10,000 B.C. and The World’s Fastest Indian producer Murray Francis will launch New Zealand–based Propaganda Film with a slate of three features at the upcoming Marche Du Film at the Cannes Film Festival.
Francis set up Propaganda in 2016, with the aim of telling New Zealand stories that are international in scope, after a long career that has included working as a producer on Warner Bros.’ 10,000 B.C., local box office hit The World’s Fastest Indian and Z is for Zachariah. Kiwi businessman and philanthropist Sir Owen Glenn, who will provide the company’s financial backing, has taken a 50 percent stake in the business. Propaganda’s films will be made in New Zealand, making them eligible for the New Zealand government’s 40 percent cash grant. Francis and Glenn will produce and finance the initial slate.
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The pair are seeking production partners and sales agents for the slate, which includes a comedy crime caper to be directed by directed by Michael Hurst (Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Ash vs Evil Dead) and Ruptured Soul, based on a true story that will be filmed in Iraq, London and New Zealand.
Ruptured Soul tells the story of a former Special Forces soldier who seeks to rebuild his life in quiet New Zealand after a failed mission on the Syria/Iraq border, when his past comes back to haunt him. The final film in the slate is romantic comedy You’ve Got the Cowboy, which tells the tale of “Cowboy,” a small town radio DJ fighting to save his drought-stricken rural area, who flies to Los Angeles to convince a major country and western singer to play a benefit concert. Its been written by Noelle Scott and will be directed by Josh Frizzell.
“Movies have always been a passion of mine and I am excited to dive into this new role as a film producer,” said Glenn. “With Murray’s expertise in film production, he is the perfect partner for our new business partnership, and we look forward to creating exceptional films for audiences around the world.”
