Article: Gold Coast Bulletin, August 3rd, 2007
Sky's Limit on Debut Festival First Dibs on Flick
Renee Redmond
BEAUDESERT'S big screen credentials will be tested tomorrow night when Unfinished Sky makes its national debut at Brisbane's International Film Festival.
Producers Cathy and Mark Overett are hoping the $4.3 million Australian production, filmed at a farmhouse on Beaudesert's outskirts and starring Redcliffe-born actor William McInnes and Holland's Monic Hendrickx, will leave a lasting impression as its national release will not be until early next year.
Mrs Overett said Beaudesert was chosen as the key location for the film after a trip to the local pub led the film-makers to an unoccupied farmhouse. "When we were talking about location we wanted the traditional outback - flat and dry - but then we changed it to be amongst farmland and hills," she said. "We needed a farmhouse and the best way to find things is by going to the local pub. The house was empty at the time, so we had to dress it up ourselves."
The Brisbane producers said out of the five-week shoot, about four-and-a-half weeks were spent at Beaudesert, with a small amount of filming done in Brisbane's city.
Mrs Overett said while the film was 'local' it had universal themes, which she hoped would be enough to create international appeal.
"The film is based on a Dutch screenplay but it's very much Australian," she said.
Unfinished Sky is a grown-up love story with universal themes and a thriller twist, written and directed by Sydney's Peter Duncan and produced by the Overetts, of New Holland Pictures in Brisbane.
McInnes stars as a man who, after the suspicious death of his wife, withdraws to the seclusion of his farm. Monic Hendrickx plays an illegal refugee, Tahmeena, who in her bid for freedom from the ravages of Afghanistan, has been unwittingly sold into sex slavery in a small country town in southwest Queensland. Despite their reluctance, the two damaged people fall in love.
"It's a dark story with a lot of light moments in it. It's a heavy subject but the people in it are looking to the light in it," said Mrs Overett.
"The film is hot off the press; it won't be released nationally until early next year." The Overetts have previously worked on documentaries but said they were currently trying to finance another four feature projects.
Tomorrow night will be the first time the film is shown to the public. "It will be interesting to see what an audience not connected to the film will think," she said. "The Pacific Film and Television Commission is an investor in this film and it's really nice to have our film premiering in Queensland."
The film will make its debut at The Regent Cinemas in Brisbane to a sell-out audience but a second screening has been scheduled for Sunday at 3.40pm at Palace Centro Cinemas. Some tickets are still available.
Unfinished Sky is one of 121 films from 47 countries which will be screened during the Brisbane International Film Festival, which began last night. Arts Minister Rod Welford said the festival was about seeing the latest work from emerging and independent film-makers who were the 'creative lifeblood of the film industry'. "BIFF is so much more than a smorgasbord of movies for entertainment's sake - it is a chance to open a window on the world to witness the lives, experiences, cultures and challenges of other people," said Mr Welford.
Renee Redmond
BEAUDESERT'S big screen credentials will be tested tomorrow night when Unfinished Sky makes its national debut at Brisbane's International Film Festival.
Producers Cathy and Mark Overett are hoping the $4.3 million Australian production, filmed at a farmhouse on Beaudesert's outskirts and starring Redcliffe-born actor William McInnes and Holland's Monic Hendrickx, will leave a lasting impression as its national release will not be until early next year.
Mrs Overett said Beaudesert was chosen as the key location for the film after a trip to the local pub led the film-makers to an unoccupied farmhouse. "When we were talking about location we wanted the traditional outback - flat and dry - but then we changed it to be amongst farmland and hills," she said. "We needed a farmhouse and the best way to find things is by going to the local pub. The house was empty at the time, so we had to dress it up ourselves."
The Brisbane producers said out of the five-week shoot, about four-and-a-half weeks were spent at Beaudesert, with a small amount of filming done in Brisbane's city.
Mrs Overett said while the film was 'local' it had universal themes, which she hoped would be enough to create international appeal.
"The film is based on a Dutch screenplay but it's very much Australian," she said.
Unfinished Sky is a grown-up love story with universal themes and a thriller twist, written and directed by Sydney's Peter Duncan and produced by the Overetts, of New Holland Pictures in Brisbane.
McInnes stars as a man who, after the suspicious death of his wife, withdraws to the seclusion of his farm. Monic Hendrickx plays an illegal refugee, Tahmeena, who in her bid for freedom from the ravages of Afghanistan, has been unwittingly sold into sex slavery in a small country town in southwest Queensland. Despite their reluctance, the two damaged people fall in love.
"It's a dark story with a lot of light moments in it. It's a heavy subject but the people in it are looking to the light in it," said Mrs Overett.
"The film is hot off the press; it won't be released nationally until early next year." The Overetts have previously worked on documentaries but said they were currently trying to finance another four feature projects.
Tomorrow night will be the first time the film is shown to the public. "It will be interesting to see what an audience not connected to the film will think," she said. "The Pacific Film and Television Commission is an investor in this film and it's really nice to have our film premiering in Queensland."
The film will make its debut at The Regent Cinemas in Brisbane to a sell-out audience but a second screening has been scheduled for Sunday at 3.40pm at Palace Centro Cinemas. Some tickets are still available.
Unfinished Sky is one of 121 films from 47 countries which will be screened during the Brisbane International Film Festival, which began last night. Arts Minister Rod Welford said the festival was about seeing the latest work from emerging and independent film-makers who were the 'creative lifeblood of the film industry'. "BIFF is so much more than a smorgasbord of movies for entertainment's sake - it is a chance to open a window on the world to witness the lives, experiences, cultures and challenges of other people," said Mr Welford.
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