Three Australian co-productions have been confirmed to premiere at the prestigious 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Its two feature dramas, Sophie Hyde’s Jinpa and Michael Shanks’ Together, and the documentary series Never Get Busted! Created by David Anthony Ngo and Erin Williams-Weir.
Jinpa will never be arrested either! The horror-romance drama Together was filmed in Melbourne’s Docklands. All three productions feature strong international connections in story, cast and financing.
The Sundance Film Festival, held in Utah at the beginning of each year, is a high-profile film festival that attracts many Australian films, including the phenomenally successful debut film “Talk” by husband and wife duo Danny and Michael Philippow.・To Me in 2023” and Scott Scott’s works, we have a history of bringing Australian works to the US market. Hicks’ Shine in 1996 and The Babadook in 2014. The history of Australian titles at Sundance can be found on the Screen Australia website.
SA’s Closer Productions’ Jimpa, directed by Sophie Hyde and starring Olivia Colman, John Lithgow and Orde Mason-Hyde, was filmed in Adelaide and Amsterdam earlier this year. It had its world premiere in the Sundance Premiere category, and for Hyde, it won “Good Luck to You,” “Leo Grande” (2022), “Animals” (2019) and Best Feature Debut. This will be his fourth appearance at Sundance, following “52 Tuesday” (2014), which won the Best Director award. World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
ScreenHub: Animal director Sophie Hyde talks characters, rehearsals and the power of best friends
Jimpa was written by Matthew Cormack and Sophie Hyde (co-creators of 52 Tuesdays) and co-produced by Liam Hayen (Mad Ones Films), Sophie Hyde, Brian Mason and Marlene Slott. Produced with Saina Strachan. This production was supported by both SAFC and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund (AFFIF).
Jinpa follows Hannah (Olivia Colman), who takes non-binary teenager Frances (Orde Mason-Hyde) to Amsterdam to meet her gay grandfather Jim (John Lithgow), affectionately known as Jinpa. ) about going to see someone. However, Frances’ desire to stay abroad for a year with Jinpa forces Hannah to reconsider her beliefs about raising children and ultimately confront old stories from her past.
The film also stars Daniel Henshall, Kate Box, Eamonn Farren, Cody Fern, Tilda Cobham-Harvey, Deborah Kennedy, Zoe Love-Smith, Romana Frede, Jean Janssens, Frank Saunders, Bryn. Chapman Parrish also appears.
Sophie Hyde said: “We are thrilled to be returning to Sundance and can’t wait to showcase the work of our talented creative team, including Olivia, John, Ord and our entire beautiful ensemble cast.” Ta.
Canadian writer/director Michael Shanks’ “Togetter” will have its world premiere in the Midnight section. The Australian-American co-production was filmed at Melbourne’s Docklands Studios and stars real-life partners Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a not-so-young couple who move to the countryside and have a supernatural encounter. are. The film also stars Damon Herriman and was produced by Princess Pictures in conjunction with Picture Start, Tango, and 1.21.
South Australian documentary ‘Never Get Arrested!’ from Projector Films will premiere as one of only three titles selected for the Episodic category at Sundance. The film follows Barry Cooper, a highly decorated Texas drug enforcement officer who fights back against the police by arresting unscrupulous police officers and telling drug users where they can hide them.
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival will be held from January 23rd to February 2nd, 2025. You can view the full program here.
