Aussie Cinema at TIFF: Griff the Invisible, Wasted on the Young, Blame and Jucy

Of all the films from down under, while Stuart Beattie’s directing debut, With Tomorrow, When The War Began will likely grab the majority of the attention in the “market” portion at TIFF, this year there will be a half dozen Australian films featured at the film festival.

Announced just last week, the Discovery program, a showcase for innovative new filmmakers will contain 3 Australian features. We have Blame (written and directed by Michael Henry) – the story of five vigilantes who seek vengeance over a sexual betrayal where the film is scheduled for a domestic Australian release in October. See pic below.

Griff the Invisible (written and directed by Leon Ford) starring Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) is about an office worker/superhero who faces a dilemma when he meets a beautiful young scientist, Melody who shares his passion for the impossible. The screening will be a world premiere.

Ben C Lucas’ Wasted on the Young (see pic above of gun-tooting blonde teen) tells the story of an incident at a high school party that sets off a chain of events involving two brothers at opposite ends of the school hierarchy. The Western Australian production is set for release in early 2011.

In Contemporary World Cinema section we have Jucy (directed by Louise Alston). The story follows Jackie and Lucy who are best friends that spend all their time together, but not everyone approves of their “womance.” Accused of being weird and codependent, they set out to prove their maturity. Jackie gets the guy and Lucy gets the job, but can their friendship survive their newfound independence? Jucy is the second instalment in Alston’s quarter life crisis trilogy.

The Reel to Reel program, which selects documentaries that explore hot topics or provide intimate access to dramatic lives, will see two Australian entries: Machete Maidens Unleashed (written and directed by Mark Hartley) and Mother of Rock: Lillian Roxon (written and directed by Paul Clarke).

Jane Schoettle, International Programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival said “this year’s selection of Australian films showcases work that is as fresh, young, innovative, diverse and compelling as the country itself – I couldn’t be prouder to present this work in September.”