Set to be released by Bonsai Films across cinemas in Australia and New Zealand from November 30, Christmess is the fourth feature from Heath Davis, the prolific writer/director of the acclaimed films Broke, Book Week and Locusts.
Produced by Brick Studios’ Daniel Fenech in conjunction with Cindy Pritchard, Nicola Nossal, Rick Beecroft, Jai Kemp and Matthew McCracken, Christmess again sees the unsung auteur team up with regular collaborator, Steve Le Marquand, as well as Darren Gilshenan, Aaron Glenane, Kenneth Moraleda and Nicole Pastor. It also marks the acting debut of Hannah Joy – lead singer of ARIA Award winning indie band Middle Kids.
It tells the story of a down and out former Logie award winning actor Chris Flint (Le Marquand), who, fresh out of rebab and residing in a halfway house run by his sponsor Nick (Gilshenan) and a young musician also in recovery named Joy (Hannah Joy), takes a gig as the local shopping centre santa, where he encounters his long-estranged daughter Noelle (Pastor) and grandson. With the love and support of his new housemates – Chris sets about winning his daughter’s forgiveness whilst trying to remain sober for Christmas.
Davis says he couldn’t think of a better city to showcase Christmess to the world and is excited to share the bill alongside such illustrious company.
“Austin is easily my favourite city in the world. It is the home of indie filmmaking and music and Christmess is pretty much a celebration of that spirit. The audiences are always enthusiastic, so it’s very exciting for the team.”
Amongst the other highly anticipated new titles set to screen at Austin Film Festival this year include Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers and Christos Nikou’s Fingernails.
Meanwhile, other hot Aussie talent on showcase include Jacob Elordi in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn (her follow up to Promising Young Woman) and Toby Wallace, who stars alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Jenna Ortega and Ben Foster Mystic River scribe Brian Helgeland’s new crime-thriller Finestkind.
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