With 2015 marking the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, the highly anticipated series Gallipoli has captivated Australian audiences and transformed the landscape of Victoria into a Turkish battlefield.
Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, attended the premiere screening in February and said the series was an enthralling depiction of events that shaped Australian history.
Supported by Film Victoria, Gallipoli tells the story of two young brothers sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War.
Victorian audiences may recognise some familiar settings with the series filmed in several locations across the state, including Bacchus Marsh, Mt Eliza Beach and Point Cook Homestead.
Gallipoli was filmed in Victoria over 16 weeks. The film makers went to great lengths to recreate the Gallipoli peninsula at the time of the landing, from Anzac Cove to an extensive system of frontline and support trenches, which were built west of Melbourne.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley
“The Anzac Centenary is a time to reconnect with events that helped shape our national identity and to consider the sacrifice made by those who served, their families and communities.”
“The skill and imagination that the cast and crew have put into Gallipoli makes it an important contribution from Victoria’s creative industries to our community.”
Quotes attributable to Film Victoria CEO, Jenni Tosi
“Congratulations to John Edwards, Imogen Banks, Robert Connolly, Glendyn Ivin and the entire Gallipoli crew on a remarkable project.”
“Film Victoria was delighted to support this very important story of the Anzac to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.”
Quotes attributable to Gallipoli Producer, Robert Connolly (Balibo, Underground: The Julian Assange Story and Romulus, My Father)
“I’m really proud we were able to recreate and capture the humanity of it. History can lose those personal stories, but this project recaptures that from an event that happened 100 years ago.”
“The ambition I had for making Gallipoli was bigger than anything I’ve done before. I’m really proud to have been part of such an epic production that captures the essence of the human spirit.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020