ContentFilm takes on thriller BALIBO with LaPaglia

The film is based on the true events of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975. LaPaglia plays Australian TV journalist Roger East, who runs a local news agency but tries to find five missing Australian journalists. Connolly co-wrote the script with David Williamson. The project is set to shoot in early 2008. Arenafilm's John Maynard (Romulus My Father) will produce with Rebecca Williamson. ContentFilm will co-finance Balibo alongside Australia 's FFC, who greenlit the film at last week's board meeting, and regional funding body Film Victoria. ContentFilm International president Jamie Carmichael said: "Very timely subject matter, a powerful thriller, a great creative team – and the unique prospect of original footage interwoven into the film itself, makes Balibo a heady mix of action adventure and courageous journalism." ContentFilm also recently picked up skiing documentary Steep.