For a country as obsessed about Australian Rules Football as Australia is movies about our national code have been few and far between.
However, that is about to change with new film ‘Blinder’ going into production from February 20th in Torquay before moving to the U.S. Director, Richard Gray (writer/director of ‘Summer Coda’ and ‘Mine Games’) couldn’t be happier about the films location. “I grew up holidaying with family on the Great Ocean Road and always dreamed of shooting a film there. We have locations from Torquay to Apollo Bay – and they’re just stunning. I have a huge passion for football and can’t wait to bring the action to the big screen, an emotional but uplifting story that a large audience can get behind.“
It was announed today that the film will star Oliver Ackland (‘The Slap’, ‘Wasted On The Young’) and he will be supported by Rose McIver (‘The Lovely Bones’), Steve Bisley (‘Red Hill’), Anna Hutchison (‘Wild Boys’), Zoe Carides (‘Death In Brunswick’), Bob Morley (‘Road Train’) and Angus Sampson (‘Insidious’).
Ackland will star as an ex-footballer who returns home after a long absence to clear his name and start something new with an old flame.
One of the film’s producers, AFL legend Glenn Archer says it has been too long between Aussie Rules movies “An Aussie Rules film has been a long time coming. Considering it’s the most watched and most tribal sport in the country, BLINDER will be a film that will capture the imagination of the footy world. There are millions of people that tune into the games every week, attend local footy and judge how their weekend was depending on the result of their team’s match. BLINDER will encapsulate everything great about that game, insights into the life and times of footballers and hopefully inspire people.“