Northern beaches pair behind Oscar hopeful Lion depart for LA Academy Awards

THE Sydney pair who got Lion to the screen hope to return with up to six Academy Awards as the film surpasses Strictly Ballroom in top Aussie movie list.

THE northern beaches duo behind hit movie Lion hope to pick up the ultimate accolade this week – an Oscar.

Collaroy’s Andrew Fraser and Shahen Mekertichian, from Manly, who run Brookvale-based Sunstar Entertainment, will be at the Academy Awards in Hollywood on Monday morning Australian time.

Poster for the film Lion starring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman.

Andrew Fraser and Shahen Mekertichian, the northern beaches men who got the movie Lion from book to screen. Picture: Supplied.

The movie, starring Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel, is up for six statues and Mr Mekertichian’s hopeful there will be “an award or two.”

“It’s quite exciting to be in the mix of all of this,” Mr Mekertichian said.

Meanwhile, Lion has become the eighth most successful Aussie movie of all time – ahead of Mad Max Fury Road and Strictly Ballroom. Crocodile Dundee has the top spot.

Dev Patel in a scene from the movie Lion.

It’s made $21 million in total and is about to be rolled out in 2000 more US cinemas – but the pair remain tight-lipped on what their cut is.

As reported in the Manly Daily , the pair of dads were executive producers on the film alongside See-Saw Films, the firm behind hit movie, The King’s Speech.

They bought the rights to Tasmanian man Saroo Brierly’s book about how he became lost as a child in India, and was adopted by a Tasmanian couple, but tracked down his mother 20 years later using Google Earth.

Shahen Mekertichian with Rooney Mara, who stars in Lion. Picture: Supplied.

Solo around the world sailor Jessica Watson is the next subject for the pair. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

With backgrounds in banking, sports TV and talent management, the pair was able to navigate the cutthroat Hollywood film industry before the film was taken to Cannes in 2014 and grabbed the attention of heavyweight, Harvey Weinstein

But the pair won’t be partying, aside from a private Lion celebration after the ceremony. They are seeking backers for their next film.

Scene from the movie Lion.

True Spirit will follow the story of around-the-world sailor Jessica Watson.

Mr Mekertichian said the huge success of Lion has put their Brookvale-based company on the map.

“The great thing, with the success of Lion, they are looking at Sunstar, our little company that’s been able to pick the movie resonating internationally,” he said.

TOP TEN AUSTRALIAN MOVIES AT THE BOX OFFICE

1. Crocodile Dundee (1986) $47,707,045

2. Australia (2008) $37,555,757

3. Babe (1995) $36,776,544

4. Happy Feet (2006) $31,786,164

5. Moulin Rouge (2001) $27,734,406

6. The Great Gatsby (2013) $27,383,762

7. Crocodile Dundee II (1988) $24,916,805

8. Lion (2016) $22,698,729

9. Strictly Ballroom (1992) $21,760,400

10. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) $21,685,344