Sydney, Australia, Thursday 10 May, 2012 – ScreenLaunch, a local innovative film sales and distribution company, has joined forces with US film company CollabFeature to represent a first-of-its-kind global feature film, The Owner, at the 2012 Cannes Film market, Marché du Film.
In an industry and world-first, The Owner was made by a record 25 filmmakers, from 13 different countries, on 5 different continents, and was written, directed and produced collaboratively online, with many of the filmmakers never officially meeting in person.
The story brings together a variety of cultures, languages, and film styles into a singular narrative plot, and is set to make the Guinness Book of Records™ as the first film to be made by a record number of filmmakers.
ScreenLaunch CEO, Ross Howden, said the unique story line and high-quality production of the film is likely to draw strong demand for the film in Cannes, when he represents it to international film buyers and distributors on May 15.
“We have already received immense interest in the film from international buyers, even though the film has not yet gone to market or premiered. Like with the groundbreaking Australian film “The Tunnel” which we are also selling, the market seems to be opening up to different sorts of films and business models.
“I am very passionate about this particular film as it truly is a one-of-a-kind – not only because it has been written and produced completely online by 25 filmmakers – but it also has incredible audience appeal as it skillfully intertwines a wide range of cinematic styles and cultural approaches, meant to complement the diversity of the world in which we live,” Howden said.
The Owner follows the adventures of an old backpack that is passed from character to character around the world. As the journey progresses, we learn details about the mysterious man to whom the bag belongs.
Marty Shea from CollabFeature, the film company spearheading the creation of the film, agrees with Howden saying, “The success of this world-first is bound to make marks in the international film industry and I look forward to seeing it filmed and viewed in countries all over the world – it truly has that international audience appeal that is so rare in independent films these days.
“I hope that this is just the first of many film collaboration projects between international filmmakers, as different cultures and schools of thought lend so much to the world around us and putting these cultures into international films helps to bring a global experience to individuals, no matter where they are in the world,” Shea said.
The Owner will go to international market on 15 May at the Cannes Film Festival, making it available to international buyers. It will then premiere world-wide on Friday, May 25 in simultaneous screenings in the 13 countries in which it was filmed, including the U.S., India, Colombia, Brazil, Kenya, Germany, Austria, UAE, UK and Ireland.
For more information on ScreenLaunch and getting The Owner to a cinema near you, visit www.screenlaunch.com.
For more information on CollabFeature , to view The Owner trailer, and watch video blog (vlog) posts and much more about the making of the film, visit www.collabfeature.com.
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For more information:
Katherine Boczynski
(02) 9492 1004
katherine@launchgroup.com.au
About CollabFeature
CollabFeature was started by filmmakers Marty Shea and Ian Bonner in Detroit, Michigan USA, to facilitate collaboration between international filmmakers. The pair has written and directed seven short films that have screened and won awards at dozens of film festivals around the world. A second collaborative feature, including even more countries, is currently in production. For more information including a list of directors and countries, visit www.collabfeature.com.
About ScreenLaunch
ScreenLaunch is an innovative sales and distribution company who partner with filmmakers to identify and reach worldwide film audiences using new and traditional channels. Not a traditional sales agent or local distributor, ScreenLaunch thinks globally, with international sales, global distribution and strategic marketing and promotion. Visit www.screenlaunch.com.
