Australian film to open Sundance

source: slashfilm.com

Aussie Oscar winner Adam Elliot‘s latest film Mary and Max will open the 25th Sundance Film Festival.

Mary and Max is a clay animation film featuring the voice talents of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Toni Collette and Barry Humphries. The film tells the story of penpals Mary, an 8-year-old girl living in Melbourne, and Max, a 40-year-old obese man living in New York. The film is inspired by Elliot’s own 20-year long pen friendship.

It marks the feature film debut for Elliot, who gained recognition for his Academy Award winning short film Harvey Krumpet. If Mary and Max deals with its themes of isolation and loneliness in Elliot’s unique style, this film could stand alongside other animated classics on the world stage.

Mary and Max will hit Australian cinemas April 9 , 2009.

The 25th Sundance Film Festival runs from January 15th to the 25th in Utah. The remaining lineup of films will be announced December 3.