Sydney Film Festival Premiere for Messiah in Lexus Short Films Series
Director Damian Walshe-Howling will enjoy a premiere on home ground for MESSiAH, his feature produced for this year’s Lexus Short Films series. The movie will be screened for the first time at the Sydney Film Festival on 14 June.
MESSiAH, inspired by the series’ theme of “Anticipation”, explores a playful culture clash that ensues when an Irishman and his Parisian girlfriend encounter a particularly mischievous stranger in the spectacular surroundings of the Australian wilderness. The cast includes the celebrated Australian actor David Gulpilil, whose credits include the 1971 classic Walkabout, The Tracker, Crocodile Dundee and Rabbit-Proof Fence, together with Stephen Hunter (The Hobbit).
Melbourne-born Walshe-Howling, who as an actor has appeared in a number of high-profile Australian television productions, will be attending the premiere to talk about his film and its inspiration as part of the third annual Lexus Short Films series.
David Nordstrom, Lexus International’s global branding department general manager, said, “We are so pleased to support these talented filmmakers and their capability and vision following the overall theme “Anticipation” have truly exceeded our expectations thus far.”
MESSiAH and the previously announced Friday Night will be screened with the two other films in the series in a joint premiere for all four productions at this year’s Napa Valley Film Festival in California in November. Prior to this, the individual movies will be showcased in special screenings and festivals around the world through the summer and autumn.
