In the 70s two brothers battle killer waves, conservative society and ruthless bikers to kick-start the modern surf industry.
So goes the premise for the new film from Hopscotch Entertainment, filmed during winter 2011 along the Western Australian coast. The premiere of the film has been announced to take place as an outdoor screening at the historic gardens at Caves House in Yallingup. Following the premiere the film will be released theatrically during May 2013. Check out the full press release on the premiere at the link below.
THE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE OF FEATURE FILM DRIFT ANNOUNCED FOR WA’S SOUTH WEST ON MARCH 21
A red-carpet, star-studded event has been confirmed for the Australian Premiere of the surfing feature film DRIFT on Thursday March 21, 2013. The premiere will take the film back to its roots in WA’s rugged and beautiful South West region, with a large outdoor screening for over 1000 people being held in the historic gardens at Caves House in Yallingup.
The Australian premiere of DRIFT will be a proud moment for two of the film’s West Australian producers, Tim Duffy and Myles Pollard. Pollard, who also plays a leading character in the film, is excited to premiere the film to the local community.
“We are ecstatic that the Australian premiere of DRIFT is happening in the South West. We have enormous respect for the local community that supported the movie and we’re so happy to bring the spotlight back to the region for what promises to be a memorable and historical event,” he said.
Walking the red carpet will be the cast of DRIFT, co-directors Morgan O’Neill and Ben Nott, producers Tim Duffy, Myles Pollard and Michele Bennett, local WA crew, local dignitaries and investors, and many extras and business owners from region who were part of the production.
The timing of the premiere will coincide with the 2013 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro surfing tournament with many of the world’s best surfers set to attend and attend the VIP reception after the screening.
Mark Lane, CEO of Surfing WA said: “This year the Pro will have all the biggest names globally in men’s and women’s surfing taking part in the Margaret River event. We’re excited to extend an invitation for them to attend the Australian premiere of Drift where they can see our world-class waves captured in the feature film. We’re all very excited.”
DRIFT was shot over six weeks during winter of 2011 in and around the breathtaking and epic setting of the remote Western Australia coastline in locations from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, including Margaret River, Augusta, Gracetown and Nannup, with over 70 local crew employed for the shoot.
Producer Tim Duffy, a former resident of Gracetown and Yallingup said: “DRIFT will showcase the world-class waves and amazing landscapes of WA’s South West to the world, and now the Australian premiere of DRIFT will be set amongst heritage listed gardens with a surf break just over the hill – a perfect launch pad for the movie.”
DRIFT is inspired by the true story of Australia’s legendary surf communities and the rise of the global surf brands during the 60s and 70s:
Australia. 1970s. The Kelly brothers Andy and Jimmy, both in their twenties, have one great passion: riding big waves. They’ve honed their surfing skills in the sleepy WA town of Seacliffe near Margaret River, which hosts some of the world’s most challenging and dangerous waves. Knowing how to shape the perfect board and encouraged by new friends, the brothers quit their jobs and launch a backyard surf gear business. They rethink traditional design, craft homemade wetsuits and sell their wares out of the back of their van. But their new found success is threatened when Jimmy gets mixed up with a local biker gang. Set in breathtaking locations and inspired by the true story of Australia’s legendary surfwear companies, Drift inspiringly charts the transformation of surfing’s laidback lifestyle into a global phenomenon. It’s a story told through a personal tale of passion, courage, friendship and fractured loyalties.
The story of the two Kelly Brothers is played by MYLES POLLARD (Wolverine, McLeod’s Daughters) and XAVIER SAMUEL (Twlight Eclipse, A Few Best Men), alongside international Australian star SAM WORTHINGTON (Avatar, Clash of the Titans, Terminator Salvation) as a travelling surf photographer and filmmaker. LESLEY-ANN BRANDT (Memphis Beat, CSI: NY) plays his Hawaiian surfer companion.
Joining them are ROBYN MALCOLM (Outrageous Fortune), STEVE BASTONI (Underbelly, Neighbours) and AARON GLENANE (The Black Balloon).
Many of the support cast hail from WA including actors GREG MCNEILL (The Circuit, September), SARAH LOUELLA (Cloudstreet), MAURIE OGDEN (The Shark Net), DAVID BOWERS (Cloudstreet), IGOR SAS (Lockie Leonard), MURRAY DOWSETT (The Circuit), LAURA FAIRCLOUGH (Cloudstreet) and NIDA graduate PHIL MIOLIN. Youngsters SEAN KEENAN (Lockie Leonard) from Busselton and KAI ARBUCKLE from Clarkson play the young Kelly brothers.
DRIFT is co-directed by MORGAN O’NEILL (Solo, upcoming feature The Factory) and BEN NOTT in his feature film debut. The screenplay is written by MORGAN O’NEILL from an original story by O’Neill and TIM DUFFY (Let’s Talk About Sex) and produced by TIM DUFFY, MICHELE BENNETT (Chopper) and MYLES POLLARD.
Following the Australian premiere in March, Hopscotch Entertainment One Films have slated DRIFT for a wide theatrical release in May 2012.
