Australian Film Commission

This is archived information from the website of the former Australian Film Commission (AFC), now part of Screen Australia

23 May 2013

In this issue:

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NEW ON THE AFC WEBSITE
AFC National Survey of Feature Film and TV Drama Production for 2001/02 Expenditure on the production of feature films and television drama in Australia rose by 8 per cent to $662 million in 2001/02. Careers in Film, Television and Interactive Digital Media The AFC has updated its guide to training courses, attachments and finding work in the film, television and interactive digital media industries. Tips and comments about festivals and markets from filmmakers Amsterdam, Berlin and Sundance festivals MIPCOM, MIPTV and Milia markets Marketing Short Films Internationally The AFC's guide to marketing short films internationally has been updated and includes information on marketing materials, presales, festivals, agents and distributors. New Australian feature films The Features Catalogue produced by the AFC for film market MIFED is now available to download from the AFC website. It contains titles in production or completed since 1 October 2001. AFC's searchable online production database now includes documentaries back to 1990 The addition of approximately 865 documentaries completed between 1/1/1990 and 31/12/1995 has brought the number of documentaries in the AFC's searchable online production database to over 2,000. The top subject categories are Australian cultures [483]; social issues [444]; travel and adventure [314]; and wildlife and natural history [320]. Get the Picture Online industry statistics updates - Tax incentives: key statistics on production budgets raised under 10BA show 2001/02 figures the highest for five years. - Free-to-air TV: Advertising - Australian content; Ratings by network; Viewing patterns. - Interactive media: 2001/02 imports and exports of CDs, CD-ROMs and DVDs show exports up for all types of digital media (data, audio and audiovisual); March 2002 data shows very large ISPs now account for more than two-thirds of Australian Internet subscribers. Standard Script Layout and AFC Notes on Notes The AFC has updated its guide to writing scripts in the accepted industry format and issued a document explaining the supporting notes, script development notes, director's statement and producer's statement required for AFC film development funding applications. Festival and market opportunities noticeboard Upcoming Production Report Features, TV drama and documentaries shooting in Australia now and in the next few months. Latest AFC funding approvals - October 2002 The AFC has granted funding to two short feature productions: Dreams for Life (w/d: Anna Kannava, p: Aanya Whitehead) and Preservation (w/d: Sofya Gollan, p: Della Churchill). Upcoming AFC funding deadlines
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HEADLINES
AFC National Survey of Feature Film and TV Drama Production for 2001/02 Expenditure on the production of feature films and television drama in Australia rose by 8 per cent to $662 million in 2001/02. Thirty-nine feature films and 49 TV drama programs were shot in Australia in 2001/02, including local productions, co-productions and foreign (offshore) productions. Feature film and TV drama production represents about a third of the $1.8 billion Australian audiovisual production industry. The AFC survey tracks production over a financial year of feature films and TV drama programs (mini-series, telemovies and series/serials). Australian observer delegation at Amsterdam's Documentary Forum The AFC, in partnership with the FFC and the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), selected a delegation of seven producers from a highly competitive list of applicants for the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA). The Australian producers received observer status at The Forum, providing the opportunity to watch international colleagues pitch their projects and to meet with commissioning editors and industry representatives from around the world. A reciprocal delegation of European documentary makers will attend AIDC in Byron Bay in February 2003. Let's Do Lunch in WA, SA and QLD The AFC Marketing Unit worked with state agencies ScreenWest, SAFC and PFTC to bring the Let's Do Lunch initiative to Perth (25 October), Adelaide (30 October) and Brisbane (31 October). The lunches provide emerging feature filmmakers with an opportunity to meet and discuss marketing issues with distributors, publicists and exhibitors. AFC-funded shorts at WOW festival The WOW Best Australian Short Film Award at the 12th WOW International Film Festival was awarded to Sarah Watt over 250 other entries for the animated short film Living with Happiness which was funded by the AFC Home Movies animation initiative. The Eatcarpet Award was presented to director Rachel Griffiths and producers Louise Smith and Jason Byrne for their AFC-funded short Roundabout. WOW and the WOW National Tour are the key annual events for Women in Film and Television NSW which receives AFC Industry and Cultural Development funding. Breaking Bows and Arrows wins UN Media Peace Award for Best Television 2002 The United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards 2002 awarded the prestigious Best Television Award to the one-hour documentary Breaking Bows and Arrows. The documentary examines how the people of Bougainville are learning to forgive and reconcile with one another after a bitter decade-long conflict. Written and directed by Liz Thompson and produced by Ellenor Cox, the film received AFC development funding and recently screened at the Margaret Mead Film Festival in the US. Final AFC/ABC Documentary Online project, The Wrong Crowd, goes live And A Year on the Wing Episode 5 is now in the southern hemisphere. Winners announced for 2002 Film Critics Circle and Lexus IF Awards The AFC supports both award nights through its ICD funding program.
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AFC UPDATE
AFC annual report 2001/02 now available Industry & Cultural Development Administrative Assistant Jessica Talbot has been appointed to the position of ICD Administrative Assistant while Sally Tulloch is acting as ICD Project Officer during Helen Lovelock's maternity leave for seven months until mid-2003. Marketing Assistant Juno Hearnshaw, who has been working in ICD, was appointed to the position of Marketing Assistant in the AFC's Sydney office after Fiona Cleverly took up a position with the Noise Festival. Film Development Administrator The AFC's Financial Accountant Julie Self will take over the role of FD Administrator from December to February 2003 after the resignation of Kate Hickey. AFC Positions Vacant Corporate Liaison Officer - Closing date 29 November.
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EVENTS
Dreaming in Motion National Tour of AFC Indigenous Drama Initiative 3 short films Hobart 24-25 November Canberra 26 November Alice Springs 1-2 December Brisbane 5 December For 24-hour information on session times and bookings please contact Flickerfest on (02) 9901 7070 AFC Drama Production Information Evenings (20 November - 2 December 2002) The AFC is holding information evenings around the country to discuss its production funding guidelines for features, short features and short drama and to provide a networking opportunity for filmmakers. Please note: Perth is now on 3 December.
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UPCOMING ICD-FUNDED EVENTS
11th Australian Film and History Conference 2002, Flinders University, Adelaide. 28 November-1 December The Masterclass Series, Byron Bay 2002 April-November Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards 2002 7 December (broadcast on Channel Ten)
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AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL COUNCIL (AICC) PROJECTS
These programs are presented by the AFC in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as an initiative of the AICC. Shanghai documentary film festival (16 November - 1 December 2002) A program of seven Australian documentary films opened on 16 November as part of Celebrate Australia 2002 at the 4th China Shanghai International Arts Festival. *21st Century Oz: New Australian Film in Berlin (5-9 December 2002) As part of Arts Australia Berlin 02 the AFC with the Arsenal Cinema will present a week-long Australian film festival titled 21st Century Oz: New Australian Film. A program of seven features, one television series, two documentaries and nine shorts will be screened. Filmmakers attending will be Robert Connolly (writer/director of the opening night film, The Bank); David Elfick (executive producer/producer of Rabbit-Proof Fence and Newsfront); Anna-Maria Monticelli (writer/producer of La Spagnola); and Ian David (writer of Blue Murder).
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AUSTRALIAN FILMS AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS
Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil (28-31 October 2002) New Filmmakers Competition: The Bank Pusan International Film Festival, Korea (14-23 November 2002) Wide Angle: A Wedding in Ramallah World Cinema: Beneath Clouds, Black and White, Rabbit-Proof Fence Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden (14-24 November 2002) Open Zone: Rabbit-Proof Fence Stockholm XIII Competition: Australian Rules Short Film Program: Eve of Adha International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA), Netherlands (20 November - 1 December 2002) Reflecting Images: Making Venus, Cannibal Tours Special Section: What Do You Believe In?: Advertising Missionaries, Sacred Sex See Festival Profiles for information on over 50 key international festivals including screening histories of Australian films.
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AFC NEWS NOVEMBER 2002