Babyteeth, the debut feature of alumna Shannon Murphy (Graduate Diploma in Directing, 2013) is headed abroad to have its world premiere in official competition at Venice International Film Festival.
Having previously directed television dramas including Offspring, Love Child and Sisters, Shannon Murphy is one of only two female directors who have features selected in this year’s official competition.
Several alumni have worked on the project, including producer Alex White (Graduate Certificate in Producing, 2011), cinematographer Andrew Commis (Master of Arts – Film & TV Cinematography, 1998), production designer Sheree Philips (Graduate Diploma in Production Design, 2012) and composer Amanda Brown (Graduate Certificate in Screen Composition, 1999). 2018 Master of Arts Screen: Production Design graduate Laura Anna Lucas was selected by Screen NSW (Create NSW) for a six-week paid design assistant position on the film.
Adapted by Rita Kalnejais from her Belvoir Theatre play, the film stars Australian actors Ben Mendelsohn (Ready Player One, Bloodline) and Essie Davis (Game of Thrones, The Babadook). The story centres around Milla Finlay (played by Eliza Scanlen: Home & Away, Sharp Objects), a teenage girl who’s battling cancer for the second time. Determined to live her life to the full, she begins to clash with her protective parents.
Babyteeth is one of four Australian feature films selected to screen at the 76th Venice international Film Festival, which will run over August and September. See the full lineup here.
Babyteeth credits
Director: Shannon Murphy (Graduate Diploma in Directing, 2013)
Writer: Rita Kalnejais
Producer: Alex White (Graduate Certificate in Producing, 2011)
Executive producer: Jan Chapman
Cinematographer: Andrew Commis (Master of Arts – Film & TV Cinematography, 1998)
Composer: Amanda Brown (Graduate Certificate in Screen Composition, 1999)
Editor: Stephen Evans
Production designer: Sherree Phillips (Graduate Diploma in Production Design, 2012)
Design assistant: Laura Anna Lucas (Master of Arts Screen: Production Design, 2018)