Australian Film Garners $5m Sundance Deal
The Age
Wednesday January 24, 2007
THE new Australian feature Clubland has secured a lucrative $US4 million ($A5.2 million) distribution deal at its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States.
The deal is one of the richest so far at this year's Sundance, the independent festival founded by Robert Redford where several Australian films have been launched successfully before.Two years ago, rights to the outback horror film Wolf Creek were snapped up before its Sundance premiere for $US8 million. The Castle was bought at Sundance for a reported $US6 million in 1998.The deal covers distribution rights to the vast markets of North America and Britain. With several other deals pending, the film, which was filmed last year in Sydney for $6 million, is "already extremely successful", says Benjamin Zeccola, executive director of Palace Films. Palace will release the film in Australia mid-year.Acclaimed British actor Brenda Blethyn plays a comedian whose career and family life are in a shambles. The film also features Khan Crittenden, Emma Booth, Rebecca Gibney and Frankie J. Holden. Director Cherie Nowlan's previous film was Thank God He Met Lizzie. Clubland producer Rosemary Blight said Blethyn got a standing ovation at the festival screening's end.
© 2007 The Age
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