Kiwi Feature Film Pike River To Receive World Premiere At Sydney Film Festival

Major New Zealand feature film Pike River, based on the November 2010 Pike River Mine tragedy that took the lives of 29 men underground, will receive its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on June 7, ahead of its nationwide cinematic release in New Zealand later this year.

The film marks the return home to New Zealand of three-time Emmy nominee Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets, The Last of Us, Heavenly Creatures), working alongside BAFTA nominated NZ actress Robyn Malcolm (After the Party, Far North, Outrageous Fortune).

Directed by Rob Sarkies (Out of the Blue, Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story, Scarfies), Pike River is the powerful true story of Anna Osborne (Melanie Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (Robyn Malcolm), and their fight for justice alongside other Pike families following one of the worst mining disasters in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history.

Director Rob Sarkies commented: “This is a huge honour that demonstrates the significance of the story in New Zealand and Australia. It feels particularly special that several Pike River families will be attending the Sydney premiere after years of working so closely with them to bring their story to the big screen. I’m so proud of the whole team, particularly our incredible cast led by Melanie and Robyn. I’m very much looking forward to sharing this film with Kiwi audiences later this year.”

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Sonya Rockhouse said: "Having a film made about this experience has in some part helped with our healing. Anna and I have found it to be an incredibly humbling experience to be involved in the film with a crew of people who felt strongly about the injustices we suffered, and wanted to tell our story. We feel extremely honoured to be invited to attend the world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival.”

Pike River will premiere as a ’Special Presentation’ on the opening weekend of the Sydney Film Festival at the 2,000 seat State Theatre with cast, crew and Pike River families in attendance.

Written by Fiona Samuel (Consent, Bliss, Piece of My Heart), Pike River was shot on location in Māwhera, Greymouth, Wellington and Auckland. The film is produced by Vicky Pope (Savage, Went Up The Hill, Gardening with Soul) and Timothy White (Muru, Out of the Blue, The Dark Horse) with Executive Producers Melanie Lynskey, Robyn Malcolm, Paul Wiegard, Paul Gough, James Dean, Jennifer Sutton, Doug Gold, William Watson and Rob Sarkies. Madman will distribute theatrically in New Zealand and Australia, with Capture Entertainment handling international sales. The film has been made in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air, Three, the New Zealand Screen Production Grant and Park Road Post Production.

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