17/10/2006

Death Defying Acts, the new film by Australian filmmaker Gilliam Armstrong starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Guy Pearce, is the latest high profile project to receive support (£750,000) from the UK Film Council’s Premiere Fund.

The film, which started shooting in the UK in mid-August, is based on a screenplay by Tony Grisoni (The Constant Gardener [+see also:
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While his ingenious near-death escape stunts enrapture audiences, Houdini is more intrigued by notions of the afterlife. He offers a prize to anyone who can contact the dead and reveal the last words uttered by his dying mother. Mary, a struggling Scottish psychic, and her nine-year-old daughter hear of the offer and decide to out-con Houdini. Instantly bewitched, Houdini is convinced that Mary is who he’s looking for. Mary soon finds herself seduced by Houdini’s charms and drawn into his world of illusion and dark secrets.

UK producer Chris Curling of Zephyr Films is co-producing with Australia’s Marian Macgowan of the Macgowan Film Company, with co-financing from the Australian Film Finance Corporation, BBC Films and Myriad Pictures, who is handling world sales.

Another recent recipient of the UK FC’s Premiere Fund currently shooting in the UK is Magicians, the first feature from the team behind the hugely popular British comedy series Peep Show, comprising producer-director Andrew O’Connor and writers Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong.

The film, which was awarded £275,000, tells the story of two friends who have a falling out then become rivals for the ultimate prize in the quirky world of professional magic. It is being produced by Intermedia with co-financing from Universal Pictures International against all rights for UK, Germany, Benelux, Australia and New Zealand. QED International is handling sales.