The enthralling trailer for upcoming Kiwi film Millie Lies Low has today been released, ahead of the comedy-drama’s general release on September 29th. Bringing the story of Millie to life is actor, artist and theatre-maker Ana Scotney (Cousins, The Breaker Upperers), Kiwi acting stalwart Rachel House (Bellbird, Hunt for the Wilderpeople), and is supported by Chris Alosio, Jillian Nguyen and Sam Cotton. The film has screened at prestigious film festivals SXSW, Berlinale, Sydney Film Festival and the New Zealand International Film Festival, and will soon screen in Melbourne and Edinburgh.

Millie Lies Low is Michelle Savill’s feature film directorial debut, with Millie’s story inspired by her own. When heading to France to screen her award-winning short film Ellen is Leaving at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Savill arrived to the airport to discover her flight had left 24 hours earlier. While a kind airline staffer saved the day, it inspired the story behind Millie Lies Low, where our main character isn’t quite so lucky.

Co-written by Savill and Eli Kent (Coming Home in the Dark), Millie Lies Low follows Millie, an architecture student on her way to New York for an internship, before a moment of panic causes her to miss her flight. Unable to afford another ticket, and worried about the shame of confessing to her friends and family, she hides out in Wellington until she can scrounge together the money for another flight. Keeping her loved ones in the dark starts to backfire, causing Millie’s world to crumble around her.

Director Michelle Savill is thrilled to share Millie Lies Low with Kiwis: "It has been great to share the film with audiences around the world and I am now looking forward to bringing it back home."

Lead actress Ana Scotney adds: “I am so excited we are finally getting to share Millie Lies Low with Aotearoa after such a wild two years! It’s been an honour to be part of this film and share a performance that reflects such an anxious time. I hope you all enjoy the ride!”

CEO of Rialto Distribution Kelly Rogers says: “We are thrilled and excited to be releasing Michelle’s wonderfully entertaining film to Kiwi and Australian audiences in a golden year for local films.”

Produced by Desray Armstrong (Coming Home in the Dark, Juniper) and Angela Littlejohn (Juniper, The Drivers Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson), Millie Lies Low was made with financing from the New Zealand Film Commission, Images and Sound, Rialto Distribution and private investors. The film was completed with funding from the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Recovery Fund.

Rialto Distribution will distribute the film in New Zealand and Australia.