1 February 2010 MELBOURNE-MADE FEATURE FILM A HIT AT SUNDANCE

1 February 2010

Melbourne-made feature film ANIMAL KINGDOM has won top honours at the Sundance Film Festival, taking out the Dramatic Jury Prize for World Cinema on the weekend.

The sweeping crime drama, produced by Porchlight Films’ Liz Watts and the first feature film for writer/director David Michod, received the prestigious award on the back of rave reviews from critics and audiences.

ANIMAL KINGDOM was filmed in Melbourne last year with support from Film Victoria’s Production Investment program and stars Guy Pearce, Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Jacki Weaver, Luke Ford, Sullivan Stapleton and James Frecheville.

Film Victoria CEO Sandra Sdraulig congratulated the filmmakers and creative team on their success at Sundance. “Winning the Jury Prize confirms the quality, strength and originality of the film, which is something we’ve come to expect from Victorian productions.

“It is exciting to see this production achieve well-deserved international acclaim and is a testament to the effort and commitment of Victorian and Australian screen practitioners.”

Film Victoria also supported the production through its Internship on a Production program and the International Festival Attendance program, which helped to fund the film’s presence at Sundance.

Ms Sdraulig explained the link between Film Victoria support and international sales: “To complement Film Victoria’s investment in production and development, another equally important aspect of our support for the Victorian screen industry is through our International Festival and Market Attendance programs.

“These programs help ensure the creators of locally-made productions like ANIMAL KINGDOM are able to travel and meet international sales agents and distributors, and show their film to international critics.

“In this case, the film has been a huge success at Sundance, which almost certainly boosts its visibility and prospects for distribution in international markets.”

Every year Sundance Film Festival selects 200 films for exhibition from 9000 submissions from around the world. This is the second Victorian project in as many years selected for Sundance – the award-winning animation MARY & MAX opened Sundance in 2009.

ANIMAL KINGDOM tells the story of 17-year-old boy who must navigate his way between a crime-driven family in Melbourne and a cop who thinks he can save him.

For more information on Film Victoria’s visit www. film.vic.gov.au. To read a review of ANIMAL KINGDOM in industry bible, Variety, go to http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117942017.html?categoryid=31&cs=1