Jessica Mauboy, star of 2013 Australian breakout hit “The Sapphires,” returns to a leading film role for the first time in over a decade in family feature “Windcatcher.”
Directed by Tanith Glynn-Maloney, from a screenplay by Boyd Quakawoot, the film is branded as a Stan Original and will play on the Australia-only streamer from March 28.
Set in a small country town, “Windcatcher” follows the unlikely friendship between Percy Boy, newcomer Keithy Cobb and the spirited Daisy Hawkins, as they band together to take the local school sports day title from a group of grade five bullies. But as Percy Boy trains with the help of his mates, he then discovers his supernatural ability to see lost souls – a gift passed down from his grandfather. Percy Boy must overcome his fears, prove his resilience and become a force to be reckoned with.
Mauboy, who is an iconic figure in Australian entertainment has largely been seen in music and TV roles – “Australian Idol,” “The Voice” and “The Project” – over the last decade. In ”Windcatcher,” she portrays the role of Aunty Cressida, while Lisa Maza (“Wentworth”) plays Aunty Prue and newcomer Lennox Monaghan plays Percy Boy.
Other roles go to Max Turner (“F.A.N.G (From A Nearby Galaxy)”), Coco Greenstone (“I Am Woman”), Kelton Pell (“Mystery Road: Origin”), Pia Miranda (“Looking for Alibrandi”), Ngali Shaw (“The Twelve”) and Jessica McNamee (“Mortal Kombat”).
“Windcatcher” is Stan’s first co-commission with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF). It was developed with the support of the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland. It has major production investment from Screen Australia, ACTF, the Post Lounge, Stan and is made in association with VicScreen.
“Windcatcher” hails from Unless Pictures and Every Cloud Productions (an Eternus Group company) and is produced by Meg O’Connell (Upright S2, Retrograde) and Drew Grove (Stan Original Films A Sunburnt Christmas and Christmas Ransom). It was executive produced by Bernadette O’Mahony for ACTF, and Cailah Scobie, Donna Chang, and Rachel Okine for Stan.
The Australian Children’s Television Foundation will handle worldwide distribution.