Phoenix_Raei_Dan_and_Hugo_Weaving_Mit_in_THE_ROOSTER_1616_photo_credit_Sarah_Enticknap-1-scaled-1

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: MARK LEONARD WINTER

RUNNING TIME: 101 Mins

When the body of his oldest friend is found buried in a shallow grave, Dan, a small-town cop, seeks answers from a volatile hermit who was the last person to see his friend alive. As Dan gets closer to the truth, he must confront his own personal demons and he discovers that hope can be found in unlikely places.

THE ROOSTER is a gripping story about friendship and how hope can come from unlikely places. Anchored by riveting performances from its two leads – rising talent Phoenix Raei (Clickbait, Stateless, The Night Agent), and Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, Love Me) – it confronts themes around shame and masculinity with unexpected humour, whilst keeping the audience in suspense.

Phoenix_Raei_(Dan)_and_Hugo_Weaving_(Mit)_in_THE_ROOSTER_2151_photo_credit_Sarah_Enticknap

Phoenix_Raei_(Dan)_and_Hugo_Weaving_(Mit)_in_THE_ROOSTER_2523_photo_credit_Sarah_Enticknap

Phoenix_Raei_(Dan)_and_Hugo_Weaving_(Mit)_in_THE_ROOSTER_0943_photo_credit_Sarah_Enticknap

Hugo_Weaving_in_THE_ROOSTER_1013_photo_credit_Sarah_Enticknap

Written and directed by award-winning actor Mark Leonard Winter, who makes his feature filmmaking debut with THE ROOSTER. Produced by Logie-nominated actor Geraldine Hakewill (Wanted, Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries), and AACTA award-winning producer MahVeen Shahraki (Ellie and Abbie, The Translator) for Thousand Mile Productions, THE ROOSTER follows small-town cop Dan (Phoenix Raei). When the body of his oldest friend is found buried in a shallow grave, Dan seeks answers from a volatile hermit (Hugo Weaving), who was the last person to see his friend alive.

THE ROOSTER also features Rhys Mitchell (Cake, Upper Middle Bogan), John Waters (Offspring, Mystery Road), Robert Menzies (Little Tornadoes, Glitch) Tom Stokes (The Railway Man, Warnie), Jane Montgomery Griffiths (Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries) and Deirdre Rubenstein (Force of Destiny, Superwog). Principal photography took place on Dja Dja Wurrung country in the region of the Hepburn Shire in Victoria, Australia during the winter of 2022. The area is home to director Mark and producer Geraldine, and many locals and local businesses were involved in the production, from locations, to crew, to casting, to on-screen talent.

Australian & Nz Distributor
Bonsai Films
International Sales
The Yellow Affair