Press release from Lantern Group
Screen Australia today announced it had approved investment in two new feature films, Oranges and Sunshine and Sleeping Beauty.
Oranges and Sunshine, an official Australia/United Kingdom co-production, tells the story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham, who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the organised deportation of children in care from the United Kingdom to Australia. Almost single-handedly, against overwhelming odds and with little regard for her own wellbeing, Margaret reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice. Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman and Iain Canning will produce the film, with Rona Munro writing the screenplay and Jim Loach directing.
Sleeping Beauty marks the directorial debut of award-winning novelist Julia Leigh (The Hunter). To be produced by Jessica Brentnall with Tim White (The Boys Are Back) as Executive Producer, the film will star up-and-coming Australian actor Mia Wasikowska as Lucy, a disenchanted and financially strapped university student who accepts work as a sleeper in a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ chamber.
“These two films reflect the diversity of Australian storytelling,” said Ruth Harley, Screen Australia Chief Executive Officer. “From a true tale about the universal themes of love and family explored in Oranges and Sunshine to the distinctive voice and compelling vision of Sleeping Beauty, both films offer audiences an opportunity to experience the strength of Australia’s filmmaking talent.”
The approval of these two projects brings the number of feature films to have received Screen Australia production support this financial year to seven. An indicative budget of around $10 million is available for feature film production investment for the remainder of 2009/10.
ORANGES AND SUNSHINE
See-Saw Films Pty Ltd and Sixteen Films
Producers Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning
Writer Rona Munro
Director Jim Loach
Sales and Distribution Icon Film Distribution (Australia, UK and International)
Synopsis Tells the story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham, who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the organised deportation of children in care to Australia from the United Kingdom. Almost single-handedly, against overwhelming odds and with little regard for her own wellbeing, Margaret reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Magic Films Pty Ltd
Executive Producer Tim White
Producer Jessica Brentnall
Writer/Director Julia Leigh
Sales and Distribution Transmission, E1 Films and UTA
Synopsis Lucy, a disenchanted and financially strapped university student, accepts work as a sleeper in a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ chamber: “You will go to sleep, you will wake up. It will be as if the hours never existed.” The first man to visit Lucy venerates her youth and beauty. The second is sadistic. Nonetheless she returns …