Maslow Entertainment has announced that the highly anticipated First Nations psychological horror film, THE MOOGAI, will be released in Australian cinemas on 31 October 2024. The film had its World Premiere earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and its Australian Premiere at the 2024 Sydney Film Festival, where it won the GIO Audience Award for Best Australian Feature. It was also recently screened at the 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival and is currently a finalist for the film prize at this month’s 2024 CinefestOZ Film Festival in Western Australia.
THE MOOGAI stars a stellar cast, including Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires, Thor: Love and Thunder), Meyne Wyatt (We Are Still Here), Tessa Rose (Top End Wedding), Clarence Ryan (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Toby Leonard Moore (Mank), and Bella Heathcote (Relic, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). The film is produced by Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings of Causeway Films (The Babadook, Talk To Me) and Mitchell Stanley of No Coincidence Media (We Are Still Here).
Directed by Jon Bell in his feature film debut, THE MOOGAI is based on his acclaimed short film of the same name. This psychological horror intertwines the harrowing history of the Stolen Generations with First Nations storytelling. For Indigenous Australians, the term “Moogai” can mean “boogeyman,” among other things.
The film follows Sarah and Fergus, a young Aboriginal couple celebrating the birth of their second child. However, their joy quickly turns to dread when Sarah begins to see a malevolent spirit she believes is trying to steal her baby. While Fergus, who cannot see the spirit, wants to trust her, he grows increasingly concerned as Sarah becomes more unhinged. The central question becomes: is the child-stealing spirit real, or is Sarah herself the greatest threat to her family?
THE MOOGAI received significant production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in collaboration with Screen NSW through the Made in NSW Fund and Regional Filming Fund. Additional financing was provided by Spectrum Films, Kojo Studios, Anahat Films, Salmira Productions, and Head Gear Films, with post-production, digital, and visual effects supported by Screen NSW.
This article was sourced from a media release sent by Nixco