The heartwarming tale of a young Aboriginal boy growing up in a regional Australian town has been selected as the first family film to be made under the Australian Children’s Television Foundation/Stan Original Film Initiative, announced in 2021.

Written by Boyd Quakawoot (Stan Original Series Black Snow, Black Comedy) and directed by Tanith Glynn-Maloney (AACTA award-winning Finding Jedda), Windcatcher - produced by Unless Pictures and Every Cloud Productions - tells the story of a friendship between an unlikely trio helmed by the fast and wily Percy Boy. Against the odds, Percy Boy, Daisy and Keithy decide to compete in the upcoming sports carnival, determined to finally become the heroes of their own story. But when a natural disaster bears down on their remote township, putting the people he loves in peril, Percy Boy will find himself tested in ways he never imagined.

The landmark partnership between the ACTF and Stan was formed to bring exciting, feature-length live action projects to the screen for families and young audiences across Australia. With principal investment from Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation in association with Stan, and worldwide distribution by the ACTF, the film will go into production in Victoria in September 2023.

Windcatcher will be produced by AACTA Award-winning producer Meg O’Connell (Unless Pictures) and Drew Grove (Every Cloud). The screenplay was developed with the assistance of Screen Queensland, Stan and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said: “Working with Stan to bring homegrown children’s films to the audience is a dream come true for the ACTF and this project and the team behind it is incredibly special.”

Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie said: “Stan’s partnership with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation reinforces Stan as a streaming destination for young audiences and families. We are thrilled to be delivering our first project with the ACTF, and we look forward to working with them and the extraordinary creative team on Windcatcher, a heart-warming feature film for the whole family and an exciting addition to our Stan Originals slate.”

Screen Australia’s Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon said: “It is fantastic to be supporting Stan and the ACTF to tell this important and authentic Australian story. Windcatcher is a culturally rich coming-of-age tale, and at its heart highlights the power of family and friendship. I am confident this film will resonate with Australian audiences and provide something for the whole family to enjoy.”

From Unless Pictures and Every Cloud Productions, the Stan Original Film Windcatcher is produced by Meg O’Connell (Upright, Retrograde) and Drew Grove (Stan Original Films A Sunburnt Christmas and Christmas Ransom). Executive produced by Bernadette O’Mahony for ACTF, and Cailah Scobie and Rachel Okine for Stan. Major production investment from Screen Australia and Australian Children’s Television Foundation in association with Stan. Developed with investment from Screen Queensland. ACTF will handle worldwide distribution.

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