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Downriver (film)

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Downriver
Directed byGrant Scicluna
Screenplay byGrant Scicluna
Produced byJannine Barnes
Starring
CinematographyLászló Baranyai
Edited byAnthony Cox
Music byLawrence English
Distributed by
  • Rialto (domestic)
  • Level K (international)
Running time
99 mins
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Downriver is an Australian queer film funded by Screen Australia:[1], Film Victoria[2] and Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund[3], produced by Happening Films[4]. It is writer-director Grant Sciclun's feature debut[5] The main cast includes Robert Taylor, Kerry Fox, Helen Morse, Reef Ireland (who starred in The Wilding). It is described as a mystery drama in which a teenage killer returns to uncover dark truths in his quest to find a missing body[6].

Plot

The chilling story about a teenager, James who serves time for drowning a little boy when he was a child, although the body was never found. In an attempt to right all wrongs and uncover the truth, James takes dangerous risks to find redemption and return the missing body to the grieving mother.[7]

Cast

The film represents an ensemble cast featuring:

Filming

Filming began and completed in late 2014 in Warrandyte.[10]

Release & Reception

The film had its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 7 August 2015[11] amid much hype[12][13] and sold out all three sessions in several days, MIFF released a fourth encore screening due to ticket demand.[14] It will be released theatrically in Australia early 2016.[15]

Critical Response

Downriver was met with mixed reviews from critics upon its premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Richard Leathem, in his review for The Low Down Under, said that "Scicluna has crafted a story of tentative reparation out of such a potentially bleak premise speaks volumes for his gifts as a storyteller and filmmaker".[16] Kwenton Bellette of Twitch in his review said that "Downriver ultimately struggles to leave an impression, although it desperately wants to do so."

Short Film

Downriver extends from Scicluna's short film The Wilding which won the Iris Prize in 2012[17] which was developed through Screen Australia's Springboard poduction funding[18] and features Reef Ireland in the lead role. [19]

References

  1. ^ "MEDIA RELEASES 2014: SCREEN AUSTRALIA INVESTS IN 12 DIVERSE PROJECTS ACROSS FILM, TELEVISION AND MULTIPLATFORM". Screen Australia. Retrieved 30 Dec 2014. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 21 (help)
  2. ^ "Three feature films including 'Downriver' to benefit from Film Victoria funding". Cinema Australia. Retrieved 30 Dec 2014.
  3. ^ "Short Cuts: Australian film industry news". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Downriver". Happening Films. Retrieved 30 Dec 2014.
  5. ^ "'Downriver' Casts Helen Morse & Robert Taylor". FilmInk. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  6. ^ "PremFundPublicSLATEbackgR24e" (PDF). MIFF Industry. Retrieved 30 Dec 2014.
  7. ^ "Plot Summary". IMDb. Retrieved 30 Dec 2014.
  8. ^ "Kerry Fox teaches directors about actors in Melbourne International Film Festival masterclass". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 Aug 2015.
  9. ^ "Rare screen role for Helen Morse". IF. Retrieved 30 Dec 2014.
  10. ^ "Warrandyte locations to feature heavily in new Australian film". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Downriver To World Premiere @ MIFF + New Trailer!". The Low Down Under. Retrieved 9 Aug 2015.
  12. ^ "Top 10 Picks of MIFF 2015". The Urban Spoon. Retrieved 9 Aug 2015.
  13. ^ "MIFF 2015: the movies you have to see this year". The New Daily. Retrieved 9 Aug 2015.
  14. ^ "Downriver Sells Out At MIFF – Extra Session Added!". The Low Down Under. Retrieved 9 Aug 2015.
  15. ^ "Editor Anthony Cox & Director Grant Scicluna Go Downriver To Talk About Their Upcoming Film". Big Gay Picture Show. Retrieved 9 Aug 2015.
  16. ^ "MIFF: Dickie's Review – Downriver". The Low Down Under. Retrieved 9 Aug 2015.
  17. ^ "Gay Australian Film Claims World Prize". Star Observer. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  18. ^ "Short films to springboard emerging careers of three filmmaking teams". Brisvanni Radio 1701AM. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  19. ^ "Screen Australia backs Blue Dog, Downriver". Screen Daily. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
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