A children's fantasy adventure film shot in the Blue Mountains will screen locally from August 13.
The Legend of the Five was filmed in the Upper Mountains in October and November 2018, and was to hit cinemas in May, but the coronavirus lockdown put everything on hold.
But now the film has been released nationally in cinemas, and will air at United Cinemas (The Edge) in Katoomba from August 13.
It will also be available on digital platforms Apple TV, Fetch, Foxtel store, Google Play, Telstra TV movies and YouTube to rent or buy from September 23.
"I am so proud that our film The Legend of The Five is playing in cinemas, and we look forward to our digital release on 23 September," said director Joanne Samuel from Katoomba.
"It takes courage, passion and dedication to produce a film in Australia. We couldn't have done it without our fantastic cast and crew. It was a bit of a family affair. My son Jesse A'Hern produced and edited, my husband Nick A'Hern operated the camera, and Lola Bennett, my granddaughter played the fairy. Lola is a wonderful young, up and coming actor.
"It was also such a joy to shoot in the beautiful Blue Mountains - such a versatile, majestic location, with a wonderful, creative community."
The movie follows a group of misfit teenagers who find an ancient relic during a school trip, and become caught up in a magical world with elemental powers beyond their belief, and the responsibility of stopping an age-old evil from destroying the world.
Scenes were shot in the national park at Katoomba and Wentworth Falls, the Cathedral of Ferns in Mt Wilson, and at the Katoomba Antique Centre and The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst.
The film features Glenbrook resident Gabi Sproule in her debut lead actor role, and also Blue Mountains residents Tiriel Mora, Beth Champion, Georgia Adamson and young people from Ms Samuel's 3 Sisters Youth Theatre as extras.
"The Legend of the Five is about youth, coming of age, finding your place, and understanding that you are worth so much more than the nay-sayers tell you," Ms Samuel, of Mad Max fame, said.
"It is intended to be an invitation for the youth of Australia, and beyond, to engage their imagination, and find the power within themselves to join and protect the world around them."
