Sydney, Australia, Thursday 02 June 2021 – October Media is proud to announced that an acquisition deal has been secured with European Cultural Channel ARTE (Association relative à la télévision européenne) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) in Australia for the 2022 Clermont-Ferrand Grand Prix winning short-film MATE.
Filmed in Sydney’s Western Suburbs, MATE is an uncompromising examination of masculinity and maturity that explores the challenges of personal growth within a changing social landscape. The film stars Joshua Brennan (The Long Road Home) and Jeremy Blewitt (Between Two Worlds), Di Smith (Puberty Blues), Zoe Jensen (On the Ropes) and JR Laveta (Janet King).
Grégory Audermatte, Purchasing Officer at ARTE France comments; “We watch a lot of different movies from many different countries, but the beauty of it is we suddenly come across something that is from the other side of the world and yet feels strangely familiar. This is what happened when we discovered Mate. It is a very strong movie that is intense and emotionally powerful thanks to the extraordinary performances by Joshua Brennan and Jeremy Blewitt. We are delighted to show our audience something different, and offer them a glimpse of the working-class Western Sydney they probably don’t know”.
SBS On Demand & World Movies Channel Manager, Haidee Ireland said; “We are delighted that MATE will be coming to SBS On Demand in November. As the home of world cinema in Australia, we are always looking for unique stories told in surprising ways and MATE is no exception. We look forward to being able to share this award-winning short film with our audience.”
MATE is the first Australian film to win the International Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand, qualifying for entry into the widely acclaimed Academy Awards.
MATE is written by George-Alex Nagle, Daniel Corboy and Ben Tarwin and directed by George-Alex Nagle. The producers are Ben Tarwin from October Media, George-Alex Nagle, and Nick Bolton from TEN ALPHAS (https://tenalphas.com.au/).
Co-writer and director George-Alex Nagle comments: “It has always been our vision to showcase Australian stories to the world and these acquisitions are an exciting opportunity for MATE to be accessible to an international and local audience. It also proves that suburban Australian stories do resonate globally”.
MATE will screen on ARTE on Tuesday 28 June 2022 and then available to the public free of charge on ARTE.TV. Australian audiences can watch MATE free on SBS On Demand from November and at this year’s Sydney Film Festival opening for Emily the Criminal. MATE’s North American premiere will be at Palm Springs International Shortfest 2022 on Saturday 25 June.
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Director George- Alex Nagle and Co-Writer and Producer Ben Tarwin are available for interviews.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Trailer
- Award Poster
- Production Stills
- The Clermont-Ferrand Award ceremony photos
- Behind the scenes stills
- Headshot of George-Alex Nagle
- Production Notes
- Running Time: 33 mins
Synopsis
After a long time apart, local no-hoper John must reconnect with reserved schoolboy Jack over a single weekend in an insular working-class outpost of Western Sydney. However, Jack’s attempt to re-establish their relationship is threatened as John’s self-destructive nature emerges.
About October Media:
October Media is an independent Sydney-based publishing house and film production company specialising in unconventional, experimental, and non-commercial literature and film
info@octobermedia.com.au
https://www.octobermedia.com.au/mate
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