A Post-Apocalyptic Film Concept Set In Ballarat Takes Out AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes 2022

At this year’s Regional To Global Screen Forum, AACTA and Screenworks announce Lou Sanzand John Kachoyan as the recipients of the 2022 AACTA Pitch Regional Landscapes development grant, which includes further support, travel and accommodation to attend Australian International Screen Forum in New York.

AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes in Partnership with Screenworks, and with the support of AISF, is a national feature film development initiative in its third year, that provides an opportunity for regionally based creatives to receive fast-tracked industry support for films geared around stories and settings informed by the diversity and uniqueness of regional Australia.

Five finalists, selected from over 100 applications, received feedback and valuable advice in individual sessions with each of our judges, leading up to their final pitch. The judging panel included Michael Pontin, AACTA Award-winning producer and head of Ticket To Ride, a subsidiary of See Pictures (June Again); Rachel Okine, the Head of Features and Development Executive at Stan (Stan Original Films Christmas on the Farm, upcoming Transfusion); AACTA Award-winning writer and producer Tony Briggs (The Sapphires, The Warriors); Peter Cron, VP of Production and Development at US based Likely Story Productions (American Ultra); and creative executive Hannah Gordon representing US based MisherFilms (Coming to America 2).

Lou and John’s winning concept LAND’S END is a uniquely set drama about grief, isolation and starting again after catastrophes big and small. Michael Pontin expressed the judges’ strong emotional connection to the characters and story during the final deliberations. The storyline, which explores the “absurdity of grief…isolation, and the restorative nature of connection and community” centres around Lettie, an emergency room Doctor.  “After a devastating loss, an emergency room Doctor isolates herself on a remote property, preparing for an imagined apocalypse. But when global catastrophe actually strikes and survivors start trickling in, she's forced to choose between the solitude of grief or the mess (and even joy) of life amongst the living.”

Lou Sanz and John Kachoyan said of the experience, “We’re thrilled to be the recipients of this year’s award. It represents a significant investment of energy and practical support for our careers at a crucial time for us both. We loved all the finalist’s pitches and are thrilled to bring regional Australian stories by regional creatives to life - especially through a film as personal and powerful as we hope Land’s End will be.”

At the 2022 Australian International Screen Forum in New York, Lou and John will have the opportunity to present their project and network in an exclusive setting with US based producers, studio executives and other key decision-makers as part of the multi-day film festival and industry conference at the Lincoln Centre. The pair will also receive ongoing guidance from the judging panel; a three-day pass to all sessions at the upcoming Screenworks 2022 Regional to Global Screen Forum; AACTA, Screenworks and Australian Writers’ Guild annual memberships; and two tickets to the 2022 AACTA Award Ceremony.

With support from the AWG, LAND’S END will feature as part of their celebrated AWG Pathways Program and receive script editing and consultation from a celebrated screenwriter.

AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager Ivan Vukusic said, “LAND’S END is a unique and compelling survival story that resonates with the influence of Lou and John’s own personal journey. It was great to see them incorporate the advice of our judging panel to flesh out the key hooks and the finer details of their story, which culminated in their fantastic winning pitch. We’re very confident LAND’S END will hit home with audiences here and abroad.”

 “AACTA will continue to offer support to all five finalists in the development of their films and advancement of their careers. There is strong potential in every concept, and the dedication, creativity and tenacity of these aspiring filmmakers is something we’ll gladly support”

Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch said, “Once again we’ve been incredibly impressed at the range and diversity of the stories submitted for this year’s AACTA Regional Landscapes Pitch. All five finalists’ projects offered very different perspectives on life and landscapes in regional Australia and showed there is a wealth of stories to be told outside of the metropolitan areas. We’re excited to be supporting the LAND’S END project through the next stage of development – and we’re confident that Lou and John will benefit greatly from the opportunity to head to the US to pitch and network with producers, studios and key decision-makers.”

All five finalists will receive ongoing support to take their projects to the next stage of development. The judges noted each concept had strong storylines and great commercial appeal. The remaining 2022 final projects are: 

THE BANK MANAGER (set in Cloncurry, QLD) | Madeleine Chaplain and Luke Chaplain

Based on true events surrounding the 1932 Cloncurry bank robberies. Amidst drought and recession, a farmer assembles a team of colourful locals to pull off a sophisticated heist. It will take skill, bravery, a few bars of soap and a woman named Peach. But in this small country town, where everyone knows everyone's secrets - will they succeed? Or worse - will they be caught?

BLACK MAGIC (set in Scone, NSW) | Leonie Kelly and Di Smith

From the outback to Tarakan, bound together by love, loss and incredible danger, two warriors fight for the recognition of Len Waters, the first Aboriginal fighter pilot, Australia's ‘Missing Man’.

RADIO INFREQUENCY (set in Kangaroo Island, SA) | Dave Wade

Volunteers from a community radio station are forced to navigate their way through a merger bid from a multimedia corporation with ulterior motives.

THE TRACK (set on the Birdsville Track, QLD/SA) | Travis Akbar and Adam Gerard

Following an abduction, cops and journalists charter a plane to the Birdsville Track to negotiate the safe release of three hostages from dangerous, armed convicts. Based on true events.

 AACTA Pitch Regional Landscapes in Partnership with Screenworks judge, Michael Pontin said of his experience, “It’s been a privilege to be on the Regional Landscapes judging panel for 2022. The quality of the teams and their entries has been of a very high standard, and it made it difficult to choose just one. It’s been exciting to connect with stories that have been developed with authenticity, and it is a valuable program that AACTA and Screenworks have created to cast the net of Australian feature storytelling wide.”