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Closing Date 16 September 2011

A hellish storm drives an armed man to take shelter in a roadside tavern. At first appearing abandoned in a hurry, he soon discovers a man lurking in the shadows whose edgy disposition gives rise to suspicion. As they engage in idle chatter, a game of psychological cat and mouse is played out as each attempts to subversively uncover the motive the other has for being there.

When Jia [Chun Kee Claudia Teh] loses both her job and home in the one day, nothing as a new Citizen is what she expected. Over three days she will struggle against fears and enemies to find her identity, supported by Daisy [Susanna Qian], a half Chinese half Japanese ‘Harajuku’ girl, who is coming to terms with her own mixed parentage. Jia’s triad ex, Kong [Chris Pang], pursues her to get her back, to save face, and searches Melbourne for her - maybe out of genuine love.

Directed by Stephen Lance and Mairie Cameron.

Producer Sara Taghaode

QPIX - Raw Nerve

“10/10 … An entire film that’s filled with human drama and cinema magic... that’s why Birthday’s the best movie of year. From a pitch perfect performance from Natalie Eleftheriadis … her acting is something to behold … and outstanding direction from James Harkness, this is what people should see when questioning the quality of Australian films and, well, dramas in general... One of the best Australian movies ever made.”  -  Planet Urban [Chris Elena], Best and Worst Movies of 2011. "Birthday" began its life as a small independent stage play which premiered in 2007 and toured Melbourne and Adelaide Australia over four weeks and has been a blessed project; from it’s conception, to its success on stage, to its swift transition to film, thanks in large part to the timely themes of loss of intimacy, social and economic breakdown and of course… the search for love and meaning. Set against the paradoxical landscape of a brothel, these themes marry beautifully with ‘career-best’ performances from some of Australia’s highest profile and international renowned actors embodying exquisitely written and crafted characters. It is a prayer for the extraordinary and the un-extraordinary, a reminder that love is a birthright not a privilege, and that even the smallest of birthday wishes can come true. Our impressive lead cast includes AFI nominee Kestie Morassi (Wolf Creek, Satisfaction); AFI nominee Richard Wilson (The Proposition, The Loved Ones); Travis McMahon (I Love You Too, Cactus); legend of Australian film and television Chantal Contouri (General Hospital, Thirst, Metalskin); Inside Film nominee Ra Chapman (Face To Face, Knowing); and Natalie Eleftheriadis, who received much critical acclaim when playing in the same leading role in the highly successful stage play and took out the prestigious 'Best Actor' award at the 2010 Cannes Independent Film Festival. BIRTHDAY also features stunning cinematography from “Oranges and Sunshine” D.O.P Denson Baker ACS (The Black Balloon, Waiting City), Production Design by the acclaimed Beverley Freeman (Ten Canoes, Dr Plonk) and a haunting original score by Ollie Olsen (Head On, Dogs In Space). BIRTHDAY is writer/director J.Harkness’ second Australian Feature to date, the first of which ‘Shot Of Love’ was selected for The Cannes Film Festival, Critics Week in 2004.

Screened at Shortini International Short Film Festival – Augusta, Italy -  Heroes Action Film Festival, Florida USA - Serge Sharrinovsky Sundown Film Festival, Perth - International Short Film Festival of India, Chennai, India

Winner of the AT2/Open Channel '100 Actors in 100 words competition'.Festival Screenings: CineRail Film Festival -  Paris 2010, Poetry In Film Festival - Melbourne 2010, Made in Melbourne Film Festival - Melbourne 2011.Featured as short film of the day on FilmSchoolRejects.com, 17th Jan 2012. bit.ly/xkbSzfFeatured on itchywatermelon.com bit.ly/zf6dYn

.Produced as a part of the Masters of Film and Video course at Deakin University 2009. Screened at Katoomba Short Film Festival 2010, Warburton Film Festival 2010, Arts Design Digital Music Expo 2010 & Melbourne International Student Film Festival 2011.

CREATED BY Wes Dening

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Wes Dening,  Glenn Wilkinson, Peter Threlfall

PRODUCER Amy Peel, Wes Dening

LINE PRODUCER Nicholas Birch

CAMERA Marc Scarborough, Brendan Busby, James Costello

EDITOR/SOUND DESIGN Nicholas Birch

GRAPHIC DESIGN Michael Cox

EDITOR Pete Christie

ONLINE CONTENT EDITOR Sam Lefever

INTERNS Emma Pickworth, Chloe Pelham

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Stafford Brothers ‘Season 2’

Soundtrack available on Ministry of Sound

Wherever’ Stafford Brothers vs Hoxton Whores feat Frank Stafford

SPECIAL THANKS amaysim, Future Entertainment, Ministry of Sound, Shaun Barker 3sixzero Productions, Natalie McCain Insanity & Platform Artists , Pioneer, Beats by Dre, Zanerobe, Paris Texas, Bambam, Everybody Events, Cheweng Buri Resort, Ko Samui, Al's Resort, Ko Samui

Directed by Jacqui Hocking

www.latenitefilms.com/

Watch the FULL FILM FOR FREE online >>

http://www.smh.com.au/tv/show/spinning-dreams/spinning-dreams-20110712-1...