LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

Hollywood continues its love affair with Queensland with Arts Minister Rod Welford today welcoming another multi-million dollar international production to the state.

Based on Wendy Orr’s award-winning book, Nim’s Island, it will star Oscar winner Jodie Foster and Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine fame in the lead roles.

“Film and television production in Queensland is booming at the moment and it’s great our state has been chosen as the backdrop for this fantasy/adventure movie,” Mr Welford said.

“The incentives we offer are continuing to bring first class international projects to Queensland and the economic impact of feature films continues to grow.

“Nim’s Island with production expenditure of many millions of dollars, will see continued economic development for the state.”

Mr Welford said this was the first major feature film that Walden Media, the production company behind the Narnia films, had shot in Queensland.

“The Government’s Pacific Film and Television Commission has worked on developing a relationship with Walden Media for over a year and now that work has paid off,” he said.

“Nim’s Island is the second international film project I’ve been proud to announce in the space of four weeks. It’s also the second project made by a studio that hasn’t filmed in Queensland before.”

Mr Welford said the latest project Nim’s Island would use tropical and island locations in Far North Queensland as well as the first class facilities at Warner Studios on the Gold Coast, including the new water tank which was constructed in late 2006.

“I would like to extend a warm welcome to the writers and directors of Nim’s Island, husband and wife Mark Levin (Little Manhattan, The Wonder Years) and Jennifer Flackett (Wimbledon), and producer Paula Mazur,” Mr Welford said

The film began pre-production in early May and will start principal photography in early July for 10 weeks. The film is expected to open in the United States in April 2008.

Mr Welford said Queensland was currently experiencing a production boom with a number of major projects scheduled to begin filming before the end of the year including HBO’s The Pacific, local feature film Daybreakers and Dreamworks’ The Ruins.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985