(L-R) Max Enright, Kelly Wong, James Woods, Stephanie Day and Angus McGrath. Photo by T W Baker.
Sydney-based production house Badlands is venturing into the distribution space with the rollout of its critically acclaimed feature The Birthday Trip.
Previously known as Moonrise Over Knights Hill, the unflinchingly funny drama following three millennial couples whose relationships are thrown into disarray when they descend on a Southern Highlands farmstay for a luxury birthday weekend.
The film stars a lauded ensemble cast including Luke Jacobz (X-Factor, Home and Away), Nicola Frew (I Am Woman, The Daughter), David Quirk (Rosehaven, Please Like Me) and Annelise Hall (Grease, Mamma Mia).
To launch the film theatrically, Badlands is privileged to welcome Kelly Wong (former General Manager, Sony Pictures Hong Kong) as Distribution and Marketing Manager, and Gus McGrath (multi-disciplinary Artist and Film Curator) as Engagement and Partnerships Manager.
The pair are working alongside founders James Robert Woods, Stephanie Jane Day and Associate Producer Max Enright toward a May release, with PR and publicity to be handled by Tracey Mair Publicity.
Luke Jacobz as Lars Adam Jansen in The Birthday Trip.
Of the venture, Woods says “Cinema is our country’s number one cultural activity, yet only 5% of people are seeing Australian films. I believe that’s because our funding-production festival-distro pipeline too often shuns authorial voices in favour of safe, homogenised storytelling.”
Day adds, “There is incredible talent in Australian Cinema. Audiences are hungry, our cohort is making brilliant work and yet there is an industrial blockage. We’re hacking through the weeds on the periphery in the hope that we reach a starved Australian public.”
Named to channel the authorial spirit of Terence Malick’s debut feature, Badlands produces – and now distributes – uniquely Australian cinema.
Following The Birthday Trip’s rollout, the company will embark on development, production and release of its next project
Slowness, the debut feature from Stephanie Jane Day.
If you enjoy Cinema Australia as much as I love publishing it, please consider supporting Cinema Australia’s commitment to the Australian screen industry via a donation below.
I strive to shine a light on Australian movies, giving voice to emerging talent and established artists.
This important work is made possible through the support of Cinema Australia readers.
Without corporate interests or paywalls, Cinema Australia is committed to remaining free to read, watch and listen to, always.
If you can, please consider making a contribution. It takes less than a minute, and your support will make a significant impact in sustaining Cinema Australia as the much-loved publication that it is.
Thank you.
Matthew Eeles
Founder and Editor.Make a donation here.
Cinema Australia 