Film Buzzard
By Jonathon Rodgers
Films finally funded
The latest and last ever round of FFC funding before Screen Australia subsumes all film bodies into one, has been announced. Fred (Evil Angles) Schepisi is working on The Last Man, a Vietnam drama; Rachel (Radiance) Perkins will make Bran Nue Day (based on the musical) and Shirley (Love Serenade) Barrett's new feature South Solitary, is being produced by Marian McGowan.
Australia, the movie
Warner Brothers have announced Baz Luhrman's Australia will be released on more Australian screens than any other film. The studio plans to screen the outback epic - which stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman - in more cinemas than Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith - which means we're looking at over 540 screens.
Ghost business
While we're out back, Kiss or Kill director Bill Bennett has started casting for his new flick Drive the Night, the story of a couple who run into supernatural trouble in the Australian bush. Shooting starts this winter.
Kicking goals
The producers of Clubland have formed a new outfit to best compete in the international market. Goalpost films, which already has a UK sales agent, is currently working on Julian Temple's The Eternity Man, James Bogle's latest Elise plus the second season of Lockie Leonard for Channel Nine.
Cutting edge
The Australian short Chainsaw, selected to screen at numerous film festivals, just picked up the Grand Prix at the Oerhausen Film Festival.