in the archive
feature film Development funding approval details

2010 features summary

DECEMBER 2010

ALEX AND EVE
Producer Murray Fahey
Executive Producer Bill Kritharas
Writer Alex Lykos
Director Peter Andrikidis
Synopsis A Greek Orthodox boy falls in love with a Lebanese Muslim girl creating a mismatch made in heaven. Based on the hugely crowd-pleasing play of the same name.

CHINA HEART
Producer Tara Morelos
Writer Annette Shun Wah, Josephine Emery
Director Tatiana Pentes
Synopsis Lian is a Chinese Australian woman in her early 20s in Sydney. Recently engaged she receives a mysterious package from an unknown sender. It tells her that she cannot marry until she understands its meaning. She goes on a search through Chinatown delving deep into her Chinese Australian past unravelling clue after clue until she emerges victorious.

THE DOCKS
Producer Emile Sherman
Writers Jamie Browne, Kris Mrksa
Director Clayton Jacobson
Synopsis Based on the true story of the most powerful, violent and successful criminal organisation in Australian history – the Federated Ships Painters and Dockers Union.

DRIFT
Producers Tim Duffy, Michele Bennett
Writer/Director Morgan O'Neill
Director Ben Nott
Script Editor David Roach
Synopsis In the 70s two brothers battle killer waves, straight society and ruthless bikers to kick-start the modern surf industry.

THE HOUSEHOLD GUIDE TO DYING
Producer Leesa Kahn, Catriona Hughes
Writer/Director Emma-Kate Croghan
Synopsis Based on the book by Debra Adelaide, Delia, aged 38, mother, acerbic household advice columnist and author of wildly popular household guides, is dying of cancer and decides to write one last work for her fans… They won't be disappointed.

LEARNING TO FLY
Writer/Producer Sheridan Jobbins
Executive Producer Finola Dwyer
Writer/Director Stephan Elliott
Synopsis A romantic comedy gently poking fun at the earnest diehards of the environmental movement – while quietly stating their cause.

THE LITTLE DEATH
Producer Miranda Culley
Writer/Director Josh Lawson
Script Editor Steve Kaplan
Synopsis The Little Death is a wickedly funny exploration of the five different lives of five different couples and the five different fetishes that make them, well... different.

OCCY
Producers Miranda Culley, Marian Macgowan
Executive Producer Martin Fabinyi
Writer Max Mannix
Director David McKay
Synopsis The redemptive story of the rise and fall and rise of Australian surf legend Mark Occhilupo; champion at 17, washed up at 25, crowned at 32.

THE OUTRAGEOUS BARRY RUSH
Writer Andy Cox
Director Kriv Stenders
Synopsis Profligate opportunist Barry Rush is faced with stealing a precious statue that could save his bacon, or doing the right thing by his doting younger brother Rory and an anguished woman on the run named Ed. Pursued by every hood, goon and thug in the district, Barry's desperate attempts to prevent Rory and Ed discovering what a charlatan he is leads them into one calamity after another until Barry is faced with the chance to either solve his woes forever or finally become the person Rory and Ed want to believe he really is.

SALVATION CREEK
Producer Heather Ogilvie
Writer Katherine Thomson
Synopsis A highflying magazine editor thinks she’s coping brilliantly with grief until the day she can’t get out of bed. A life change becomes a struggle for life itself.

SANTA: LOST DOWN UNDER
Producers Ben Cunningham, Diana Giorgiutti
Executive Producer Bryce Menzies
Writer/Director Rob Nunn
Writer Gregory Johnson
Script Editor Simon van der Borgh
Synopsis Four days before Christmas, Santa and Rudy are stranded in the outback, exiled by a scheming elf intent on taking over the North Pole. Santa's only hope of saving the family business and rescuing his teenage rock-star daughter is in the hands of a pint-sized bush hero named Billy.

SECRET SISTERS
Producer David Rapsey
Co-producer Moira Moss
Writer Glenda Hambly
Synopsis Friends forever... until a green-eyed monster appears. Five girls from the Go Girl franchise have their friendship tested by the school musical extravaganza.

TOKYO CALLING
Writers Michael Brindley, Karin Altmann
Script Editor Stephen Cleary
Synopsis When Australian radio star, Major Charles Cousens, reluctantly broadcasts to Australia from Changi, he is separated from his men, taken to Tokyo and forced to broadcast for the Japanese. Even though Cousens refuses to broadcast at the Surrender, the Australian authorities try him for treason anyway and the military strips him of all honour. Only his men can redeem him.