FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday 23rd January
Madman Entertainment is mad for Aussie films in 2009
Madman Entertainment continues its commitment to the Australian film industry with a wide range of
Australian films scheduled for release and production in 2009.
First up is Eric Bana’s directorial debut LOVE THE BEAST. Opening nationally on 12th March, this is a
personal story of one man’s 25-year love affair with his car - ‘the Beast’. In this intimate self-portrait,
Eric takes us on a personal journey of relationships, family and loss to find the balance between fame
Madman is delighted to present the world premieres of two Australian films, Glendyn Ivin’s LAST RIDE
and Jonathan Auf Der Heide’s VAN DIEMEN’S LAND, at the Adelaide Film Festival.
Directed by Glendyn Ivin, LAST RIDE stars Hugo Weaving and introduces Tom Russell in a touching
story of a desperate father who takes his ten year old son, Chook, on the run after committing a violent
crime. Glendyn’s short film, Cracker Bag, won multiple awards including the Palme d’Or at Cannes for
Best Short Film and AFI awards for Best Screenplay and Best Film in the Short Fiction film category.
VAN DIEMEN’S LAND, written and directed by Jonathan Auf Der Heide, is based on the infamous
tale of convict Alexander Pearce. Set in 1822, eight starving men escape from the hell-ish prison of
Macquarie Harbour, on the unforgiving west coast of Van Dieman’s Land, in a fateful, near mythical
In post-production is Sean Byrne’s teen horror, THE LOVED ONES, featuring Australian stars on the
rise Richard Wilson, Jessica McNamee, Victoria Thaine and Xavier Samuel this will be released at the
end of the year.
David Michôd’s Melbourne underworld debut feature ANIMAL KINGDOM will start filming early this
Also commencing filming this year is SAVE YOUR LEGS!, directed by Boyd Hicklin, which follows
three mates who take their ordinary suburban cricket team and their 30-something issues on an
extraordinary (mis) adventure in mystical India, losing matches but returning as winners, starring
Brendan Cowell.
James Hewison, Theatrical Distribution Manager of Madman Entertainment, commented on this
eclectic and much anticipated slate of upcoming projects for 2009 ”Madman has clearly indicated
through KENNY, NOISE and then in 2008 NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD that we wear our Aussie hearts
on our sleeve. We have no doubt that these films, and others in 2009 into 2010 will mark striking
debuts that will find audiences not only at home, but internationally as well. Bring on our own cinema
in 2009!”
For further media information on Madman or these films please contact:
Rachael Deller-Pincott, Theatrical Marketing Manager
Madman Entertainment T: +61 3 9417 0977 or E: rachaeldp@madman.com.au
NEWS 
