PRESS RELEASE
Executive Producer Jonathan Shteinman, Producer Antony Waddington and Director/Producer Ákos Armont are defying the global downturn in the sale of feature documentaries by striking a promising new deal with Beyond Rights. Beyond will represent international sales of both the theatrical and, importantly, the TV versions of the BRABHAM film. The deal will see sales targeting SVOD and terrestrial broadcast markets in an OTT strategy aimed at counteracting the void left by the closure of cinemas in Australia and around the world.
BRABHAM is an impressionistic account of one of Australia’s greatest racing dynasties, the Brabham family. Charting the origins Sir Jack Brabham and his unparalleled accomplishments in Formula 1, the film also chronicles the burden of family legacy through the eyes of Jack’s youngest son, David Brabham, and the media’s roles in perpetuating masculine mythologies – with repurposed archival footage of the late Paul Newman and 3-times BAFTA Award winning presenter and Royal Academy artist Grayson Perry.
With unparalleled access to some of the greatest names of Formula 1 racing, the film showcases the final feature-length interviews with the late John Surtees and the late Sir Stirling Moss; as well as candid never-before-seen observations from on Sir Jack by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Australia’s own Mark Webber.
Led by Armont, the film was 6-years in the making attracting worldwide support from organisations such as the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Australian Racing Drivers’ Club, British Racing Drivers’ Club, McLaren, the Cooper family and Sir Jackie Stewart and his not-for-profit charity Race Against Dementia.
Armont said “It’s a privilege to have been welcomed into the life of the Brabham family and, more broadly, into the world of Formula 1. We hope the film will inspire a new generation of audiences to reflect on the accomplishments of one of Australia’s greatest sporting exports, while also considering the optics of sporting and masculine mythologies of the 1960s vs today… How far have we come in our attitudes towards gender norms and the mental health impacts of the definitions and expectations that these ‘norms’ imply? This deal with Beyond honours our commitment to the supporters of the film, in providing the strongest possible platform to share Sir Jack’s story with the world; something I’m extremely proud of during this year of unprecedented challenges to our industry.”
Waddington said ‘Brabham is a story about a man of modest means, who’s ingenuity, perseverance and commitment propelled him to the very top of his field worldwide. Sir Jack’s achievements in the arenas of Formula One motor racing and mechanical engineering are staggering to contemplate and to this day remain unsurpassed. Having Beyond Rights presenting this film is fitting in that they represent in their field, what Brabham did in his, excellence and rigour.’
BRABHAM received its Australian distribution through Transmission Films, with MadMan Entertainment overseeing the retail component of the release. The film is currently also available on STAN and digital download.
The film was produced by Aurora Films in association with Heckler and post-production by Zig Zag Post.
Official website – www.brabham.film