K.T Simpson
Australia-based Bronte Pictures has signed a deal with Archstone Entertainment, who will take three of the Australian production company’s films to market in 2023, launching at this week’s EFM in Berlin.
The new Bronte titles added to Archstone’s catalogue cover three genres: The Greatest Surf Movie In The Universe (Adult comedy/animation); Kane (action) and The Cost (thriller).
The Greatest Surf Movie In The Universe stars Luke Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok, Westworld), eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater (Baywatch) and three-time world champion surfer Mick Fanning as their futuristic alter-egos. Described as ‘Team America meets Point Break’, this Nick Pollet-directed film is destined to become a cult favourite with its offbeat storyline and stop motion animation characters.
Clayton Watson (Matrix Reloaded; Matrix Revolutions) and Jake Ryan (Wyrmwood: Apocalypse; Streamline) star in Kane, about a man who works for an old-school crime boss with multiple personalities who is at war with a notorious gangster. When his most dangerous personality, Kane emerges, the following 24 hours are potentially deadly. Kane is directed by Blair Moore and produced by Shaun Barry.
Directed by Matthew Holmes, The Cost is a thriller with the intensity of Wolf Creek and Deliverance. It follows two men who kidnap the man who murdered their wife and sister fifteen years ago and take him to a remote location to dispense their own brutal form of justice. It stars Jordan Fraser-Trumble (Lawless: The Real Bushrangers; The Legend of Ben Hall), Damon Hunter (The Party Bus, Lawless: The Real Bushrangers) and Kevin Dee (The Disappearance of Willie Bingham; Underbelly).
All three films completed post production at The Post Lounge.
Blake Northfield, Managing Director and co-founder of Bronte Pictures says, “We’re absolutely thrilled to take these Australian titles and give them an international platform through this deal with Archstone Entertainment. These three films are all so unique and special; it’s a privilege to have professionals of the caliber of Jack Sheehan and the team at Archstone handling worldwide sales on their behalf.”
Jack Sheehan, President of Worldwide Sales and Development at Archstone who closed the deal added, “Blake has been not only a good friend at the markets for years, but a creative, risk-taking filmmaker and savvy entrepreneur I’ve been dying to partner with – to do so with such a major splash as a three-picture deal covering these diverse yet equally riveting and fun films, is a dream come true”.
Bronte Pictures’ current slate includes nine feature films in market, three in post production (including a Greek foreign language film shot in Athens) and one in pre-production, with five in development.
Archstone Entertainment recently produced actioner The Best Man starring Luke Wilson and Dolph Lundgren, which Saban Films will release early summer. They also recently released The Hyperions, a superhero comedy starring Cary Elwes and Penelope Mitchell, Behind the Card, a sports documentary featuring Steve Aoki, The Nomad, a gritty New York City-based psychological thriller, and are also representing screen legend James Caan’s final film, Dark Harvest, David Duchovny thriller Adam the First, and golf country club comedy The Country Club, among others, for sales.
