Australia – Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation and Screenwest have announced production investment funding for Mother, a thought-provoking sci-fi thriller that brings a dark and electrifying edge to this unique mother-daughter story. Based on an original concept by West Australian director Grant Sputore and writer Michael Lloyd Green, the script was one of the most sought after on the 2016 Black List.
Sputore is an award-winning commercial director who was selected by the Australian Directors’ Guild to be a director’s attachment with Kriv Stenders on Kill Me Three times in 2014 and made an impressive foray into scripted with his short film Legacy. Mother will be Sputore’s feature film debut. It is being produced by The Penguin Empire’s Kelvin Munro and Southern Light Films’ Timothy White, and co-produced by Anna Vincent . Executive producers are Jean-Luc de Fanti ,Terry Dougas, and Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis, whose film Good Time will screen In Competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Mother tells the story of a lonely teenage girl known as Daughter, the first of a new generation of humans to be raised by Mother – a kindly robot designed to repopulate the earth after the extinction of mankind. Their unique bond is threatened when a blood-drenched woman (Drifter) inexplicably arrives at the bunker, begging for help. Overnight the stranger calls into question everything Daughter has been told about the outside world and her Mother’s intentions.
Rising young actress Clara Rugaard has been cast in the role of Daughter, and casting is currently underway for the voice of Mother and the role of the Drifter. The legendary WETA Workshop will be creating the titular robot, with Rising Sun Pictures completing the film’s visual effects. Filming will commence soon in Adelaide.
Mother has received production investment funding from Screen Australia and SAFC in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest, Rising Sun Pictures and Kojo. The film is being represented by Mister Smith Entertainment and WME Global for international sales.
