WA film shines at the box office
Ticket sales to Western Australian film Red Dog continue to go from strength to strength with the locally made production grossing millions of dollars in the first fortnight since its Australian release.
Red Dog is a uniquely Western Australian story of a red kelpie who roamed the Pilbara region in Western Australia’s spectacular northwest in the 1970s.
Since its official Australian launch date on August 4th the film has grossed more than A$4.5 million dollars. A$1.8 million was taken in the last week alone, and audiences have increased by five per cent since its original release.
The film was partly funded by the Western Australian Government.
Red Dog had its world premiere at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival in February this year, and was screened during the opening of the 17th London Australian Film Festival in London in May.
Red Dog was produced by experienced feature film producers Nelson Woss and Julie Ryan and directed by Australian filmmaker Kriv Stenders.
The curious Kelpie's exploits were first given international prominence through award-winning author Louis De Bernières book of the same name, Red Dog.
The Minister for Culture and the Arts John Day said the film told a universally appealing story that people of all ages and from all walks of life were connecting with.
“Red Dog took the largest opening weekend box office for an Australian film this year and instead of tapering off has just had a stronger weekend than it did its opening day, which I understand is very unusual for any film,” he said.
“It is a Western Australian story featuring some of the unique and extraordinary scenery and landscapes that WA has to offer and I am sure it will help viewers from interstate and overseas think about coming to our State.”
Click here to view the Red Dog trailer.
IMAGE: Photograph taken by David Whitely, Department of Premier and Cabinet.
