High Ground reunites director Stephen Johnson and writer Chris Anastassiades, the creative team behind the award-winning feature Yolngu Boy. Johnson is also renowned for his work on Yothu Yindi’s music videos.
The film is to be produced by David Jowsey (Sweet Country, Goldstone), Maggie Miles (Paper Planes, The Turning), Yothu Yindi co-founder Witiyana Marika, who is a senior elder of the Rirratjiŋu Clan, and Greer Simpkin (Sweet Country, Mystery Road). Australian distribution will be handled by Madman Entertainment and international sales by Bankside.
High Ground is set in the 1930s in Northern Australia and is inspired by true events. In a remote corner of a wild country a bloody war rages. Travis is a bounty hunter with one last hope of redemption. Djumbatj is a young Indigenous man trying to save the last of his family. Together they embark on a manhunt, which unravels a secret that ultimately pits them against each other.
Cast will include top-tier Australian acting talent to be announced later in 2017. Filming is set to commence in 2018 in Western Arnhem Land and Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, and post-production will take place in Victoria.