The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films For North America
Bunya is thrilled to announce that Leah Purcell’s directorial debut, The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, has been acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films ahead of its world premier on March 18 at the SXSW Festival in the Narrative Spotlight section.
The film is an adaptation of Henry Lawson’s classic short story and tells the story of a woman and her stubborn determination to protect her family from the harshness of a life in 1893, Snowy Mountains
‘The Drover’s Wife’ is a story that goes beyond borders and time. The issues explored within the film are still incredibly pertinent today and inspiring to those that watch it. We are beyond exited to bring the film to North America,” said Miles Fineburg of Samuel Goldwyn Films, the major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company that develops, produces and distributes innovative feature films and documentaries.
Purcell said she was “beyond excited about the news that Samuel Goldwyn will be distributing her film in North America.”
“I am thrilled to be working with their team with all their experience and expertise in the U.S market. Here’s to a long and prosperous relationship in the U.S now my feature film director career is off and running!” said Purcell.
The Aussie filmmaker previously said, “‘The Drover’s Wife’ story has been with me most of my life, since I was a small child.” Being “able to now bring this classic Australian story to the big screen and reimagine it with an Indigenous heart and soul at its core has been an honour and a privilege and one of the great joys and challenges of my life,” said Purcell, who also adapted the play into an eponymous book, edited by Penguin Random House Australia.
Production credit: The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson is a Oombarra and Bunya Productions production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW. Memento Films International is handling international sales. Distribution in Australia and New Zealand by Roadshow Films. Distribution in North America by Samuel Goldwyn.
Roadshow Films will release The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson in cinemas across Australia later this year.
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