Oscar-nominatedAustralian-born actresses, Toni Collette and Keisha Castle-Hughes, have agreedto board teen coming-of-age drama Hey,Hey It's Esther Blueburger.

The film starts shooting in Adelaide in October and is being introduced to theinternational marketplace at Cannes by sales agent Lightning Entertainment. BVI hasAustralian rights.

The two seasoned actors wereof course chosen for their talent and suitability, but also for their capacityto help show the ropes to the person who will take the title role of a13-year-old. Writer/director Cathy Randall and producer Miriam Stein have justbegun their search for Esther and hope the film makes the newcomer a star justas Whale Rider did for Castle-Hughes.

Collette plays GraceBlueburger, a mother who has lost the ability to communicate with her teenagekids, and Castle-Hughes plays Sunni, a rebellious teenager who bonds withEsther when they both breakdance during Esther and her twin brother Jacob's barand bat-mitzvah.

Hey, Hey It's Esther Blueburger has been financed by Film Finance Corporation Australia, 120DB Films, the South Australian Film Corporation,Showtime Australia and Claymore Capital. Heather Ogilvie and Stephen Hays areexecutive producing.

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