Sunstar Entertainment

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Sunstar Entertainment is an independent film production and talent management company, [1] founded in 2011 by Andrew Fraser and Shahen Mekertichian. Sunstar Entertainment operates out of Sydney, Australia. The company has a heavy focus on producing films and television shows based on true Australian stories, including the 2016 film Lion, directed by Garth Davis. [2]

Contents

Film Projects

In 2012, Sunstar optioned the rights to Indian-born Australian businessman Saroo Brierley’s book, A Long Way Home, [3] which was co-written by Australian author Larry Buttrose. In 2013, Sunstar Entertainment partnered with See-Saw Films to adapt the book into a film titled Lion, directed by Garth Davis and starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara and David Wenham. [4] Lion was co-produced by Sunstar Entertainment, See-Saw Films, Aquarius Films, Screen Australia and The Weinstein Company. [5] Founders of Sunstar Entertainment Andrew Fraser and Shahen Mekertichian were Executive Producers on the film. [6]

The film premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival where it received early Oscar buzz [7] [8] and was released for international distribution by The Weinstein Company on November 25, 2016. [9]

In 2013 Sunstar Entertainment was announced as a producer on True Spirit, a film about the true story of Australian sailor Jessica Watson who became the youngest person to sail solo around the world non stop at the age of 16. [10] The film is due to be released in 2020. [11]

In 2015, Sunstar Entertainment optioned the rights to the story of Australian athlete John Maclean. [12] John became a paraplegic following a truck accident and was the first person in a wheelchair to compete in the Ironman World Championship and swim the English Channel. [13]

Talent Management

Sunstar Entertainment represents a number of Australian sporting identities and celebrities, including around the world sailor, Jessica Watson [14] and Australian cricketer, Mitchell Starc [15] and Australian sportswoman Ellyse Perry. [16] [17]

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References

  1. ↑ "Sunstar Entertainment". Screen Australia. Screen Australia. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sunstar options story of a paraplegic who beat the odds". if.com.au. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  3. ↑ "Dads strike Hollywood gold with film idea" . Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  4. ↑ "Hot projects on Screenbase" . Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  5. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (2016-08-17). "Weinstein Co's 'Lion' To Roar As London Film Festival Gala Presentation". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  6. ↑ Davis, Garth (2016-11-25), Lion , retrieved 2016-10-04
  7. ↑ "Lion hailed as an Oscar contender" . Retrieved 2016-11-06.
  8. ↑ Jaafar, Ali (2016-07-26). "Toronto To Open With 'The Magnificent Seven'; 'La La Land', 'Deepwater Horizon' Among Galas & Presentations" . Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  9. ↑ "Rooney Mara, David Wenham join survival tale 'Lion'" . Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  10. ↑ "Filmmakers ready to set sail on Jessica Watson movie". DailyTelegraph. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  11. ↑ Spillane, Sarah (2000-01-01), True Spirit , retrieved 2016-10-04
  12. ↑ "Sunstar options story of a paraplegic who beat the odds". if.com.au. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  13. ↑ "About". John Maclean. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  14. ↑ "A wet Jessica Watson with her manager Andrew Fraser - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2011". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  15. ↑ "Accredited Agents of Current Players". www.auscricket.com.au. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  16. ↑ Saltau, Chloe. "All-round Ellyse very, Perry good". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
  17. ↑ "Ellyse Perry kicked and punched while playing soccer and told she is too soft to play the sport". DailyTelegraph. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
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