LESS than a month after its world premiere in Wagga, Backyard Ashes is set to open to wider audiences across the country this week.
A national regional release of the great Aussie film will open on Thursday, in addition to existing screenings in Wagga, Orange, Tamworth, Albury, Narooma, Griffith and Townsville.
Cinemas in Ararat, Horsham, Mildura and Wangaratta will start screening the film this week, as well as Waverley cinemas in Melbourne.
Screenings in other regional locations like Bathurst, West Wyalong, Tumut and Young will also start in the coming weeks.
Backyard Ashes has had an amazing reception from audiences in its limited release so far.
The film tells the story of Dougie Waters, whose neighbour and best mate loses his job and is forced to move away.
His pompous English boss Edward Lords moves in, and when Dougie accidentally kills Edward’s beloved cat, the only way to settle their differences is with the biggest backyard cricket match of the century.
After its opening weekend, Backyard Ashes had the highest per-screen average of any film at the box office, even beating Thor on a per-screen average.
Director Mark Grentell has been thrilled with the film’s success.
“This film is connecting with audiences in ways the Backyard Ashes team could never have imagined,” he said.
“Australians love seeing their own stories and experiences on screen and they don’t get any more Australian than backyard cricket and a battle with the Poms.”
THE BACKYARD ASHES RELEASE SCHEDULE
NOW SHOWING:
- Forum Cinema, Wagga Wagga (NSW)
- Orange Odeon (NSW)
- Forum Cinema, Tamworth (NSW)
- Regent, Albury (NSW)
- Narooma Cinemas (NSW)
- Griffith Cinemas (NSW)
- Warrina Cineplex Townsville (QLD)
COMING SOON:
VIC
- Waverley Cinema, Waverley – season from Dec 5
- Astor Cinema, Ararat – season from Dec 5
- Horsham Centre Cinemas- season form Dec 5
- Deakin Cinema Complex, Mildura- season form Dec 5
- Paramount Cinema Echuca- season from Jan 30 2014
- Wangaratta Cinema Centre – season from Dec 5
- Mount Waverly Cinema – season from Dec 5
- Cameo Cinema, Belgrave – season from Dec 12
- Mount Vic Flicks, Katoomba – screenings on Dec 13 and Dec 14
- Bendigo Star Cinema – One screening Dec 20. Season from Boxing Day
- Paramount Cinema, Echuca – season from Jan 30th 2014
NSW
- Griffith Riverina Epicentre- season from Nov 28
- Gunnedah Civic Council- Fundraising event on Dec 3 and screenings from Dec 7
- Temora Town Hall Theatre- season from Dec 5
- Southern Cross Cinema, Young – Limited season from 14 Dec
- Narooma- season from Nov 21
- Metro Cinema, Bathurst – season from Dec 12
- Plaza Theatre, Laurieton – season from Dec 12
- West Wayalong – Dec 13and Dec 14
- Silvercity Cinema, Broken Hill – season from Dec 19
- Montreal Community Theatre, Tumut – screenings on Dec 21 and Dec 22
- Wagga Wagga Australia Day screening – 25th January, 2014
WA
- Grand Cinemas, Warwick- preview screenings 7 and 8 Dec, Season from 12 Dec
SA
- Wallis MT Barker- season from Dec 12
- Wallis Mitcham- season from Dec 12
- Wallis Port Augusta- season from Dec 12
- Noalunga – season from Dec12
- South Coast cinema Robe – Boxing Day
- South Coast cinema Beachport- Boxing Day
QLD
- Nambour Civic Centre- 6 screenings from Jan 10 to Jan 15, 2014