EXCLUSIVE: Psychological horror project Shark Bait (working title) won the best pitch award at the Melbourne International Film Festival’s four-day 37º South Market, which ended on August 10.

It is written by and will be the directing debut of Western Australian brothers Nick and Nathan Lacey of Based Film, who are producing alongside Brendan Donoghue of Salt Water House.

Nick Lacey’s experiences fed into the story of a young Irish photographer embroiled in family secrets and primal shark-fishing rituals after accompanying her new boyfriend to remote Australia. ScreenWest has provided development financing.

“It is character-based, not a creature feature,” Nick Lacey told Screen. “It examines toxic masculinity and the compulsion to dominate the wild.”

Film London executive Hel

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