long-time collaborator with David Vincent Smith having previously produced his short films I’m Not Hurting You and Featherweight, He Ain’t Heavy marks the formidable pair’s first foray into feature filmmaking.
He Ain’t Heavy will make its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival at Event Cinemas on 14 June at 8.15pm ahead of its theatrical release in cinemas across Australia later this year.
Directed by Paul Goldman (Australian Rules, Suburban Mayhem), KID SNOW stars UK actors Billy Howle (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Outlaw King and On Chesil Beach) and Tom Bateman (Behind her Eyes, Thirteen Lives, Death on the Nile), alongside Australia’s Phoebe Tonkin (Boy Swallows Universe, Westworld, Safe Harbour).
Set in outback Australia, 1971, the film sees washed-up Irish boxer (Howle) in a raucous travelling tent-boxing show, offered a rematch against the man he fought ten years ago. It’s his chance to turn the page on a tragedy that changed his life forever. But when feisty single mother, Sunny (Tonkin), crosses Snow’s path he is forced to contemplate a future beyond boxing.
Kid Snow was filmed in Kalgoorlie and Perth, and features a fantastic ensemble cast of Western Australian actors including Tasma Walton (How to Please a Woman, Mystery Road), Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin, Last Cab to Darwin) and Shaka Cook (Top End Wedding, Operation Buffalo) as well as Australian actors Hunter Page-Lochard (Fires, Cleverman), Robert Taylor (Into the Ashes, Longmire) and Jack La Torre (Little Monsters, Nine Perfect Strangers).
The film was produced by Lizzette Atkins (Looking for Grace), Megan Wynn (The Childhood of a Leader) and Bruno Charlesworth (Ladies In Black) with Executive Producer Matthew Gledhill (Far from Men, The War of the Buttons, Gainsbourg).
Kid Snow will make its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival at the State Theatre on 11 June at 8.30pm ahead of its Western Australian premiere at Opening Night of Revelation Perth International Film Festival on 3 July. The film will be released theatrically around Australia on 12 September.
200% WOLF was produced by Flying Bark Productions together with Atlantika Films and WA production company, Siamese. Written by Fin Edquist, directed by Alexs Stadermann and produced by Barbara Stephen, Alexia Gates-Foale, Francesca Hope, Carmen Perez-Marsa Roca, Tracy Lenon and Nano Arrieta.
In 200% Wolf, Freddy Lupin (Ilai Swindels) thinks he has everything it takes to lead his werewolf pack, but earning the respect of his packmates proves to be a challenge. If only he were more… wolfish. But when a wayward wish transforms him into a werewolf and deposits a mischievous moon spirit on earth, it’s up to Freddy to restore cosmic order. With Batty (Samara Weaving) and his dog pals along for the ride, Freddy must seek out a spell from a dangerous sorceress that will send his new friend home before it’s too late! If the team can avoid being turned into were-toads and Freddy can resist the pull of forbidden earth-magic, maybe they can send the spirit home and save the world. One thing’s for sure – Freddy will never question being a poodle again!
200% Wolf will make its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival on 9 June at 1.45pm and will then open in cinemas around Australia on 8 August for its theatrical release.
Sydney Film Festival runs 5 to 16 June across Sydney and tickets are on sale now at sff.org.au and Revelation Perth International Film Festival runs 3 to 14 July and tickets to Opening Night are on sale now at lunapalace.com.au
Production Credit: He Ain’t Heavy is a No Labels production, with principal production funding from Screenwest, Lotterywest and Screen Australia. It will be distributed by Bonsai Films.
Production Credit: Kid Snow is a Unicorn Films, Immaculate Conception and Wynn Media production, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund. Financed in association with VicScreen with support from Soundfirm and the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission. It will be distributed by Madman Entertainment and French-based sales agent Elle Driver is managing international sales.
Production Credit: 200% Wolf is produced by Flying Bark Productions and co-produced by Siamese in Western Australia and Atlantika in Spain, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest. StudioCanal is distributing the film in Australia, with Studio 100 Film managing international sales. Viva Kids has picked up US distribution rights. Post and Animation Produced in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia with the assistance of the New South Wales Government.