BECOMES THE HIGHEST GROSSING NEW ZEALAND FILM OF ALL TIME!

Transmission Films is proud to announce that the New Zealand film BOY has reached an incredible milestone to become the number one New Zealand film of all time.  As of yesterday the film passed The World’s Fastest Indian to reach the new box office record of over $7,050,000.

Since opening in New Zealand on March 25^th, BOY has consistently held its own in the box office weekly charts sitting in the number one position for an incredible 5 weeks, and in record time has taken just 8 weeks to become number one of all time. In comparison, The World’s Fastest Indian took 46 weeks to reach the same level.  Still number two at the New Zealand box office this week behind ROBIN HOOD and ahead of IRON MAN 2, BOY seems destined for an incredibly long cinema run.

BOY will screen at both the Sydney and Melbourne International Film Festivals and the film’s originality, warmth and humour will no doubt translate to Aussie audiences. The advance buzz for BOY seems destined to make it a highlight at these events this year before releasing in cinemas across Australia.

BOY, written, directed and starring Taika Waititi is a hilarious and heartfelt coming-of-age story. Set on the rural East Coast during the 80’s at the height of Michael Jackson and E.T. fever, BOY tells the tale of Boy, Rocky and their inept wannabe gangster father Alamein. It’s inspired by Waititi’s Oscar-nominated Two Cars, One Night and his own childhood in Waihau Bay.

It now ranks higher domestically than other New Zealand classic films such as The World’s Fastest Indian; Once Were Warriors; and Whale Rider.

RED HILL, the debut feature from writer / producer / director Patrick Hughes, produced by Al Clark and starring Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, the forthcoming Griff The Invisible), has been selected for the Berlin International Film Festival.

For an international film festival not typically known for choosing genre films, the selection of RED HILL at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival is validation of the film as quality entertainment and something special and out of the ordinary. It has been chosen as a “Panorama Special” within the official program of the 60^th anniversary year of the Berlinale, in the grand Zoo Palast cinema.

An acclaimed commercials director, AFI nominee, winner of Tropfest for his short film The Lighter and director of the YouTube sensation Signs, Patrick Hughes’ wrote, directed, edited and co-produced RED HILL alongside producer Al Clark (Priscilla; Chopper; Blessed). RED HILL is Hughes’ first feature film.

“To have Red Hill officially programmed at such a festival is a true honour. The film was a passion project at every level. I was inspired by film-makers such as George Miller, Robert Rodriguez and the Coen Brothers, all directors who made their first films outside the system and risked everything in the process. Now that our world premiere is set to screen in a 1,000 seat cinema in the heart of Berlin on the opening weekend of the festival, it is not only a dream come true but a wonderful validation for everyone involved,” said Patrick Hughes.

RED HILL tells the story of Shane Cooper (Kwanten), a young police officer who relocates to the small country town of Red Hill with his pregnant wife to start a family. But when news of a prison break sends the local law enforcement officers into a panic, his first day on duty rapidly turns into a nightmare. Enter Jimmy Conway, a convicted murderer serving life behind bars, who returns to the isolated outpost seeking revenge. Told with explosive action and chilling violence, this is a modern-day western set in high-country Australia.

In addition to Ryan Kwanten, RED HILL stars Steve Bisley, Tom E. Lewis, Claire van der Boom and Kevin Harrington.

Executive producers are Greg Mclean (Wolf Creek; Rogue), Rob Galluzzo and Craig McMahon.

Berlin’s Panorama section presents world and European premieres, discovering films that ‘provide the market with inspiration’. Over 20,000 moviegoers will participate during the Berlinale in the Panorama Audience Award that is to be presented on February 21, 2010.

RED HILL was filmed in rural Victoria and was made with the support of private investors, Screen Australia and a Film Victoria location grant. It is distributed by Transmission Films and will be released mid 2010.

Based on the memoir of journalist Lynn Barber, AN EDUCATION is set in London in the swinging 60’s and received BAFTA nominations for Costume Design and Make-up and Hair.

Proving her performance resonated not only with critics, Carey Mulligan has been nominated for the Orange Rising Star Award, which is voted for by the public.

GRIFF THE INVISIBLE

ANNOUNCING CINEMAS GREATEST NEW SUPER HERO!

And he’s well, um, let’s just say a little bit different…

Starring Ryan Kwanten (smash hit US TV series, True Blood) and Maeve Dermody (Beautiful Kate)

Griff - office worker by day, superhero by night - has his world turned upside down when he meets Melody, a beautiful young scientist who shares his passion for the impossible.

Transmission Films is pleased to announce today that filming has commenced in Sydney on the anticipated feature film, GRIFF THE INVISIBLE.

GRIFF THE INVISIBLE is a fresh, highly-original romantic comedy from the wildly fertile imagination of debut feature film writer / director Leon Ford.

“It is a super hero movie and it is a comedy, but at its core it’s a simple love story about two very unique individuals finding each other and giving the other the strength to be what they want to be,” said director Leon Ford from set.

It stars Australian actor Ryan Kwanten in the lead role of Griff (currently amassing an international cult fan-base from his starring role in one of 2009’s biggest US TV series smash hits, True Blood) and Maeve Dermody as Melody (fresh from the critical and box office success of Beautiful Kate). It also co-stars talented local actors, Patrick Brammall and Toby Schmitz.

The film is produced by Nicole O’Donohue and executive producers are Jan Chapman (The Piano, Lantana, Bright Star) and Scott Meek (Velvet Goldmine, TV-series Bastard Boys).

GRIFF THE INVISIBLE will be distributed by Transmission Films, who have recently distributed the successful Australian films Samson & Delilah, Balibo, My Year Without Sex, Charlie & Boots, and the upcoming David Caesar film, Prime Mover (in cinemas November 12). Transmission Films is a Sydney-based film distribution company founded by Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie (formerly Joint General Managers of Dendy Films).

“GRIFF THE INVISIBLE is guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve ever seen on screen before - no pun intended!” said Andrew Mackie and Richard Payten. “We can’t wait to get this film to audiences in 2010.”

Speaking about his character, Ryan Kwanten said, “By day, Griff works in an office. By night, he is a superhero - or is he? It was this question that attracted me to the role. Griff is such an original and boundless character to play.

“Every boy dreams of being a superhero and I’ve accepted my mission to bring this one to life.”

GRIFF THE INVISIBLE is produced by Nicole and Leon’s production company Green Park Pictures.

Developed with the assistance of Screen Australia through the Indivision Script Lab 2008.

Distributed in Australia by Transmission Films.

GRIFF THE INVISIBLE is expected to release nationally in late 2010.

WOGBOY 2: THE KINGS OF MYKONOS

GOES INTO PRODUCTION

The sequel to the box office smash hit comedy, THE WOG BOY will commence filming in September. WOGBOY 2: THE KINGS OF MYKONOS heralds the return of Steve Karamitsis (Nick Giannopoulos) alongside Frank (Vince Colosimo) in a story that takes our heroes from one Greek paradise (Melbourne) to another (Mykonos) in order to reclaim a family inheritance.  The film will be shot in Greece and Melbourne and will be released in Australian cinemas nationally in 2010.

Grossing an enormous $13.4m in 2000, THE WOG BOY is one of Australia’s most successful comedies of all time, seen and loved by over 7 million people since it was initially released. Through film, television and stage Nick Giannopoulos has not only made the ‘Wog’ a potent comedic brand but become an unofficial Greek ambassador, our Aussie Zorba, in the process.

The sequel picks up a few years after the original and things aren’t going so well for the ‘Wog Boy’; he’s lost his true love (a ‘67 Valiant Pacer) and all his assets because he trusted the wrong Italian. Steve’s best mate Frank has lost his touch with the ladies after a messy divorce. But fortune, as ever, favours the ‘Wog’ when Steve discovers that he has inherited a beach on the resort island of Mykonos from an uncle he never met - a beach worth millions…

Written by Chris Anastassiades and Nick Giannopoulos, WOGBOY 2: THE KINGS OF MYKONOS will be directed by multi-award winning director Peter Andrikidis, Produced by Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films and Giannopoulos of G.O. Films, Executive Produced by Iain Canning and Andrew Penney and Co-Produced by Sally Ayre-Smith. The film is part financed by Screen Australia and is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Transmission and Paramount Pictures.

“I’m very excited to be continuing the ‘Wog Boy’ journey with these unique Aussie born characters to a country that I love visiting every year. The island of Mykonos is one of my favourite parts of the world. It’s a place where the whole world meets to have fun in the sun. It’s an island where a couple of ‘wogboys’ could really meet their match,” says Nick Giannopoulos.

“We’re really looking forward to working with Nick, Vince and Peter, our friends at See-Saw and our Transmission partners on this great project. WOGBOY 2: THE KINGS OF MYKONOS is a perfect example of the need for Australian producers to return to the production of genuinely commercial
product that appeals to the mainstream Australian public,” says Mike Selwyn, Managing Director of Paramount Pictures Australia.

“It’s MAMMA MIA meets ZORBA THE GREEK, one of the funniest scripts we’ve ever read and destined to become an enormous box office hit. With Nick’s blessing today we proudly become honorary wogs,” say Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie of Transmission Films.

“This is a brilliant opportunity to bring back to the big screen some of Australia’s favourite all time characters. Set in Mykonos, this sequel will stand alone as a great Australian and international comedy, helmed by two of Australia’s funniest men - Nick Giannopoulos and Vince Colosimo. We’re excited to be working alongside Nick Giannopoulos and Andrew Penney of Go Films, and Peter Andrikidis, as well as our distribution partners Transmission Films and Paramount Pictures, to bring this franchise to a new generation as well as to its huge base of fans,” say Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, See-Saw Films.

WINS CAMERA D’OR

AT CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

A LITTLE AUSSIE FILM WINS A MIGHTY BIG PRIZE!

SAMSON & DELILAH, the low-budget feature film debut from Australian director-writer-cinematographer, Warwick Thornton has stunned the film world by taking out the Camera d’Or (Golden Camera) at the Cannes International Film Festival.

The prize – one of the most coveted in film – was awarded by an independent jury to the best first feature film presented in any of the three Cannes selections – Official Selection, Director’s Fortnight or International Critics Week.

French actress Isabelle Adjani awarded the prize to what the jury described as “the best love film we’ve seen for many a year.”

SAMSON & DELILAH screened in Official Selection in “Un Certain Regard” – a category reserved for films that express a personal vision, with an emphasis on special cultural expression and cinematic innovation.

“Thank you for believing in our first born baby,” Thornton said as he accepted the award. “I don’t know what to say. Viva Cannes, viva le cinema.”

The Camera d’Or prize puts Thornton and his film in esteemed company. Previous winners of the Camera d’Or since its creation in 1978 include Jim Jarmusch (Stranger Than Paradise); Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay!); Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know) and Steve McQueen (Hunger).

The prize was last won by an Australian in 1996 when Shirley Barrett won the award with her debut, Love Serenade.

Since its Australian theatrical release on May 7, SAMSON & DELILAH has become a genuine word-of-mouth sensation, growing its audience every week. Box office figures released this morning are expected to show that for the third weekend in a row, the film enjoyed the highest per screen average of any film release in the country.

THE VOLCANO FINDS TRANSMISSION

Transmission Films has acquired New Zealand rights to The Volcano (aka Tama), the highly anticipated second feature film from Eagle vs Shark writer/director Taika Waititi.

The Volcano is a tragicomedy inspired by Taika’s award-winning, Oscar-nominated short, Two Cars One Night, and is being produced by Cliff Curtis and Ainsley Gardiner.

“Having long admired Taika’s work we are thrilled to have secured what will undoubtedly be an extraordinary new film from one of New Zealand’s youngest and brightest voices. To be handling The Volcano in its home territory is an absolute honour,” said Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie of Transmission Films.

“It’s a great way to start the New Year with another deal to Transmission” said Kathleen Drumm of NZ Film.  “Our previous successful collaborations with company principals, Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie include The World’s Fastest Indian and Out of the Blue. In addition they will soon release (alongside Paramount Pictures) our new movie Dean Spanley.”

In The Volcano - when his father returns home after seven years, 11-year-old Darcy must reconcile his memories and fantasies with reality and find his own inner potential. It is both heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud hilarious, but ultimately a story of redemption and hope.

The Volcano is financed by the NZ Film Fund, NZ Film Commission, Unison Films, NZ On Air and Te Mangai Paho.

The Volcano starts shooting March 2009 and will be released theatrically in New Zealand in 2010. NZ Film is handling international sales.