Australian-UK co-production Prima Facie, starring Cynthia Erivo, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in a gala presentation.
Produced by Bunya Productions and Embankment Films, the film sees Erivo play a brilliant young barrister who has gone from working-class roots to become a rising star of the London bar, formidable in her defence of men accused of sexual assault. But just as her career seems to be taking off, she has to make a decision which will put her love of the law in conflict with her personal need to fight for justice.
The supporting cast includes Daniel Ings, Elizabeth Dulau, Noma Dumezweni, Toheeb Jimoh, Harry Treadaway, Sarah Junillon, Elliot Levey and Simon Russell Beale.
Prima Facie is adapted by Susie Miller from her award-winning play of the same name, and directed by BAFTA-winner Susanna White. It was filmed in London, with post-production then completed in NSW.
Miller, an ex-criminal lawyer, wrote the original play out of frustration with the Australian judicial system’s treatment of sexual assault cases. It was first staged at Sydney’s Griffin’s Stables Theatre in 2019 with Sheridan Harbridge in the lead, and won the major AWGIE Award in 2020. It then premiered on the UK’s West End in 2022 with Jodie Comer as Tessa, before heading to Broadway in the US. Comer won Best Actress and Miller Best New Play at the UK’s Olivier Awards, while Comer also won a Tony.
Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey produced for Bunya Productions with Kevin Loader for Embankment Films, with co-producer Celia Duval. Executive producers include Erivo and Solome Williams for Edith’s Daughter; Anita Verma-Lallian; Malinda Wink of Minderoo Pictures, Miller and White.
“Bunya Productions is thrilled to have a gala presentation premiere at TIFF,” Jowsey and Greer tell IF.
“It’s been a long journey with our brilliant partners – writer Suzie Miller, director Susanna White, fellow producer Kevin Loader from Embankment Films and production partners Cynthia Erivo and Solome Williams from Edith’s Daughter.
“The film is a UK/Australian co-production and we have worked with marvellous creatives from both countries. We have had great support from our Australian funding partners Minderoo Pictures, Screen Australia and Screen NSW. We can’t wait to share Prima Facie with the world.”
Minderoo Pictures provided major production investment in association with Screen Australia and Camelback Productions, with further financial support via Screen NSW and Bunya Productions.
Described by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey as a “searing legal drama”, Prima Facie was one of three early titles announced for the festival today, alongside opening night film Being Heumann, the next film from CODA director Siân Heder, and Hur Jin-ho’s The Assassin(s). TIFF Takeover programming announcements will take place July 20–23 and August 4–7, with the complete schedule to go live August 11.
TIFF runs September 10–20.
