The commercial director who caught Curious Film’s eye last year, has also caught the eye of A24 Films. Which means that Julius Avery has joined a group of directors of the calibre of Sophia Coppola, Roman Coppola and Jonathan Glazer…

That must be pleasing for the director who rates Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather as one of his two favourite films.

…And for Curious. It has been shown twice in a week to have a damn good eye. Curious’ Ida won Best Foreign Language Film at the BAFTA’s last week.

A24’s list of films include huge hitters like Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring that has grossed US$$20,045,576 since it was released in June 2013, Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers that has grossed US$32,170,399 since March 2013 and Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, that has grossed $US$5,735,963 since April 2014.

Avery’s first feature film didn’t just attract the attention of Curious and A24.

It got a four star rating by Sydney Morning Herald film critic, Susan Hall, and by SMH readers: “Perth director’s bold new feature sports clever plot twists and a hero who’s determined to live beyond his 20th birthday…The deliberately chaotic climax is smoothly sustained, and some adroitly applied plot twists revealing the final shape of things has the McGregor grin flashing and fading then doing it all over again.” [Yes, the McGregor is Ewan]

The Australian’s Michael Bodey rather like it too: “Son of a Gun is muscular, entertaining and not an indulgently literal representation of the director’s issues with a parent…And it has made Avery a hot property in Hollywood..”

Since Avery signed with Curious in 2014 and teamed up with producer Matt Reeder, he has directed campaigns for Transport Accident Commission (TAC)…

Sony…

Rabo Direct…

…and the Royal Australian Navy.

His awards include Special Jury Mention at Tribeca Film Festival (2013); ‘In Competition’ Jury Prize, 61st Cannes Film Festival (2008); Best short film, Australian Film Institute Awards (2008); and Emerging Australian Filmmaker, Melbourne International Film Festival (2006).

Being signed to A24 sits on a high tier with these applauses.

“Signing with A24 is a huge compliment. Not only is it a company with an eye for exciting directorial talent, but it shows Julius is a commercial director who is aligned with the best in the business,” Curious president, Peter Grasse, commented.

A24 was established in 2012 by film veterans, Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges, and kicked off with a Roman Coppola film, A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, in 2013. In the next two years, it turned itself into a top ranking film distribution, production and finance company, with ten films slated for release in 2015.