October 24, 2018 5:24 pm

Sales of the film to launch at AFM, principal photography to begin January 2019

Montréal – October 24, 2018 – Seville International is pleased to announce it has secured international rights to BELOW, the film adaptation of Ian Wilding’s award-winning play “Below” which delves into Australia’s dubious immigration detention centres. The film will begin principal photography in January 2019, while sales for the film will launch at the 2018 American Film Market in Santa Monica.

BELOW is the feature film debut of director Maziar Lahooti (“Good Pretender”, “Crossroad”), with a script by Ian Wilding, who adapted his stage play for the screen and re-set it from the coal mines to a detention centre. Nick Batzias (THAT SUGAR FILM-AACTA Best Feature Documentary) of Good Thing Productions joins forces with Veronica Gleeson to produce the film.  BELOW will be distributed in Australia by Madman Entertainment.

The film utilizes a uniquely satirical approach to underscore the questionable and controversial handling of immigration detention centres in Australia that have been condemned on human rights grounds.

Situated in an alternate reality, BELOW follows Dougie, a directionless dreamer who’s been recruited to work in a detention centre for asylum seekers, located in a remote area – a legal no man’s land. There, Dougie is faced with a “Fight Club”-style underground operation where detainees are blackmailed into fighting. As he witnesses these practices hidden under the cloak of a media black hole, Dougie’s desperation and wisecracking nature battle against his dormant conscience.

We are delighted to realise this film to the screen. This is a project that unites diverse talent with some real storytelling provocations,” say the project’s producers.

The film stars Ryan Corr (LADIES IN BLACK, MARY MAGDALENE, HACKSAW RIDGE) as Dougie, Anthony Lapaglia (VIOLET) as Terry, Phoenix Raei (THE HEIGHTS) as Azad, Alison Whyte (THE KETTERING INCIDENT) as Cheryl, Morgana O’Reilly (OFFSPRING) as Michelle, and Zenia Starr (HOTEL MUMBAI) as Imogen.

BELOW uses an original and offbeat approach to explore a hidden side of Australia’s approach to immigration – an issue that is unfortunately relevant in many parts of the World today. It is a timely story that many insist needs to be told,” says Anick Poirier, SVP of Sales, Seville International.

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Natalie Petozzi

Entertainment One

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natalie.petozzi@entonegroup.com