The Surfer to hit Australian screens with cinematic release on 15 May
Eagerly anticipated film The Surfer will be released in Australian cinemas on 15 May.
Filmed entirely in Yallingup and showcasing Western Australia’s beautiful South West, Nicolas Cage (Dream Scenario, Leaving Las Vegas) takes the lead in the psychological thriller which showcases the town known for its iconic beaches.
The new Stan Original Film will hit Australian cinemas on Thursday, 15 May and stream exclusively on Stan from Sunday, 15 June.
The Surfer was made possible thanks to the State Government’s WA Production Attraction Incentive – Australia’s most competitive incentive, which is designed to attract high profile, market driven screen productions to the State.
“Having Nicolas Cage in Western Australia for production was an absolute coup, which resulted in overwhelming local, national and international media coverage of our state,” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest Chief Executive Officer.
“Not only will audiences from all over the world now be able to see Western Australia on the big screen, but the local film industry has benefited from the economic spin-off and additional jobs with 155 local crew and 70 WA extras employed as part of this incredible major production opportunity.”
Nicolas Cage and Nic Cassim
Economically, local production of The Surfer has paid dividends for Western Australia with qualifying expenditure of $4.85 million in the state.
Directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium) and written by Thomas Martin, The Surfer made waves at its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with a six-minute standing ovation and was described as a ‘cult movie in the making’ and one of ‘Nicolas Cage’s best performances’. The film premiered in North America at the prestigious SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas in March.
Together with an international producing team, the film’s Australian producers include Robert Connolly (Blueback, Sweet As, Paper Planes, The Turning), Executive Producer Robert Patterson (Blueback, Sweet As, Force of Nature: The Dry 2, Magic Beach) and West Australian Producer James Grandison (Blueback, Sweet As, Mystery Road: Origin).
When a man returns to Australia to buy back his family home after many years in the US he is humiliated in front of his teenage son by a group of local surfers who claim ownership over the secluded beach of his childhood. Wounded, he defies them and remains at the beach, demanding acceptance. As the conflict escalates he is brought right to the edge of his sanity and his entire identity is thrown into question.
Joining Cage is an impressive Australian ensemble cast including Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck), Nic Cassim (Mr Inbetween), Miranda Tapsell (The Dry), Alexander Bertrand (Australian Gangster), Justin Rosniak (Last King of the Cross), Rahel Romahn (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Finn Little (Yellowstone) and Charlotte Maggi (Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child on Fire).
Some of the key Western Australian crew roles include Production Manager Shelby Shaw, First Assistant Director Mark Boskell, Production Designer Emma Fletcher, Costume Designer Lien See Leong and Gaffer Jean Van de Meiren.
The Surfer, an Australian-Irish Co-Production, is produced by Tea Shop Productions, Arenamedia, Lovely Productions, and Gramercy Park Media with support from Screenwest through the Western Australian Production Attraction Incentive. Stan Executive Producers Cailah Scobie and Amanda Duthie. North.Five.Six. is handling international sales. Madman is distributing the film theatrically in Australia and New Zealand.
Special event screenings will be held at both Orana and Reading Cinemas in Busselton on Monday, 12 May at 7:00pm.
A screening followed by a Q&A will be held at Luna Leederville on Sunday, 18 May at 3:30pm with Producer James Grandison, Production Designer Emma Fletcher, and Costume Designer Lien See Leong. Tickets are available to members of the public at the Luna cinema website.
Nicolas Cage