Black Water, the low budget Aussie survival thriller, has now been sold to 76 countries –making it one of the most successful Australian feature films of the past twelve months.
Black Water tells the tale of three holidaymakers who are stranded in a mangrove swamp and threatened by a saltwater crocodile. The film was financed by the Australian Film Commission (now Screen Australia) and Territorial Film Developments (UK).
Worldwide interest in the film started at the 2007 Berlinale Film Market where a teaser trailer was screened – some 13 countries snapped up the film and this has now grown to 76 worldwide.
The latest batch of sales sees the film being bought by distributors in South America (Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia), the Middle East and the Baltic States as well as confirmed theatrical releases in Mexico and Poland.
Jane Carolan, Head of Marketing & Sales at AV Pictures, the film’s London-based sales agent said, “From the moment we read the tension-filled script, and being based on true events, we really felt this could be something special. In fact, the finished film way surpassed our expectations and consequently we were able to conclude sales throughout the world."
“It was a great pleasure selling this excellent independent movie,” she added
Andrew Traucki, the film’s co-director said, “We wanted to make a film with international appeal and obviously we’ve succeeded. This latest round of sales caps a remarkable sales ride for a film that was made for $1.2mllion and principally shot within 25 kilometres from the Sydney CBD.”
[release from Prodigy Movies]