Cinefest Oz kicks off in Busselton, Western Australia, in a couple of weeks time, with its usual unusual showcase of Australian and French cinema. Opening the festivities is Julius Avery's Son Of A Gun, starring Ewan McGregor, Brenton Thwaites (Oculus), Alicia Vikander (The Fifth Estate) and Matt Nable (Riddick). And heralding that debut, the film's first stills have just been released, along with a poster. It's glowers all round: don't expect a rom-com.
Avery's first gig as a director sees Thwaites playing young offender JR, imprisoned for a minor crime but actually getting deeper into the life once he's on the inside. In search of protection he comes under the wing of McGregor's career criminal Brendan Lynch. The price is assisting in Lynch's escape once JR is legitimately released. The ultimate reward is involvement in a gold heist, but as is the way of these things, events take a turn for the unfortunate, and JR finds himself embroiled in a deadly chase.
Post-production was completed last month, but aside from its Australian premiere there are no release dates yet except for in The Netherlands, who get it next February. Expect some further distribution deals to be made while Son Of A Gun is on the festival circuit over the next few months.