Sydney-Winning, SXSW-Bound Gender Politics Thriller ‘Birdeater’ Boarded by Blue Finch Films (EXCLUSIVE)

Naman Ramachandran
·2 min read

U.K. sales and distribution outfit Blue Finch Films has boarded worldwide rights, excluding Australia and New Zealand, to thriller “Birdeater.”

The debut feature from filmmaking duo Jack Clark and Jim Weir follows a bride-to-be who is invited to join her own fiancé’s bachelor party on a remote property in the Australian outback. But as the festivities spiral into beer-soaked chaos, uncomfortable details about their relationship are exposed, and the celebration soon becomes a feral nightmare.

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Blue Finch describes the film as “an unapologetic look at how Australia’s iconic masculine identity has become incompatible with contemporary gender politics.” The film stars Shabana Azeez (“Run Rabbit Run”) and Mackenzie Fearnley (“Operation Buffalo”) as the soon-to-be-wedded couple. Written by Clark, the film is produced by Stephanie Troost and Ulysses Oliver of Breathless Films. The Australian and New Zealand rights are with Umbrella Entertainment.

The film screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival and the Sydney Film Festival, where it won the audience award for Australian narrative feature. It will have its international premiere at SXSW in the Visions strand.

The directors met while studying at the Australian Film Television and Radio School and founded independent production company Fax Machine after graduating. Clark and Weir are previous nominees of BBFF’s Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year Award for their shorts “Threshold” and “Julia” respectively.

Clark and Weir said: “We’re still pinching ourselves. South By has been our holy grail festival for so many years and to actually have a film screening there is surreal. ‘Birdeater’ was designed to be experienced in a packed cinema and we can’t wait to see how SXSW audiences react to it.”

Mike Chapman of Blue Finch Films added: “’Birdeater’ is one of the most visually arresting and daring debut features we have seen in recent years. Blue Finch focuses on championing talent and we can’t be more excited to be bringing this gem to a wider audience.”

Ari Harrison of Umbrella Entertainment said: “‘Birdeater’ is an impressive feature debut that matches the capabilities, tension and energy of its Australian New Wave predecessors such as ‘Wake In Fright’ and ‘Walkabout.’ After a very successful festival release Down Under we are thrilled for its international premiere to be showcased at SXSW Austin in superb company.”

Blue Finch’s international slate also includes Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s “Steppenwolf,” which will premiere at Rotterdam later this month, Sitges and Beyond Fest title “Last Straw,” Tribeca selected “You’ll Never Find Me,” and SXSW narrative competition winner “Raging Grace.”

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