Press release from ABC
One of the most unique and anticipated Australian horror films THE TUNNEL premieres on ABC’s iview from Sunday, August 14 for a month long season.
The screening is part of a programming strategy to make iview a destination for web-created content and follows the huge success of Spike Jonze’s Vice Guide to Film, which, after initially screening on iview was picked up by ABC2.
THE TUNNEL’s producers Enzo Tedeschi and Julian Harvey, frustrated by what they saw as the movie industry’s short-sighted and conventional outlook towards the online community and internet piracy, created a unique and revolutionary way to finance and distribute their first feature film.
THE TUNNEL was financed by an innovative plan to raise the budget of $135,000 by selling a frame of the movie for $1 each to the audience and then releasing it simultaneously via the BitTorrent online network, cinema and DVD.
THE TUNNEL has attracted international media attention for its unique online crowd-funding and unconventional distribution. Their motivation and innovative outlook impressed one of Australia’s leading and cutting edge-production companies, Zapruder’s other films, who came on board as Executive Producers of the project.
ABC’s iview programmer, Penny Wright saw the film at the world premiere in Sydney and was immediately impressed by what Enzo, Julian and director Carlo Ledesma had achieved.
“I was really intrigued by the concept of the film so I went along to have a look. What I saw really frightened me. This is a serious horror film. It is the perfect type of film we want to showcase as exclusive content on iview. We are always looking for innovative content made to be distributed online.”
The movie, starring Bel Delia and Andy Rodoreda is set in and amongst Sydney’s underground tunnels. It follows a news crew’s journey into the dark labyrinths hunting for a story, until they become the hunted.
In 2007 the New South Wales government suddenly scrapped a plan to utilise the water in the disused underground train tunnels beneath Sydney CBD. In 2008, chasing rumours of a government cover-up and urban legends surrounding the sudden back flip, investigative journalist Natasha Warner led a crew of four into the underground labyrinth.
This is the film of their harrowing ordeal. With unprecedented access to the recently declassified footage they shot in the claustrophobic subway tunnels, as well as a series of candid interviews with the survivors, we come face to face with the terrifying truth.
The movie takes us deep inside the tunnels bringing the darkness to life and capturing the raw fear that threatens to tear the crew apart, leaving each one of them fighting for their lives.
The Tunnel will screen on ABC's iView from Sunday, August 14.