'Bran Nue Dae' heads home to Broome for WA premiere

Broome will be singing and dancing when the feature film 'Bran Nue Dae' returns home along with the film's stars for the Western Australian premiere on December 8, kicking off a national tour.

Making the journey back to Broome will be cast members Ernie Dingo, Jessica Mauboy, Missy Higgins, Ningali Lawford-Wolf and Dan Sultan, who will be joined by Broome locals Rocky McKenzie and Stephen Baamba Albert.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said that after impressing audiences at film festivals in Toronto and Melbourne in recent months, 'Bran Nue Dae' would have its WA premiere in Broome. 

"'Bran Nue Dae' is Jimmy Chi's uplifting story about finding where you belong. In the case of Willie, the film's protagonist, that place of belonging is Broome," Mr Day said.

"The film perfectly captures the saltwater country and spirit of Broome, from hot nights watching flicks at Sun Pictures, to the long stretches of Cable Beach.

"The story is one that will delight people of all ages. The Melbourne audience loved it so much they voted it the festival's most popular feature film. This is an outstanding achievement for what is now an award-winning film."

The Perth-based premiere of 'Bran Nue Dae' will be held on December 10.

Roadshow Films managing director Joel Pearlman said  "Broome is not only the setting in which much of 'Bran Nue Dae' takes place, but as much of the film was shot there, it is only fitting that the premiere of the film - in advance of its wide national release on January 14 - takes place in Broome.  We are incredibly excited to be distributing this outstanding film and are looking forward to celebrating 'Bran Nue Dae' with the people of Broome on December 8."

Filmed in the rugged outback of WA, this exuberant musical road movie also stars Magda Szubanski and Geoffrey Rush.  'Bran Nue Dae' is directed by Rachel Perkins, produced by Robyn Kershaw and Graeme Isaac, with cinematography by Andrew Lesnie, and a screenplay by Reg Cribb, Rachel Perkins and Jimmy Chi. 

'Bran Nue Dae' will be released in cinemas across Australia on January 14, 2010.