Following the success of Snowtown‘s six AACTA awards, producers Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw of Warp Films Australia are again teaming with Australasian distributor Madman Entertainment, this time on New Zealand feature film, Shopping.
New Zealand, 1981: seduced by a charismatic career criminal, 16-year-old Willie must choose where his loyalty lies, with a family of shoplifters or his own blood.
The debut feature of Wellington-based filmmakers Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland will commence filming on the Kapiti Coast in April. The film’s cast includes Australian actor Jacek Koman. The filmmakers’ previous short films Run and The Six Dollar Fifty Man have screened at Cannes, Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals, with the latter also making it to the final ten of the 2011 Academy Awards shortlist.
Shopping has been financed by the New Zealand Film Commission with support from Fulcrum Media Finance. It will be distributed in New Zealand and Australia by Madman Entertainment. NZ Film, the sales arm of the NZFC, is handling world sales of the film.
Paul Wiegard, Managing Director of Madman Entertainment commented; “This is a significant milestone for Madman; having an office in Auckland for several years this is the first NZ feature film production we have committed to at script stage. It was a simple decision to get involved… the film has a universal story, subtly told and surrounded by exceptional talent that we want to work with.”
