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Baz Lurhmann's "Faraway Downs" to world premiere at inaugual SXSW Sydney®

10 Oct 2023

Baz Lurhmann's "Faraway Downs" to world premiere at inaugual SXSW Sydney®

In collaboration with the NSW Government Via Destination NSW, TEG & SXSW, Baz Luhrmann’s “Faraway Downs” to world premiere at inaugural SXSW Sydney.

The world premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s “Faraway Downs,” an inspiring epic adventure and reimagined extended version of Luhrmann’s 2008 film “Australia,” will be presented by Baz Luhrmann in person, on closing night of the inaugural SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival on Oct. 21, 2023. 

The film, told in six chapters, will premiere all at once on Hulu in the United States, Star+ in Latin America and on Disney+ in all other territories on Nov. 26, 2023. 

“I was inspired to re-approach my film “Australia” to create “Faraway Downs” because of the way episodic storytelling has been reinvigorated by the streaming world,” said Baz Luhrmann. “With over 2 million feet of film from the original piece, my team and I were able to revisit anew the central themes of the work. I am honored to world premiere “Faraway Downs” in Australia, the place that has inspired me and my work my entire life, and with a partner like SXSW Sydney who deeply recognises the intersection of film, television and music with storytelling.”

Colin Daniels, SXSW Sydney Managing Director, said, “We are so happy to be sharing the creative work of Baz Luhrmann and the entire “Faraway Downs” team at Australia’s first ever SXSW Sydney.”

Starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Brown, Brandon Walters, Ben Mendelsohn, David Wenham and Jack Thompson, the story centers on English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman), who travels halfway across the world to confront her wayward husband and sell an unusual asset: Faraway Downs, a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian outback. Following the death of her husband, a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown) plots to take her land, and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to protect her ranch. The sweeping adventure-romance is explored through the eyes of young Nullah (Brandon Walters), an Indigenous Australian child caught up in the government’s Draconian racial policy now referred to as the Stolen Generations. Together, the trio experiences four life-altering years, a love affair between Lady Ashley and the drover, and the unavoidable impact of World War II on Northern Australia. 

“Australia” was directed, produced (with Catherine Knapman and G. Mac Brown) and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, alongside writers Stuart Beattie, Ronald Harwood and Richard Flanagan, with production and costume design by multiple-Academy Award winner Catherine Martin. “Faraway Downs” is executive produced by Luhrmann, Martin, Knapman and Schuyler Weiss. 20th Television is the studio.

About SXSW Sydney Screen Festival

The SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival brings together creatives across a wide range of specialties from around the world, with a particular focus on the incredible talent within the Asia-Pacific region. With a program that includes feature films, shorts, TV premieres, music videos, and XR, we wholeheartedly embrace the democratisation of screen storytelling. Join us in this celebration of the moving-image and its future. The SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival takes place from Oct. 15-21. 

Accessing SXSW Sydney 2023 – Badges and Wristbands: 

Badges are your master key for SXSW Sydney – they open the doors to all activity across the week-long event, from its Conference (including Black Mirror’s Charlie Brooker) and Tech & Innovation Expo to every aspect of its Music, Screen and Games Festivals.  

Wristbands give access to SXSW Sydney’s Music, Screen or Games festivals, for performances, screenings and showcases.  

  • Music Festival: 300 performances in 25 venues over 4 nights.   
  • Screen Festival: unlimited screenings over one week. 
  • Games Festival: 170 new indie games and parties over 6 nights.  

Badges and Wristbands are now available at sxswsydney.com. 

In collaboration with the NSW Government Via Destination NSW, TEG & SXSW® 

For SXSW Sydney media inquiries please contact: sxsw@organic-publicity.com  

Apply for media accreditation now HERE. 

Access images of Screen Festival content HERE. 

https://sxswsydney.com/sxsw-2023/

For Faraway Downs media inquiries please contact: 

Rebecca Tooth, Disney+ Australia: rebecca.tooth@disney.com
Georgina Thompson, Disney+ Australia: georgina.thompson@disney.com
Leila Mekhid, Disney+ International: leila.mekhid@disney.com
Brandon Shaw, Hulu: brandon.shaw@disney.com

About SXSW®  

SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film and television, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music, and comedy showcases, film and television screenings, exhibitions, professional development, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2024 will take place March 8-16 in Austin. Learn more at sxsw.com.  

About SXSW Sydney®  

Futurist conference and festival, South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney, will see the Asia-Pacific’s pre-eminent creative industries come together in the heart of Sydney Harbour. The event is a week-long program stacked with more than 1,000 ground-breaking events and networking sessions across pillars of Tech and Innovation, Games, Music, Screen and Culture.  

Informed by a multicultural landscape and an enduring preservation of past, present and future Indigenous cultural heritage, Sydney offers a rich and exciting arts and culture scene with beautiful galleries, acclaimed theatres and burgeoning performance spaces.  

About Destination NSW  

Destination NSW is the lead agency, champion and voice for the visitor economy within the NSW Government. Spearheading a whole-of-government approach to visitor economy growth, Destination NSW is responsible for leading the delivery of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 in partnership with government and industry. Destination NSW influences and shapes the visitor economy through strategic research, policy and thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and consultation, commercial partnerships and investment in visitor experiences, business support, marketing and events. Destination NSW is also the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) for the purpose of securing more international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and expos for Sydney and regional NSW.  

About TEG 

TEG is a global leader in Live Entertainment, Ticketing and Technology. Every day TEG connects fans to experiences and customers with brands. We are proud partners of some of the world’s largest and most iconic venues as well as leading event promoters globally. TEG operates worldwide out of seven country offices and includes Ticketek, Ticketek Marketplace, Ticketek UK, Ticketek New Zealand, Ticketek Malaysia, Ticketek Philippines, Eventopia, Softix, TEG Live, TEG Dainty, TEG Sport, TEG Van Egmond, Laneway Festival, Handsome Tours, SXSW Sydney, TEG Theatrical, MJR Presents, TEG Lifelike Touring, TEG TES Live, Brickman, TEG Rockefeller, Rugby Live, TEG Europe, Propaganda, TEG USA, Qudos Bank Arena, FAN+, VIP NOW and Ovation. 

About Hulu

Hulu is the leading and most comprehensive all-in-one premium streaming service that offers an expansive slate of live and on-demand entertainment, both in and outside the home, through a wide array of subscription options that give consumers ultimate control over their viewing experience. As part of the Disney Entertainment segment, Hulu is the only on-demand offering that provides access to shows from every major U.S. broadcast network, libraries of hit TV series and films – including licensed content available exclusively on Hulu – and award-winning Hulu Originals, both with and without commercials. With Hulu + Live TV, subscribers receive a unique combination of access to 90+ live news, entertainment and sports TV channels from 20th Television, The Walt Disney Company, ABC, NBCUniversal, CBS Corporation, The CW, Turner Networks, A+E Networks and Discovery Networks, as well as Hulu’s on-demand library, Disney+, and ESPN+ included as part of the base plan. Visit hulu.com to subscribe or learn more about the service.

About Disney+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from Disney, Disney+ offers an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service, as part of the Disney Bundle in the U.S. that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, or as part of Combo+ in Latin America with Star+, the standalone general entertainment and sports streaming service in the region. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

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