Australian political thriller Last Dance has become the latest Australian screen production to receive support from the government’s export credit agency.
The Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) has previously supported Satellite Boy, Outback Fight Club and Panic at Rock Island, providing a cash flow loan to cover the Producer Offset tax rebate.
Last Dance, which recently finished filming in Melbourne, follows the story of Sadiq Mohammad, a young radical Palestinian who, after fleeing from a failed suicide bombing of a synagogue, holds a holocaust survivor hostage in her apartment. The film was helmed by first time director David Pulbrook and produced by Antony I. Ginnane.
"Our project was facing a funding gap between the time we incurred the costs and when we were due to receive the Producer Offset through the Australian Taxation Office," Ginnane said in a statement.
The loan was valued at $571,907.
"EFIC’s support gave us the financial breathing space we needed to tell this story about the power of compassion and reassure our international partners that we could meet our agreements to distribute the final production to international audiences."
Last Dance stars Firass Dirani and Julia Blake. The film was funded by Screen Australia, Film Victoria, the MIFF premiere fund and a number of private investors. It was shot on ARRI ALEXA cameras supplied by Cameraquip.
“We are proud to support Antony I. Ginnane in the export of a confronting Australian story through our Producer Offset loan”, EFIC’s head of alliance and product, SME & mid market, Alex Fernandez, said in a statement. “The film touches on issues of ideology, faith, freedom but ultimately is the story of family and a mother’s love.”
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.