Creative Cloncurry siblings say the rural NQ town will host the world premiere of their short film centred on a legendary local bank heist.
Cloncurry, almost 800 kilometres west of Townsville, will on Thursday host the premiere of ‘The Bank Manager’, a film about the unsolved theft of £14,000 – $1.4m in today’s currency – from two banks on election night in 1932.
Quamby Studios’ Luke and Madeleine Chaplan, co-creators of the film, said they grew up on a local cattle station where they heard stories of the daring robbery in which nobody was ever charged.
“When it came time to shoot the short film it made sense to film it where it happened,” they said.
Luke said the links went further than just the Outback locality, with one version of events tying their great-grandfather to the robbery in which thieves broke into the National Bank and Bank of NSW making off £11,000 and £3,000 respectively.
“Apparently the loot is buried on our property,” he joked, “but I’ve checked and no luck yet.”
Siblings Madeleine and Luke Chaplan on the set of their short film ‘The Bank Manager’ in Cloncurry, North Queensland. The comedy-drama tells the infamous story of the 1932 Cloncurry Bank Robbery. Picture: Supplied
Madeleine, writer and director of the film, said ‘The Bank Manager’ was a “comedy-heist riddled full of colourful characters”.
“We’re just here to tell the bold and exciting folklore that we grew up hearing at the dinner table.”
The red carpet will be rolled on Thursday for the premiere of the film starring Gyton Grantley (Underbelly, The Dressmaker) and Jason Wilder (Irreverent, The Portable Door).
The film was produced with the help of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), the Cloncurry Shire Council’s innovative Film Incentive Program and the Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone.
Poster for short film ‘The Bank Manager’, set in Cloncurry and filmed in the rural North Queensland town by Cloncurry filmmakers. The film is “kinda” based on true events. Picture: Supplied
The siblings both served as third assistant directors on the 2021 Australian Survivor television series in Cloncurry.
Luke said it was off the back of the series that generated an estimated $6m for the region that he approached the council.
“I went to them and said, ‘I’ve got a bit of an idea for a project’ and they were like, ‘absolutely, we’re keen to make it a film-friendly location,” he said.
“I think the ingredients for a film-friendly location is diversity of landscape, diversity of architecture and a great attitude and Cloncurry has all those.”
Australian actor Gyton Grantley, well known to audiences for his role in Underbelly, on the set of ‘The Bank Manager’, a short film shot in the Outback town of Cloncurry, North Queensland. Picture: Supplied
Mayor Greg Campbell said the council was one of only two Queensland councils actively collaborating with producers to film in the region.
“Cloncurry has a truly unique landscape and is one of few places that can offer extraordinary terrain, open plains and waterways all in one location,” he said.
“It also offers a range of local businesses that are ready and able to support filmmaking in the region.”
Mr Campbell said council was committed to offering financial incentives to filmmakers “as we can see the benefit it brings to our community.”
Luke said that following the premiere, the filmmakers were looking to embark on the national and international festival film circuit before the film was released to the general public.