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Vic productions soar at box office

Press release from Film Victoria

Victorian-made productions ANIMAL KINGDOM, WOG BOYS 2: KINGS OF MYKONOS and I LOVE YOU TOO are rocking the Australian box office, taking a combined $7.1 million in ticket sales as of Monday, 7 June.

Sandra Sdraulig, Film Victoria CEO said the results highlight not only the breadth of skills and talent of our local film industry, but that Australian audiences do watch Australian films.

“Victoria is the screen capital of Australia in terms of local production activity and the success of these locally-made films is testament to what can be achieved with the skill and commitment of local screen practitioners, great Melbourne locations and engaging stories,” she said.

Melbourne-made feature film ANIMAL KINGDOM had a strong opening weekend, picking up more than $720,000 in ticket sales across the country since its general release last week. ANIMAL KINGDOM is the first feature film for Melbourne Film School graduate David Michod and was shot in Victoria last year with support through Film Victoria’s Production Investment programme.

The Porchlight Films’ production has already achieved international acclaim with audiences and critics, receiving the coveted Dramatic Jury Prize for World Cinema at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in January. Sony Pictures Classics has acquired Animal Kingdom for release in the USA and Latin America and the film has also been sold to the UK, France and Italy.

Minister for Innovation Gavin Jennings said the screen industry was a major economic contributor to the state.
“In 2008-09, Victoria’s screen industry contributed $172 million to the state and created 5,164 fulltime employment opportunities. The Victorian Screen Industry Strategy, Our Vision on Screen, outlines initiatives worth $178 million over five years to drive the industry’s growth, including support for high-calibre local productions.”

Princess Pictures’ I LOVE YOU TOO has also performed strongly, taking $2.3 million since its release on 6 May. Written by Melbourne comedian Peter Helliar and directed by Daina Reid, the comedy was shot mainly in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs and supported through Film Victoria’s Production Investment programme.

Also supported through Production Investment, Seeâ€ÂSaw Films’ KINGS OF MYKONOS – WOG BOY 2 began filming on the streets of Melbourne’s inner west, in August 2009. After wrapping in Melbourne, the production crew flew straight to Greece to prepare for an enviable sixâ€Âweek shoot. Since its 20 May release the film has taken more than $4.1 million at the Box Office, making it the 51st highest grossing Australian film of all time.