The Australian premiere of Yesterday a rock ’n’ roll comedy by Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) has been announced as the Closing Night Film at the State Theatre on Sunday 16 June 2019 for the 66th Sydney Film Festival, ahead of the Australian release date of 27 June.
Yesterday everybody knew The Beatles. Today, only Jack remembers their songs. He’s about to become a very big deal. From Academy Award ® -winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later) and Richard Curtis, the Oscar- nominated screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually and Notting Hill, comes a rock-n-roll comedy about music, dreams, friendship, and the long and winding road that leads to the love of your life.
Jack Malik (Himesh Patel, BBC’s Eastenders) is a struggling singer-songwriter in a tiny English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (Lily James, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). Then, after a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover that The Beatles have never existed … and he finds himself with a very complicated problem, indeed.
Performing songs by the greatest band in history to a world that has never heard them, and with a little help from his steel-hearted American agent, Debra (Emmy winner Kate McKinnon), Jack’s fame explodes. But as his star rises, he risks losing Ellie — the one person who always believed in him. With the door between his old life and his new closing, Jack will need to get back to where he once belonged and prove that all you need is love.
Featuring new versions of The Beatles’ most beloved hits Yesterday is produced by Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner (Love Actually, About A Boy, the Bridget Jones series) alongside Matthew James Wilkinson and Bernie Bellew. Curtis and Boyle also produce. Nick Angel, Lee Brazier and Liza Chasin serve as executive producers.
“The Festival is delighted to close with Yesterday,” Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley said. “It’s exciting to see such internationally-renowned filmmakers joining forces for this joyous film that explores music, dreams and friendship that will resonate with Festival audiences.”
The Closing Night Gala will include an awards ceremony announcing the winners of the Sydney Film Prize, the Documentary Australia Foundation Award, Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films, the Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award and the UNESCO, Sydney City of Film Award.
Sydney Film Festival runs 5 – 16 June 2019. Tickets for Sydney Film Festival 2019 are on sale now.