Saturday, September 8, 2012

Toronto: UTA Signs 'The Sapphires' Helmer Wayne Blair

Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has just signed Wayne Blair, who made his feature directorial debut with The Sapphires. It's the first U.S. representation for the Australian filmmaker whose musical premiered at Cannes. The Weinstein Company bought U.S. distribution and select worldwide rights from Australia's Hopscotch/eOne shortly before that festival opened. The film just played Telluride and will screen at Toronto tomorrow. Based on a true story, The Sapphires follows four singers from the Australian Outback who are brought to Vietnam by their manager (Chris O'Dowd) to perform for U.S. troops in 1968.

The film is already a box office hit in Australia, grossing over $10 million so far. Blair, who began his career as an actor and theatre director, continues to be represented by his long-time Australian agent Jean Mostyn of The Yellow Agency and UK-based agents Duncan Heath and Roxana Adle of Independent.



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