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Windcatcher shines on international stage

Windcatcher is proving a popular selection on the international film festival circuit, with several screening selections and award nominations since its release this March.

The heartwarming family feature is having its North American premiere at the 47^th Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) in California this month. Education screenings of the film sold out so quickly that additional screenings were later released. MVFF Festival Programmer K. D. Davis said: “Indigenous Australian director Tanith Glynn-Maloney’s first feature is an inspirational celebration of the bonds that tie us to our family, our friends, and our heritage.”

The film had its UK premiere at the London Australian Film Festival in September and was well loved by audiences. Festival Organiser Stephen Morgan said: “Audience members commented on it being very sweet… others remarked on how touching and emotional it was.”

The film has also been selected to screen at the Filem’On International Film Festival for Young Audiences in Belgium, running from 23 October until 6 November. It will compete in the Filem’On Kids Awards (Best Children’s Feature Film), CIFEJ Award (Best of World Cinema), and TV Award categories.

Continuing its popularity in Europe, the film has also won a Children’s Cinema Award for Best Feature Film (For Audiences 12 Years and Under) in the Netherlands and will be screened at their festival in Amsterdam this December.

Windcatcher has also been honoured at the Asian Academy Creative Awards, named the national winner of the Best TV Movie/Anthology Episode/Single Drama and Best Children’s Programme. The grand final winner of the categories will be announced in Singapore in December. The film is also one of three finalists in the MIPCOM Diversify TV Awards for Representation of Diversity in Kids Programming – Older Children. The Diversify TV Awards will take place during MIPCOM Cannes later this month.

Windcatcher follows the unlikely friendship between Percy Boy, newcomer Keithy Cobb and the spirited Daisy Hawkins, as they band together to take the local school sports day title from a group of grade five bullies in their small country town. But as Percy Boy trains with the help of his mates, he then discovers his supernatural ability to see Lost Souls – a gift passed down from his grandfather. Percy Boy must overcome his fears, prove his resilience and become a force to be reckoned with.

The film premiered to Australian audiences on Stan in March. It is internationally distributed by the ACTF.

From Unless Pictures and Every Cloud Productions (Eternus Group Company), the Stan Original Film Windcatcher is produced by Meg O’Connell (Upright S2, Retrograde) and Drew Grove (Stan Original Films A Sunburnt Christmas and Christmas Ransom). Executive produced by Bernadette O’Mahony for ACTF, and Cailah Scobie, Donna Chang, and Rachel Okine for Stan. Major production investment from Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) in association with VicScreen, the Post Lounge, and Stan. Developed with the support of the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland. ACTF handles worldwide distribution.