Matthew Newton written, produced and directed film From Nowhere premieres at SXSW

FORMER troubled actor Matthew Newton is rebuilding his career with a self-written, self-directed film on the international festival circuit.

MATTHEW Newton is rebuilding his career in the United States, landing a self-written, self-directed film on the prestigious international film festival circuit.

Newton, who has been living quietly in New York for several years, has written, produced and directed a feature film, From Nowhere, that had its world premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.

It’s a coup for the 39-year-old Newton, with the festival garnering international attention as it boasts keynote speakers President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Newton’s independent film is slated alongside headline acts like the US premiere of Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts’s new drama Demolition.

From Nowhere is the latest in a series of under-the-radar creative projects Newton has thrown himself into in the US, where he is quietly establishing himself a triple threat: actor, writer and director.

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Writer/producer/director Matthew Newton’s film From Nowhere premiered at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Picture: Smallz & Raskind / Getty Images for Samsung

The US has been a sanctuary for Newton who sought to escape the public spotlight in Australia after a series of high-profile assaults of former girlfriends Brooke Satchwell (2006) and Rachael Taylor in 2009. He was also charged with punching a taxi driver in 2011 and was arrested over two separate incidents involving assaults in Miami, Florida.

Newton, whose parents are Bert and Patti Newton, stared in an off-Broadway production of Hamlet in 2013, and independent film The Sideways Light in 2014, as well as a handful of off-off Broadway plays.

He’s previously directed a feature, Three Blind Mice, that also premiered at SXSW in 2009, as well as showing at Sydney and Toronto film festivals.

From Nowhere was filmed in the Bronx and tells the story of teenagers graduating from high school while trying to get immigration papers to stay in the US.

It’s believed Newton has been working on the project in various forms for several years alongside co-writer Kate Ballen.

Matthew Newton with From Nowhere actors Julianne Nicholson and J. Mallory McCree at SXSW 2016 in Austin, Texas. Picture: Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung

Newton told local Texas website Atx Gossip when promoting the film that it was Ballen’s experiences as a teacher in New York’s The Bronx that informed the script. He added he was moved by the problems facing immigrant children in America.

“I was very moved by the idea that right at the time when most young people are finding their voices, these undocumented teenagers are told to keep quiet and out of sight,” Newton said.

“I wanted to explore that tension and give a voice to these kids who can’t speak up for themselves.”

Newton’s film screens again at SXSW on Thursday and Saturday.

Originally published as Matthew Newton written, produced and directed film From Nowhere premieres at SXSW