Animal Kingdom wins top award at Sundance

1/02/2010 11:23:09 AM

Animal Kingdom, the debut feature film of writer / director David Michôd and producer Liz Watts (Home Song Stories, Jewboy, Little Fish), has won the World Cinema Jury Prize at Sundance 2010.

The film had its world premiere at Sundance on the 22nd January and was generating huge buzz at the festival before being named winner of the World Cinema Jury Prize at the Awards ceremony on 30th January (LA).

Overwhelmed by the win David commented "I seriously came over here simply hoping that people liked the movie. The response it has received, however, both from industry and audiences, has been exhilarating. And I'm just so glad that so many of the excellent people who made the film with me were over here to be a part of it."

Producer Liz Watts was delighted "Our reception in Sundance has been absolutely brilliant, and beyond anything we could have envisaged. The audiences as well as the buyers have loved the film, and to be honoured in this way is simply wonderful! "

Madman Theatrical Distribution Manager, James Hewison said "Madman has been overwhelmed, delighted (but, even if it's un-Australian, not surprised) by the critical, commercial & most vitally audience enthusiasm for Animal Kingdom at Sundance. This Award underlines the recognition of David's authority as a filmmaker & the status of this film at Sundance & beyond. "

Due for national release in Australia through Madman Entertainment on 6 May 2010, Animal Kingdom is a powerful psychological crime drama set in Melbourne's underworld featuring an all star ensemble cast including Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, Sullivan Stapleton and introducing James Frecheville.

David's previous work includes his short films Crossbow (Best Australian Short, MIFF, and Best Short Screenplay, AFI Awards 2007) and Netherland Dwarf (Best Drama, Aspen 2009), both of which he wrote and directed, Spider, which he co-wrote with director Nash Edgerton and I Love Sarah Jane, which he co-wrote with director Spencer Susser, all of which have screened at Sundance in previous years.

David is also the former editor of Inside Film magazine.

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