Monolith is a 2022 Australian sci-fi/thriller film due for release on 27 October 2022. It stars Lily Sullivan, the only on-screen actor in the film, as a journalist uncovering a mystery. Described as high-concept science fiction, the film is written by Lucy Campbell, directed by Matt Vesely, and produced by Bettina Hamilton.
| Monolith | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Matt Vesely |
| Written by | Lucy Campbell |
| Produced by | Bettina Hamilton |
| Starring | Lily Sullivan |
| Cinematography | Michael Tessari |
| Edited by | Tania Nehme |
| Distributed by | Bonsai Films (Australia & New Zealand) |
Release date | 27 October 2022 (2022-10-27) |
| Country | Australia |
| Budget | <A$500,000 |
"A disgraced journalist... turns to podcasting to salvage her career, before uncovering a strange artefact that she believes is evidence of an alien conspiracy".[1]
Monolith is the first feature film to be produced as part of a joint initiative called "Film Lab: New Voices", by South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) and the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF). A development lab ran for 11 months, in which three teams (chosen for development out of an initial 63 contenders[2]) developed their scripts, and one was chosen for production at this time.[3] Monolith received an initial A$400,000 in funding from SAFC and AFF,[4] and with Mercury CX also helping to fund the film. The whole film was funded on less than A$500,000.[5]
Lucy Campbell wrote the script; it is directed by Matt Vesely (development manager at Closer Productions[1]) and produced by Bettina Hamilton.[4][6] The cinematographer is Michael Tessari and Tania Nehme edited the film.[1]
Filming took place in the Adelaide Hills from late May 2022. It is described as a high-concept science fiction thriller.[4] It is all shot on one location, and there is just one on-screen actor (Lily Sullivan); various actors' voices speak to her on the telephone. These include Damon Herriman, Erik Thomson, and Kate Box.[7]
Monolith had its world premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival[8] on 27 October 2022.[1]
Rachael Mead of InDaily wrote: "Sullivan is superb as the ethically dubious journalist, effortlessly holding the focus of the entire film", and "Vesely’s feature is far more than a clever manipulation of constraint to heighten tension... Beneath the thrilling claustrophobia lies a cunning puncturing of privilege and a clear-eyed critique of the way we construct, manipulate and ultimately consume 'truth' in a globalised world".[9]
Bonsai Films will distribute the film in Australia and New Zealand cinemas,[5] and interest was shown in the film while filming was under way.[10]