Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown has landed Echuca’s Paramount Cinema with a major coup - the world premiere of a movie executive produced by Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe.
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Streamline takes inspiration from both the life of the writer-director, Tyson Wade Johnston, and of Thorpe and follows the story of a 15-year-old swimming prodigy who spirals into self-destruction after his father is released from prison.
It is the first world premiere to be staged at the Echuca cinema, but due to COVID-19 rules it will be without any of the stars at the screening.
Paramount Cinema manager Rebecca Lillico said she had only been informed yesterday the movie's stars would not be attending.
Ms Lillico said the movie-makers had originally committed to having the movie's star, 18-year-old Levi Miller, attend the premiere.
“We only found out today (Tuesday) that he can't make it,” Ms Lillico said.
“That's the only really disappointing thing about the movie coming to Echuca.”
The screening, at 4.30pm on Sunday, August 22, will be open to the public and comes to Echuca as a result of the 69th Melbourne International Film Festival's (MIFF) forced cancellation due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Ms Lillico said the movie's connections expected the film to feature prominently come award season.
Echuca is among seven regional cinemas which will be hosting MIFF screenings and premieres for Australian audiences.
Ms Lillico said parents should keep in mind the film was rated MA 15+.
Australian actor Miller's lead in the movie comes six years after his career-defining role as Peter Pan opposite Hugh Jackman in the movie Pan. He also played the lead in Red Dog, True Blue.
Streamline also stars Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter) and features Robert Morgan (Hacksaw Ridge, Paradise City) and Jake Ryan (Home and Away, Wolf Creek) as principal cast members.
While there will not be any red carpet at this particular premiere, MIFF artistic director Al Cossar has welcomed Echuca's involvement in this year's festival, including the premiere of Streamline.
“We're thrilled to be in Echuca,” Mr Cossar said.
“This is the first time we've ever been there, and I'm sure we'll be back.”
“We set out and planned a festival of moving pieces and contingencies. We have three things that can continue, and one is our regional cinemas.”
Robert Morgan, who plays strict Coach Clarke in the film, said the film's director was connected to the Echuca region via the Murray River.
“Originally it was going to be shot in Albury-Wodonga, along the Murray, using your river,” Mr Morgan said.
“That's where Tyson spent a lot of his time as a young kid.
“In a way, (premiering in Echuca) is bringing that story home.”
Mr Morgan — currently in Los Angeles preparing for a role alongside Hollywood star Brad Pitt — has encouraged locals to see the film he and his colleagues worked so hard on.
“To people who watch the film, a lot of people do a lot of fine work to make a film like this, and make it work,” Mr Morgan said.
“This is Tyson's film, it's part of his world, so I'm thanking him. It's taken Tyson's sweat, blood, and tears to make this.
“The essence of the film belongs to Tyson Johnston.”
Jake Ryan, who plays Dave Bush, the older brother of Levi Miller's Benjamin Lane, is also excited for the film to premiere, especially considering he is yet to see the film.
“I'm excited,” Mr Ryan said.
“Everyone has worked so hard on it, and I'm excited for people to see Levi's work.
“They won't have seen him in a role like this before. He's matured a lot and he put so much hard work into it.”
“(To the audience), be open minded. Yes, it's a film set in the world of swimming, but have an open mind for the family drama that comes with it that people might not expect.
“We only ever hear about the Olympic gold medals and the championship wins.
“You barely hear about the hard work or the troubled lives that some of these athletes have.
“It's just a pity we can't be there (for the premiere). I wish we could be.”
Al Cossar has also encouraged locals to go and see the other films on show at the Paramount this weekend and online via the festival's MIFF Play and MIFF XR platforms.
“There’s a great film by a director named Aaron Wilson,” Mr Cossar said.
“Little Tornadoes is set in a regional community in the 70s, about a man whose wife has left him and is struggling not only with changing family circumstances, but also the changing world around him.
“There’s a film called Ablaze as well, which is by Tiriki Onus and Alec Morgan, and that’s a family documentary.
“The story is really looking into someone who might be Australia’s first Aboriginal filmmaker and kind of builds out as a family story and an untold history in Victoria over the last 100 years.
“Then you have something like Streamline which is world-premiering at the festival, and in the regions.”
Streamline will premiere at 4.30pm this Sunday, August 22, and is rated MA15. Tickets for all remaining MIFF shows at the Paramount are available online at echucapaamount.com or from the box office.