‘Blueback’ to inspire ocean conservation
The adaptation of Tim Winton’s best-selling novella Blueback is a timely tale about the ocean, a beautiful marine creature, and a young girl’s power to change the world.
Blueback, the visually stunning ocean-conservation-inspired drama directed by Robert Connolly, made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film opens in cinemas across Australia this New Year’s Day.
Starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Crimson Peak) alongside Eric Bana (The Dry, Chopper) and Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black, Man on Fire), Blueback is a celebration of Australia’s oceans and marine life, the inspiring story tells of the ‘power of one young girl to make a difference’. The film follows Abby as she befriends a spectacular blue groper that she calls Blueback. As she grows up, Abby works with her mother to protect Blueback and Australia’s threatened coral reefs.
Recognising the film as an important opportunity to engage audiences beyond the cinema, Minderoo Foundation is working with Roadshow Films, CinemaPlus and online education resource providers, Cool Australia and the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM), to connect the themes of the movie with schools in Australia and New Zealand to inspire and empower the next generation of ocean advocates.
Wayne Walters, Education Lead at Minderoo Foundation’s Flourishing Oceans initiative said the film will help to convey some important messages.
“Blueback has the potential to inspire and educate a global audience on matters critical to our goal of returning the ocean to a flourishing state within the next 10 years — including ocean health, the importance of marine protected areas, sustainable fishing, and communities being drivers for change,” Wayne said.
“With the help of this film, we aim to build ocean literacy in school and community audiences to help them become informed about how important the health of the ocean is to us as a species and how we can ensure that we’re able to continue to enjoy the amazing gifts it has to share with us into the future.”
Blueback is an Arenamedia production with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Screen Fund, and is financed with support from Film Victoria, with Soundfirm. The producers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the Great Southern Development Commission.
Blueback will be released in Australian cinemas on 1 January 2023.
Established by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2001, we are a modern philanthropic organisation seeking to break down barriers, innovate and drive positive, lasting change. Minderoo Foundation is proudly Australian, with key initiatives spanning from ocean research and ending slavery, to collaboration in cancer and community projects.
