The
Sapphires stars (from left) Deborah Mailman, Miranda Tapsell, Jessica Mauboy
and Shari Sebbens. Picture: Hopscotch / Source:
Supplied
Neala Johnson, The Herald Sun, reports
Momentum is building for Australian movie The Sapphires in the lead-up to its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.
It was today announced that Oscar-nomination specialists The Weinstein Company have bought the rights to distribute the music-filled film in the US and many other territories.
And one of the stars of The Sapphires, pop singer turned actor Jessica Mauboy, has been named one of the “10 actors to watch at Cannes” by industry website Indiewire.
Based on the true story of an all-girl, all-Aboriginal singing group sent to Vietnam to entertain the troops in 1968, The Sapphires also stars Deborah Mailman, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell and Irish actor Chris O’Dowd, best known for comedy hit Bridesmaids.
O’Dowd plays the talent scout who discovered the singing sisters on an Aboriginal mission in Victoria, pegged them as Australia's answer to The Supremes and sent them off to the war-zone to perform.
Hollywood power player Harvey Weinstein said in a statement: “These girls light up the screen as much as their music lights up the stage. We’re thrilled to bring the stories and music from these sisters to audiences all over the world.”
The Weinstein Company’s campaign behind The King’s Speech saw that film become a global hit and win the Best Picture Oscar.
The Sapphires will screen at Cannes as part of the famed film festival’s “Out of Competition” selection.
It will have its Australian premiere as the opening night film of the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 2. It then opens nationwide on August 9.
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