One of the many films to premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival was Australian director Matthew Saville’s (Noise) Felony.  Starring Joel Edgerton (who also wrote the screenplay), Tom Wilkinson, Jai Courtney, and Melissa George, the film is about three detectives that become entangled after a tragic accident leaves a young child in critical condition.  Per the synopsis, “one is guilty of a crime, one will try to cover it up, and the other attempts to expose it.”

Shortly before the premiere I sat down with Saville for an extended video interview.  He talked about being at TIFF, the Australian method of filmmaking versus the tentpoles of Hollywood, working with Joel Edgerton, the difficulties of financing the film, his editing process, film vs. digital, what to do in Melbourne, the current state of television programming and the increased availability of programming through platforms like Netflix and VOD, future projects including an adaptation of Dark Victory (more info here on what it’s about) and his continuing work on the Pivot series, Please Like Me, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Now that he’s done filming The Twilight Saga, Robert Pattinson is on a wonderful mission: use his star power to help directors we like get their movies made.  The first notable example is Cosmopolis, the latest off-kilter film from director David Cronenberg that hits theaters on August 17.  The next is The Rover, the second feature by Animal Kingdom director David Michod that co-stars Guy Pearce.  According to THR, Screen Australia has stepped up to finance the The Rover.  Here is why you should care:

“Set in the Australian desert, the futuristic western tells the story of Eric, who has left everything, everyone and every semblance of human kindness behind him, as he’s forced to join an injured gang member, Rey, to hunt down Rey’s gang after they steal the last of Eric’s possessions.”

I was hooked by word eight.  Screen Australia will also finance Felony starring Joel Edgerton, Healing starring Hugo Weaving, and the Kim Jong-il movie Aim High in Creation.  Hit the jump for details.

Coming off a strong performance in last year’s Warrior, star Joel Edgerton has committed to writing and starring in the thriller Felony.  Matthew Saville (Noise) is onboard to direct, and the logline is as follows:

Driving home after a celebration drink with his team after the long waited bust of a major gang, a decorated police officer (Edgerton) runs a young cyclist off the road.  As he gives CPR to the child, fellow officers arrive to take his statement.  In a split second decision he tells them a lie about the accident which will change all their lives in this edge of your seat thriller.

Edgerton is making a name for himself not only as an actor, but also as a burgeoning screenwriter.  He stars in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby and Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty later this year, and he recently sold his drama script One Night Stand.  Hit the jump for the press release concerning Felony.