Lital Luzon in Anno 2020.

The world premiere of Anno 2020, a feature film produced by Australian production company MoneyShot Productions, will take place at Randwick’s The Ritz Cinema, in Sydney, on March 24.

The premiere, which will mark the official cinematic launch of Anno 2020, will be attended by film industry representatives and friends of the production as well as cast and crew members. It follows the movie’s recent success in film festivals – most notably the Titan International Film Festival’s ‘Best Experimental Film’ award, in Sydney last month, and Quarter-Finalist status in the Best Film category at the International British Film Festival 2023 in London.

The movie, a mystery-drama set in the cataclysmic year that was 2020, also received an official selection for the Symbiotic Film Festival in Ukraine.

For MoneyShot Productions’ producers, twin brothers Gil and Oren Ben-Moshe, the Titan International Film Festival award in particular was welcome recognition of the challenges they and their fellow producers, cast and crew overcame in getting the movie locked off and greenlit.

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“Completion of Anno 2020, which was shot around the world at the height of the strict Covid-19 lockdowns, was truly a triumph in the face of adversity,” said Gil Ben-Moshe, who also stars in the film.

Oren Ben-Moshe, who also acts and who makes a brief but unforgettable appearance in the film, agreed. “It was an ambitious undertaking, especially when you consider our production budget was a paltry AU$9,000.00.”

The Titan award was accepted by the film’s Sydney-based, Kiwi director James Morcan on behalf of the production team. For Morcan, Anno 2020 represents his directorial debut. In his acceptance speech, he described the film as a multicultural kaleidoscope of interconnected characters seeking redemption, forgiveness and peace during the wild year that was 2020.

“It’s a vignette film, a rare type of movie where there are various plots instead of just one,” said Morcan. “These are told separately, but they all intersect at the end to ultimately become part of one larger story.”

Morcan, who is also an actor, producer, novelist, and screenwriter, adapted the screenplay from his published novel of the same name and had major input into the lengthy editing of the film alongside Editor/DOP Simon Carter. In addition to directing it, he also plays a supporting role in the film.

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Requiring the employment of camera crews and cast around the world, Anno 2020 boasts an award-winning ensemble of international actors. The cast includes leading Australians Greg Poppleton (Backtrack, The Chronicles of Narnia) and Erin Connor (Occupation: Rainfall, Dino King 3D), as well as US veterans Kevin Scott Allen (Star Trek, Alias, Prison Break) and Sheila Ball (Assault on VA-33).

Tickets for this red-carpet event, which will include the first cinematic screening of the film, are available from StickyTickets at https://www.stickytickets.com.au/9c9cy/anno_2020_world_premiere.aspx

Beyond the movie’s official launch, interstate cinematic screenings Australia-wide are planned, followed by screenings in New Zealand and possibly the US. The longer-term target includes online distribution on major streaming platforms.