A number of new feature films are being produced in NSW, confirming the State as number one when it comes to creative projects, according to Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner.

Mr Stoner today announced that leading Australian actor turned writer Joel Edgerton, together with Rosemary Blight, producer of the smash hit film The Sapphires and the creative team behind the Academy Award nominated Australian film Animal Kingdom, will bring their new feature film projects to NSW.

The Blight/Edgerton feature film project The Felony and producer Liz Watts and director David Michod’s new film The Rover are some of the new screen productions to receive production finance from the NSW Government through Screen NSW.

“These screen productions, which include feature films, television series and documentaries, will bring more than $20 million in direct production expenditure to NSW, create more than 1000 jobs and ensure our State continues to be the engine of creative screen production in Australia,” Mr Stoner said.

Joel Edgerton is both the screenwriter and star of Felony, which will be produced by Goalpost Pictures Australia’s Rosemary Blight and directed by Matthew Saville (Cloudstreet).

Writer/director David Michod’s follow-up film to Animal Kingdom is The Rover, which he will produce with Liz Watts (Animal Kingdom, Lore, Dead Europe) and David Linde, partner in US independent production company Good Machine.

Linde’s credits include the international films Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Biutiful and Happiness.

The Great Gatsby and Animal Kingdom’s Joel Edgerton will write and star in a new film to be shot in NSW, Felony.Around the Block is a contemporary story of love, revenge and triumph set in Redfern, a first feature from writer/director Sarah Spillane.

“Felony and Around the Block will be filmed and post produced in NSW, bringing all of their substantial production budgets to the State, while The Rover will be post produced in NSW,” Mr Stoner said.

Screen NSW – Thursday 30 August 2012