Filmmakers eye off The Stawell Gift with big screen plans in the works

Australia’s greatest running race looks set to feature on the big screen with plans revealed for a film set around the famous Stawell Gift.

Clayton Watson is slated to direct the Stawell Gift film. Picture: Supplied

The historic Stawell Gift in country Victoria is to be the setting for a new Australian film.

The film, with the working title Starting Blocks, is in the works with Clayton Watson, whose acting career includes Always Greener, Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War and The Matrix films and is currently producing six films, slated to direct.

While it is still in the early stages, the project has attracted the attention of Russell Cunningham’s RLC Motion Picture Entertainment which produced the 2017 release The Legend Of Ben Hall.

Watson and script writers Ethan Panizza and Taylor Danforth are planning to attend the Stawell Gift this year to soak up the atmosphere, garner support for the project and arrange authorisation to set the film at the event.

The movie would follow the story of a gifted athlete rebuilding himself after a severe setback and garnering the support of his family and community. His redemption arc would culminate with the excitement and drama of the famous foot race.

Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, who has appeared in Underbelly, Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms, Offspring and Playing For Keeps, has been approached to star in the film with Panizza also to be part of the cast.

“It is a beautiful story and a fantastic script,” Watson said.

“I can’t wait to direct Jeremy and to see how fast I can get Ethan out of the blocks off scratch.

“This is truly a gift to be involved with. Our hand-picked team is very much looking forward to attending the intensely entertaining Stawell Gift this year over Easter in the Grampians.

“We dearly hope the town’s people of Stawell and the Grampians region and surrounds will help us recreate the incredible atmosphere when we begin filming Starting Blocks.”