NZ Comedy to Open Sydney Film Festival

New Zealand Comedy the Breaker Upperers to Open
Sydney Film Festival 2018

The 65th Sydney Film Festival today announced the Australian Premiere of The Breaker Upperers, a side-splittingly funny New Zealand film from writers-directors-stars Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, as the Opening Night Film screening at the State Theatre on Wednesday 6 June.

Sydney Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala is proudly presented by Lexus Australia.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Monday 23 April via sff.org.au - re-launching today with a brand new look and new ways to tailor your Festival experience.

The Breaker Upperers follows two cynical misfits earning a living breaking up unhappy couples for cash, by faking deaths, impersonating cops and strippers, and feigning pregnancies.

Executive Produced by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, SFF 2014 Closing Night Film), the film’s production team includes Ainsley Gardiner (Boy, SFF 2010) and Carthew Neal (Hunt for the Wilderpeople).

A hit at SXSW 2018, the comedy also stars James Rolleston – the star of Boy now all grown up – and Australian comedian Celia Pacquola(Rosehaven) in her first feature film.

"We are so thrilled that The Breaker Upperers has been selected as the Opening Night movie! This is very exciting for us!" said Jackie van Beek andMadeleine Sami. "We love Australia. It's close to New Zealand and the accent sounds reasonably similar to ours. Looking forward to it!"

"The Breaker Upperers is awash with humour and heart, with a surrealist touch that makes the film really shine. It is permeated with the endearing politeness and offbeat charm that New Zealand comedies have become known for," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley.

"The Festival would like to thank Lexus Australia for their ongoing support of SFF Opening Night, and is proud to open with the Australian Premiere of this hilarious film from these emerging New Zealand talents."

A limited number of Film and Party, and Film-only tickets will be available from 9am on Monday 23 April. Film and Party tickets include entry to the Opening Night Film and the exclusive after-party at Centennial Hall at Town Hall, Sydney.

NB: Tickets to the Closing Night Film and Awards Presentation on Sunday 17 June are also on sale from 9am on Monday 23 April.

The Breaker Upperers is distributed through Madman Entertainment and will have a national theatrical release on Thursday 26 July, 2018.

The Sydney Film Festival Opening Night film is presented by Lexus Australia.

New Festival website

"Also launching today is our slick new website by geniuses ED.," said Sydney Film Festival Head of Marketing and Customer Relations James Woolley. "Besides its elegant aesthetic, the new site makes it much easier to find the films you want to see, and plan out your Festival experience from the films to parties, drinks and dinner."

"Launching soon is the Discover function, where you'll find hand-picked recommendations on everything from hot emerging directors to perfect date-night plans. We're also excited about the Planner, your one-stop customised visual schedule where you can map out your 12 day journey across the Festival," he said.

ED. Director Eric Di Cuollo said "The project has been a big milestone for the team at ED. We're extremely proud of what we've produced, and we're looking forward to continue working with the SFF team over the next few years."

Sydney Film Festival has already announced 26 new films to be featured in this year’s June event, plus a 10-film retrospective of work by the great, off-beat Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki, curated by David Stratton. The full program of 200+ films will be launched on Wednesday 9 May.

Flexipasses and subscriptions to the 65th Sydney Film Festival (6-17 June 2018) are on sale now. Please call 1300 733 733 or visitsff.org.au/tickets/flexipasses for more information.

SYNOPSIS: The Breaker Upperers

In this side-splittingly funny film, NZ directors Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek star as best friends who run an unconventional business breaking up couples for cash.

Directors Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek star as Jen and Mel, who 15 years ago discovered that they were being two-timed by the same man. From heartbreak, a friendship blossomed, alongside a hearty cynicism about love and relationships. And so The Breaker Upperers was born, a business helping people who lack the courage to end their relationships. With years of experience, Jen and Mel bring new levels of artistry to their craft. Faking deaths, impersonating cops and strippers, and feigning pregnancies are all part of their extensive repertoire. But when consciences resurface and the prospect of romance rears up, the unbreakable friendship between the two starts to show its first cracks. Though it plays like an escapist comedy, The Breaker Upperers is also refreshingly candid about modern sexuality, and beautifully captures a multicultural community. Executive produced by Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, SFF 2014), The Breaker Upperers is a joyous, hilarious film and its creators, on this evidence, are destined for international stardom.

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