A special edition of Australia’s most successful online drama series The Horizon is set to screen in Sydney in the lead up to this year’s World AIDS Day (Dec 1) as a fundraiser for the Ending HIV Red Ribbon Appeal.
Directed by Stephan Elliott (Priscilla: Queen of the Desert) and based on the hit series about the lives and loves of gay men in Sydney, the special production was created last year as a full length TV pilot to promote the series to Australian and US broadcasters. It’s currently screening at a range of international film festivals.
Billed as Australia’s answer to the hit British and US series Queer As Folk, the special edition of The Horizon has been described as “an explosion of colour and drama” and features the current cast of the online show who have helped propel it to the most watched gay web series in the world with more than 45 million views online and over 100,000 subscribers.
The hour long film will screen at the Dendy Newtown cinemas on Wednesday 23 November with all proceeds helping fund vital HIV-related services provided by ACON, NSW’s leading HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTI health organisation. The screening will be attended by the cast and key creatives who’ll take part in a post screening Q&A. And all guests will receive a 2-for-1 pass to Bingay, ACON’s popular monthly bingo night at The Shift in Darlinghurst.
Producer Brian Cobb says the screening is a unique opportunity for fans and their friends to experience the show on the big screen as well as meet the talented and sexy cast. “Stephan did an incredible job of transposing the story and characters from the web series to this new format and we’re thrilled to be able to share the results with fans of the show here in Sydney.”
Creator Boaz Stark added: “Seeing gay Sydney up on the big screen is exciting and it’s fun shooting in the venues and locations that are so familiar to people in our LGBTI community. Having our lives and stories reflected to us through film is important, and supporting the Red Ribbon Appeal in this way makes it even more special. The cast and key creatives are really looking forward to meeting fans of the series, as well as introducing newcomers to the engaging characters and stories that have made The Horizon so popular.”
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says the screening is a fun way to help ACON reduce HIV transmission and help people affected by HIV. “As a production partner of The Horizon, ACON is delighted to be presenting this very special in cinema edition of the show to help raise money for our Ending HIV Red Ribbon Appeal,” Mr Parkhill says.
“It’s a hugely entertaining and very Sydney take on the many issues which contemporary gay men find themselves navigating and I encourage members of our community to get along and enjoy this terrific event.”
Check out the trailer here: https://hyvio.com/thehorizon/H0jd8yPU
WHAT: The Horizon Red Ribbon Appeal Screening
WHEN: Wednesday 23 November, 6:30pm – 8pm
WHERE: Dendy Newtown, 261-263 King St, Newtown, Sydney
COST: $15 (inc. 2-for-1 voucher to Bingay)
BOOKING: www.acon.org.au/thehorizon
ENDS
For more information please contact:
David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications Officer
E: dalexander@acon.org.au T: +61 (02) 9206 2044 M: +61 (0)428 477 042