L-R Mahveen Shahraki, Mark Leonard Winter and Geraldine Hakewill at CinefestOZ in 2023.

Welcome to the first Cinema Australia Podcast episode for 2024!

My guests on this episode are The Rooster writer and director, Mark Leonard Winter, and co-producers Mahveen Shahraki and Geraldine Hakewill.

This is a really exciting episode for me to be presenting to you all for many reasons: one, we’re discussing my favorite film on the 2023 festival circuit, and two; it was recorded live from CinefestOZ, and anyone who follows Cinema Australia will know how much I love that festival.

During the festival, Mark and Geraldine were kind enough to invite me to their accommodation to record this podcast. To paint you a picture, it was a very intimate recording from the spare room of the accommodation where we were sitting between bunk beds to get the best sound. It was quite a special moment for me as I’m a huge fan of Mark and Geraldine, and I have great respect for Mahveen’s work.

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Regarding the film itself, The Rooster is simply must-see cinema. It’s an experience. The Rooster transcends cinematic boundaries, delving deep into the human experience and illuminating the darkest corners of our minds with a shining light. Mark Leonard Winter’s visionary storytelling proves that he is not just a talented actor but a genuine filmmaker.

The Rooster follows Dan (Phoenix Raei), a small-town cop. When the body of his oldest friend Steve (Rhys Mitchell) is found buried in a shallow grave, Dan seeks answers from a volatile hermit (Hugo Weaving) who was the last person to see his friend alive. As Dan gets closer to the truth, he must confront his own personal demons, and he discovers that hope can be found in unlikely places.

This interview plays as a companion piece to my interview with Mark, which I published last year ahead of the film’s screenings at MIFF and CinefestOZ. While that interview was a deep dive into the making of the film, this interview is a bit more playful.

Here’s a bit about my guests:

Mark Leonard Winter
Director and Writer

Mark is a double Helpmann Award winning actor, writer, and director. He trained at the VCA and shortly after graduation he started the theatre collective ‘The Black Lung’ with fellow theatre makers including Simon Stone (The Daughter, The Dig) and Thomas M. Wright (Acute Misfortune), creating numerous independent works. He co-wrote and starred in Malthouse Theatre’s multi-award-winning smash-hit, Thyestes directed by Simon Stone. 

His feature film credits include The Dressmaker, Balibo and most recently lead roles in Disclosure, Measure For Measure opposite Hugo Weaving and Escape From Pretoria opposite Daniel Radcliffe. 

Mark worked with Jane Campion on Top of the Lake: China Girl and was one of the leads in Pine Gap for Netflix/ ABC. Most recently he appeared in Halifax: Retribution for Channel 9, Eden for Stan, The Newsreader and Fires for the ABC, and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis project. 

He is a 2017 recipient of the highly prestigious Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship awarded for outstanding talent and exceptional artistic courage: one of the few actors to have been given this honour. 

Mark was one of the creators and directors of the entirely improvised show The Blind Date Project, directing Seinfeld star Jason Alexander in the L.A. season, alongside co-creator and actor Bojana Novakovic. He has also directed a music video for Helpmann Award Winner Esther Hannaford and was one of the directors and co-writers/lead actors in the award-winning web series The Greatest Love of All. 

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Geraldine Hakewill
Producer

Geraldine is a Logie-nominated actress, musician and producer who stars in Wanted (Channel 7/Netflix), Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries (Channel 7/ Acorn) and Wakefield (ABC/BBC Studios) as well as having numerous feature film and theatre credits to her name. As a producer she produced the award- winning music video 3 Moons for ARIA winning band Boy & Bear, as well as her own music video to accompany her single Fire, directed by Rhett Wade-Ferrell (Kylie Minogue, Flight Facilities), starring Hunter Page-Lochard and shot by cinematographer Danny Ruhlmann ACS (Little Fish, Sense8). 

Geraldine created and executive produced the hybrid dance-fashion film Shadow/Self, directed by Laura Scrivano (The Letdown, Extinction) and produced by Alex White (Babyteeth) which won Best Film at VAMFF. She was the Associate Producer and lead actor of the short film Young Labor, directed by Leon Ford and produced by Academy Award nominee, Drew Bailey. Geraldine is one half of the production company ‘Clever Rabbit Productions’ alongside AACTA winning writer/director Monica Zanetti (Ellie & Abbie (and Ellie’s Dead Aunt), While The Men Are Away). 

Mahveen Shahraki
Producer

MahVeen is an award-winning producer. Originally from Iran, MahVeen soon found her home within the Australian film industry with her strong eye for identifying compelling stories and marketplace, linking gifted individuals to launch original work. 

MahVeen has produced and delivered outstanding national content with international impact including Ellie & Abbie (and Ellie’s Dead Aunt) which featured as a program highlight in Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) and the New Zealand International Film Festival. Ellie and Abbie is the first Australian film to open the 2020 Mardi Gras Film Festival in its 27-year history and went on to win the coveted Audience Award, as well as the 2021 AACTA Award for Best Indie Film. 

As Executive Producer, MahVeen has delivered the international title The Translator a Georges Films production, The movie has been selected for TIFF industry selects, cementing its status as an international title of great merit. Being represented by Charades International sales The Translator premiered at Tallinn, and its exceptional reception resulted in numerous showings at various global film festivals. 

MahVeen was selected as a 2020 ‘One To Watch’ Producer by Screen Producers Australia for her creative passion, commercial knowledge, and ability to deliver quality international products. 

The Rooster opens in cinemas national on February 22. 

Anyway… enjoy.