19 September 2023

Internationally acclaimed Poor Things and Saltburn added to 2023 Adelaide Film Festival Program.

Poor Things, one of the hottest movies in the world following its Golden Lion prize for Best Film at the recent Venice Film Festival and the Oscar buzz for lead actress Emma Stone, has been announced as a late addition to the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) line-up.  This will be the Australian premiere of Poor Things.

Directed by one of the most original filmmakers working in cinema today, Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, The Killing of the Sacred Deer, The Lobster), Poor Things also stars Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Yousseff and Jerrod Carmichael. The film was written by Australian Tony McNamara, who also wrote The Favourite and created the smash hit TV series The Great. The film was produced by Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Emma Stone.

The film is an incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

And in further late breaking news the equally hot film Saltburn, which premiered at Telluride Film Festival to universal acclaim, will also screen at AFF.   Directed by Emerald Funnell (Promising Young Woman), Saltburn stars Oscar-nominated Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin) alongside rising Australian star Jacob Elordi (Euphoria), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman).

Also an Academy Award nominee, Emerald Fennell brings us a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire. Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.

“We always promise to bring the very best of international cinema to the Adelaide Film Festival and in 2023 we are delivering again on this commitment.  The published program is already chock full of cinema delights, but I am absolutely thrilled to be announcing these late additions – both of them excellent treats for festival audiences,” said Mat Kesting, AFF CEO & Creative Director.

The films will screen at two of Adelaide’s most stunning picture palaces.  Poor Things will screen on Thursday October 19 and Friday October 27 at the Capri Theatre; Saltburn will screen on Wednesday October 25 at The Piccadilly and on Saturday October 28 at The Capri.

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