52 Tuesdays

52 Tuesdays

Cast: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Mario Späte
Director: Sophie Hyde
Genre: Drama, Family
Running Time: 114 minutes

Synopsis: 52 Tuesdays follows 16-year-old Billie's reluctant path to independence - accelerated when her mother reveals plans for gender transition and their time together becomes limited to Tuesday afternoons.

Sophie Hyde's directorial debut is a one-of-a-kind film. 52 Tuesdays was filmed over the course of a year, once a week, every week, only on Tuesdays. The filmmakers set themselves the rule that they could only shoot on Tuesdays up until midnight and only consecutively, so whatever filmed on that day is what happens in the story on that day. The writers, Matthew Cormack and Sophie Hyde, created the structure before they decided on character and story.

These unique filmmaking rules bring a rare authenticity to this emotionally charged story of desire, responsibility and transformation.

Led by the very real performances of the collaborators playing the mother, James (Del Herbert-Jane) and teenage daughter Billie (Tilda Cobham-Hervey), the actors, all non-professional, were given the script one week at a time and only given the scenes that they were in.

Consequently, the audience is also invited to experience these condensed events happening on Tuesdays.

52 Tuesdays
Release Date: May 1st, 2014


Australian feature film 52 Tuesdays has won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 64th Berlin Film Festival. The Crystal Bear is presented by the festival's Youth Jury for films screening in the Generation 14Plus program.

In presenting the award the Jury said 'The situation is exceptional but familiar. This year's winning movie is both surprising and touching. It is a movie about family and the quest for identity, and despite all the conflicts, the protagonists stay connected through their love to each other. The moving story is presented in a fascinating structure and convinces with strong characters, humour, clever ideas and sensitivity."

This is the second major international award in as many months after Director Sophie Hyde was presented with the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25th.

International acclaim for 52 Tuesdays includes being named as one of the ten Must-sees of the 64th Berlinale (Dazed and Confused) and one of the 8 of the Oddest Movies at Sundance by the NY Post. Indiewire named director Sophie Hyde and lead actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey as top 20 talents to watch.

52 Tuesdays' international sales agent, Visit Films, which specialises in director-driven works, last week announced a US distribution deal with prestigious arthouse distributor Kino Lober, who are currently releasing a slate including Kim Mordaunt's The Rocket, Jia Zhangke's A Touch of Sin, Nancy Buirksi's Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq and Bruno Dumont's Camille Claudel 1915. Deals have also been secured for distribution in territories including Benelux, Switzerland and Hong Kong.

'We are thrilled that Kino Lorber will be distributing 52 Tuesdays in the usa. With such a prestigious reputation and their strong response to the film we feel the release is in loving hands."

Closer Productions, (producers of 52 Tuesdays) today announced that New Zealand based distributors Vendetta Films will work with them on the Australian release nationally on May 1st at leading arthouse locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. This is the first Australian film that Vendetta will release theatrically into Australia, following successes in Australia with international films and in New Zealand with local and international titles.

Producer/Director Sophie Hyde said 'Both Closer and Vendetta are hungry to get the film out to audiences in Australia. 52 Tuesdays was made in an unusual way and we hope to take the spirit of collaboration over into the release by working with the excellent team at Vendetta and a selection of wonderful cinemas. We really look forward to showing the film at home."

Vendetta said "We are absolutely delighted to be working with Sophie and the 52 Tuesdays team to bring such a unique and wonderful film to Australian audiences. We know they will be as intrigued and seduced by the film as we are."