Rolf de Heer, David Gulpilil film Charlie’s Country in with a chance at Academy Awards

SOUTH Australian-based filmmaker Rolf de Heer’s film Charlie’s Country has been selected as Australia’s entry in the Best Foreign Language film at the Academy Awards.

Filmmaker Rolf de Heer’s film Charlie’s Country has been selected as Australia’s entry in the Best Foreign Language film at the Academy Awards.

If the film is nominated in the category, it will be officially the first time for an Australian film, Screen Australia said.

de Heer said he was “delighted” at the news.

“David (Gulpilil) and I are delighted that Charlie’s Country is Australia’s nomination.

“For me, it’s a privilege; for David, it’s the crowning achievement in an extraordinary 44-year acting career,” he said.

Written, produced and directed by de Heer, and co-developed by Gulpilil, Charlie’s Country tells the story of an Aboriginal man fighting the invasion of his Arnhem Land community.

As The Advertiser reported in April, de Heer virtually saved Gulpilil’s life by writing the script, after finding the actor suffering from alcoholism and near death in Darwin.

The film, which was produced in South Australia and shot in Arnhem Land, had its world premiere at the 2013 Adelaide Film Festival and went on to be shown at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where Gulpilil was named Best Actor in the Un Certain Regard category.

To be eligible for consideration in the Best Foreign Language Film category, a film must be “defined by predominantly non-English dialogue and have been released in its country of origin for at least seven days,” Screen Australia said.

Charlie’s Country is in Yolngu Matha language and English.

The 87th Academy Award nominations will be announced on January 15, 2015 before the awards ceremony on February 22.