We got “blackfellas”, assassins, British comedy giants and 70’s ex-criminals representing Australia at the Toronto International Film Festival this year….now that’s what you call a mixed bag!
Running from September 4 to 14, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has been showcasing flicks from around the world since 1976.
Just announced; three Aussie feature films have been added to the line up: Rolf de Heer’s portrait of contemporary Aboriginal Australia CHARLIE’S COUNTRY, Kriv Stender’s dark comedy thriller KILL ME THREE TIMES – which will also have its World Premiere at the festival – and Tony Ayres’ crime drama CUT SNAKE.
They join the French/Australian short film A SINGLE BODY and the documenary ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS.
The three feature films will screen in TIFF’s Contemporary World Cinema section, which showcases films with compelling stories from global perspectives.
An Official Selection and awarded Best Actor in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival this year, CHARLIE’S COUNTRY pairs Rolf de Heer and David Gulpilil for their third film collaboration following the multi-award winning Ten Canoes and their first feature The Tracker.
The film tells of blackfella Charlie (Gulpilil) who, frustrated with the failures of the government intervention and the ‘whitefella’ laws enforced in his remote community, takes off to live the old way. But in doing so he sets off a chain of events in his life that has him return to his community chastened, and somewhat the wiser.
In KILL ME THREE TIMES, British funny man Simon Pegg plays the mercurial assassin, Charlie Wolfe, who discovers he isn’t the only person trying to kill the siren of a sun drenched surfing town. Shot at locations throughout WA, we can feel just that little bit prouder of this entry…!
Lastly, CUT SNAKE is a crime drama set in mid-70s suburban Australia.
As Toronto is a little to far to go, you can check out CHARLIE’S COUNTRY in cinemas across Australia now. While KILL ME THREE TIMES and CUT SNAKE will be released in early 2015.
