Renowned filmmaker and creative maestro Baz Luhrmann will make two special appearances at Vivid Sydney 2022 – joining the Vivid Ideas line-up to discuss the Business of Baz with acclaimed journalist and podcaster Marc Fennell, as well as attending the Sydney premiere of his much-anticipated new movie, Elvis. 

Vivid Sydney, the annual festival of creativity, innovation and technology, will transform Sydney’s CBD into a fusion of Light, Music and Ideas for 23 nights, from 27 May to 18 June 2022. Business of Baz joins more than more than 85 intriguing talks and workshops as part of the Vivid Ideas program, which explores the forces that shape not only Sydney’s unique community, but all great cities around the world.  

In this intimate, one-of-a-kind conversation, Baz will discuss his remarkable career, the power of storytelling, creativity in chaos and his multi-faceted partnerships with Catherine Martin and Craig Pearce, and will enthrall audiences with behind-the-scenes tales from the filming of Elvis.  

Festival Director Gil Minervini added, “Baz Luhrmann joins a powerful, thought-provoking Vivid Ideas line-up for 2022 as a Global Storyteller, alongside Aaron Sorkin, Gretchen Carlson & Troye Sivan.  

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the global megastar was the perfect addition to what is already an incredible line-up for the Vivid Sydney 2022 program.  

“I am delighted that Baz Luhrmann, one of our nation’s greatest cultural luminaries, will be part of Vivid Sydney 2022. His dynamic artistic talents traverse film, television, opera, theatre, music, and recording. His insights into the fashion and art worlds make him incredibly interesting and highly relevant for the Vivid Ideas program,” Mr Ayres said.  

 “A seat at an audience with Baz will be one of the hottest tickets in town. This is a one-off opportunity to get first-hand insight into the genius behind his art, his career and of course, his latest movie Elvis. Culminating in the Sydney premiere of his highly-anticipated biopic about another cultural icon – the first time in the festival’s history we have included a film premiere.”   

Baz Luhrmann said, “Coming from a very small town about four hours north of Sydney, it’s not an exaggeration that David Williamson’s description of it as the Emerald City was spot on, for I always looked toward Sydney on my journey down the yellow brick road.  From growing up on the northern beaches, opening The Bond Theatre Company and creating experimental opera, during my time at NIDA, and throughout the development and shooting of my first film, Strictly Ballroom, Sydney has been a haven for me and a place abuzz with energy”.   

“CM and I will never forget the romance of this majestic city, which is forever in our hearts.  We created our first-ever Australian opera, La Bohème, at the Sydney Opera House back in 1993, so, it’s only fitting that we return to the Emerald City to share our latest work, Elvis, fulfilling the dream that we Australians can conceive of anything, bring it to life here, and deliver it to the world.” 

The two events Baz Luhrmann will appear in at Vivid Sydney are: 

1. Baz Luhrmann and Marc Fennell discussing the Business of Baz, Sunday 5 June, 3pm – 4pm, State Theatre, Sydney: A household name synonymous with fantasy, romance and decadence, Baz Luhrmann is a creative visionary and has captured audiences around the world with his highly theatrical and flamboyant productions – he will chart his rise from small town NSW to the heights of Hollywood and the trials and tribulations along the way. Purchase a ticket to the Business of Baz Ideas talk now: https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/the-business-of-baz 

2. Warner Bros. Pictures and Vivid Sydney present the Sydney Premiere of Elvis, Sunday 5 June, From 6pm, State Theatre, Sydney: Vivid Sydney is proud to present alongside Warner Bros. Pictures the Sydney premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s latest work, Elvis. Starring Austin Butler and Oscar winner Tom Hanks, the film explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Butler), seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manger, Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks). Australia native Olivia DeJonge also stars as Priscilla. Purchase an Elvis Premiere Package now, including a ticket to both the Business of Baz Ideas Talk and the Elvis premiere: https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/the-business-of-baz 

Baz Luhrmann is appearing as part of Vivid Idea’s Global Storytellers series, which include fearless women’s rights advocate and Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Gretchen Carlson, Oscar and Emmy Award-winning theatre and film director Aaron Sorkin and iconoclastic musician, fashion maverick and creative powerhouse Troye Sivan. 

To book tickets to Vivid Sydney events and performances, and for more information on the program go to www.vividsydney.com. Get social using @vividsydney #vividsydney. 

For a selection of video and image assets of Baz Luhrmann and the Global Storyteller talent, go to the Vivid Sydney News Room: www.vividsydney.com/news-room   

ELVIS is in cinemas 23 June. View the trailer HERE.   

MEDIA CONTACTS: 
Greg Vekiarellis, Ogilvy PR 
M: 0401 873 217 
E: greg.vekiarellis@ogilvy.com.au  

Elissa Tyrrell, Destination NSW 
M: 0421 130 440 
E: elissa.tyrrell@dnsw.com.au

About Vivid Sydney:   
Vivid Sydney is an annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology, which transforms Sydney for 23 days and nights. Staged for its 12th year in 2022, Vivid Sydney fuses mesmerising art displays and 3D light projections with exhilarating live music performances and deep-dive discussions from some of the world’s brightest minds, as well as the Sydney Opera House Lighting of the Sails. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.  

About Elvis: 
Elvis is an epic, big-screen spectacle from Warner Bros. Pictures and visionary, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Baz Luhrmann that explores the life and music of Elvis Presley, starring Austin Butler and Oscar winner Tom Hanks. Starring alongside Butler and Hanks, award-winning theater actress Helen Thomson plays Elvis’s mother, Gladys, Richard Roxburgh portrays Elvis’s father, Vernon, and Olivia DeJonge plays Priscilla. Luke Bracey, Natasha Bassett, David Wenham, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Xavier Samuel, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dacre Montgomery, Leon Ford, Kate Mulvany, Gareth Davies, Charles Grounds, Josh McConville  and Adam Dunn also star, as well as  singer/songwriter Yola, model Alton Mason, and musicians Gary Clark Jr. and Shonka Dukureh. Oscar nominee Luhrmann directed from a screenplay by Baz Luhrmann & Sam Bromell and Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce and Jeremy Doner, story by Baz Luhrmann and Jeremy Doner.  The film’s producers were Luhrmann, Oscar winner Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss. Toby Emmerich, Courtenay Valenti and Kevin McCormick executive produced. 

The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Mandy Walker, Oscar-winning production designer and costume designer Catherine Martin, production designer Karen Murphy, editors Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond, Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Thomas Wood, music supervisor Anton Monsted and composer Elliott Wheeler. Principal photography took place in Queensland, Australia with the support of the Queensland Government, Screen Queensland and the Australian Government’s Producer Offset program. 

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, A Bazmark Production, A Jackal Group Production, A Baz Luhrmann Film, Elvis will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to release in theaters in North America on June 24, 2022, and internationally beginning on June 22, 2022.