Australian Film Commission

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

21 May 2013

In this issue:

***NEWS ALERT***
AFC industry briefings on trade treaties
(Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the World Trade Organisation) To ensure that Australian filmmakers are kept up-to-date on the current trade negotiations involving screen content, the AFC is hosting a number of briefings. The expert speakers include Australia's Chief Negotiator for the Australia-United States FTA at the Melbourne seminar on 7 May and the Lead Negotiator on Services and Investment in Sydney on 8 May.

1. NEW ON THE AFC WEBSITE
New Australian feature films The catalogue produced by the AFC for the Cannes Market contains titles in production or completed since 1 January 2002 New AFC drama initiative: Dramatically Black The AFC will commission up to six new dramas from Indigenous filmmakers. Application deadline 4 June 2003. Box office figures for 2002 released Australian films at the box office in 2002 AFC chief executive Kim Dalton's speech at Popcorn Taxi places the success of Australian films within a broader, globalised context. The open forum was moderated by Screen International's Sandy George with Dalton joining Hopscotch's Troy Lum, Palace's Tait Brady, Libby Rhys-Jones of Libby Rhys-Jones and Associates (film distribution and marketing consultancy) and Greg Sitch (lawyer and executive producer of Crackerjack) on the panel. Tania Lacey gives an insider's view of SPARK Response to the inaugural AFC/AFTRS SPARK script development workshop has been overwhelmingly positive and the program is entering its next stage. For details, including an insider's view from participant Tania Lacey, visit the SPARK website. Issues Paper: Towards a Protocol for Filmmakers Working with Indigenous Content and Indigenous Communities Submissions are sought by 30 June 2003. Film Development: a Guide to Funding Programs Unsure where your project fits? Get an overview of the latest guidelines. AFC information handouts updated The Information for Filmmakers and I've Got a Great Idea for a Film information handouts have been updated with new contact information and advice. Get the Picture online: industry statistics updates - 2002 box office: Australian share and top 50 for 2002; top all-time Australian features - catalogues and databases: annual shorts catalogue; American Film Market edition of the features catalogue; MipTV edition of the TV drama and documentaries catalogue; Cannes features catalogue - overseas sales of FFC-supported productions: features; documentaries; adult mini-series; adult telemovies; children's mini-series - TV ratings for Australian productions: movies 2001 and all time; documentaries 1998-2001; telemovies 2001; mini-series 1998-2001 and all time; series 1998-2001; top rating: programs 2001; documentaries 1998-2001; films 2001 and drama series 2001 - pay TV: subscriber numbers, by operator; drama channels, program expenditure - international comparisons between Australia and other countries in terms of cinema screens, cinema admissions, admissions per capita and box office. Upcoming Production Report Now includes short features as well as features, TV drama and documentaries shooting in Australia now and in the next few months. Latest AFC funding approvals Film Development: March 2003.
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2. AFC-FUNDED FILMS REACH NEW AUDIENCES
*AFC/ABC online documentary Homeless* nominated for "online Oscar"** The Webby Awards, the leading international competition for the world's best websites, have nominated AFC/ABC Documentary Online project Homeless - Six Cities, Six Stories, Six Lives (w: Trevor Graham and Rosemary Hesp, d: Trevor Graham, Rosemary Hesp and Rob Wellington, p: Trevor Graham). AFC congratulates Dendy Awards finalists The 18 finalists in the 2003 Dendy Awards will screen on the Sydney Film Festival's opening day on 6 June. The AFC is the majority investor or has provided development funds to numerous finalists, including all of the finalists in the documentary category. Japanese Story selected for Un Certain Regard Feature film Japanese Story (w: Alison Tilson, d: Sue Brooks, p: Sue Maslin) has been selected for the Cannes Film Festival (14-25 May 2003). Set in Perth and the Pilbara region of Western Australia, the film stars Toni Collette as a geologist who finds herself stranded in the desert with an enigmatic Japanese businessman. Japanese Story was developed with assistance from the AFC. Indigenous short feature to screen in Melbourne Cold Turkey (w/d: Steven McGregor, p: Priscilla Collins), the first short feature funded by the AFC's Indigenous Unit, will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival (23 July - 10 August 2003). The full line-up will be announced in June. AFC-funded films at the Sydney Film Festival The documentary Becoming Julia, which follows Paul through his sex change into Julia, will make its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in 2003. Produced and directed by acclaimed documentary maker Ruth Cullen, Becoming Julia* will also air on SBS later this year. Becoming Julia was funded by the AFC, the FTO and Ruth Cullen. The short features The Forest (w: Christine Rogers and Jo Kennedy, d: Jo Kennedy, p: Clare Sawyer), Preservation (w/d: Sofya Gollan, p: Della Churchill) and The Thirteenth House (w: Shaun Duncan and Scott Richards, d: Shane McNeil, p: Kristian Moliere) will also screen at the festival. Black Talk chosen for Hollywood Black Film Festival In addition to being selected as a finalist for the Dendy Awards, the AFC-funded short film Black Talk (w/d: Wayne Blair, p: Kylie du Fresne) is also a finalist at the Hollywood Black Film Festival - one of only three international films selected - in June 2003. Blow wins at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival The AFC-funded short film Blow (w: Marie Craven, Suzanne Dowling, d: Marie Craven, p: Lizzette Atkins) won the prestigious FilmFour TX Prize at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in April. This is the only prize handed out at the festival and is awarded to an outstanding short.
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3. TALKING TRADE
Register for AFC industry briefings on trade treaties (Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the World Trade Organisation) The AFC is actively involved in working with government and industry partners to ensure the concerns of the Australian audiovisual industry are heard at the highest level of trade negotiations. Seminars on the Australia-United States FTA will provide an overview and discussion of current trade issues affecting Australian filmmakers and the screen industries. The expert speakers include Australia's Chief Negotiator for the Australia-United States FTA at the Melbourne seminar on 7 May and the Lead Negotiator on Services and Investment in Sydney on 8 May. Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement/General Agreement in Trade in Services The Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, announced the Federal Government's list of objectives for the Free Trade Agreement on 4 March. Negotiations for an Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement began in Canberra on 17 March. The government also released its initial offer under the World Trade Organisation services trade negotiations on 5 April. World Trade Organisation negotiations continue The AFC has welcomed the government's ongoing consultation with Australia's audiovisual sector and its stance on negotiations so far.
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4. AFC UPDATE
New AFC office opens in Brisbane The new AFC office in Brisbane was launched in April with the aim of extending the scope of AFC support for Queensland-based filmmakers. Project Manager Jackie McKimmie will head up the new office, working with Administrative Officer Georgina Lawson. Jackie takes over from Owen Johnson who was farewelled by AFC Chief Executive Kim Dalton and AFC Chair Maureen Barron at the launch. Publishing, Policy and Research The following appointments have been finalised: Michelle Webster as Publishing Manager, Kirsten Krauth as Editorial Coordinator, Fiona Jennings as Publishing Assistant, Drew Macrae as Policy Officer and Karina Aveyard as Senior Researcher. Information Officer - Marketing Unit Susan Danta took over the position of Information Officer - Marketing Unit from Kirsten Krauth on 28 April. Susan is an animator whose films include Mother Tongue (recently selected for Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the Dendy Awards) and Shadow Play.
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5. WHAT'S ON
AFC industry briefings on trade treaties (Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the World Trade Organisation) 7 May 2003, 7.00 - 8.30pm (Melbourne) 8 May 2003, 7.00 - 8.30pm (Sydney) Following the speakers there will be an open floor discussion, drinks and canapes. Big Screen 2003 launch (Victoria) Regional Australia will have a rare opportunity to experience some of Australia's new and old favourite films with the Big Screen 2003 Travelling Australian Film Festival. Now in its third year, the tour will be launched in Echuca, Victoria on 3 May by Senator the Hon Rod Kemp, the Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport. The festival will travel to Yarram and Bendigo in Victoria, then Devonport, Tasmania with NT, QLD, SA, WA and NSW events to follow in the second half of 2003. X\|Media\|Lab (Sydney) 6 June 2003 Streaming Media Workshop, Sound Stage, Fox Studios 7-10 June 2003 Museum of Contemporary Art 11 June 2003 X\|Media\|Lab Conference, Museum of Contemporary Art X\|Media\|Lab is a workshop for new media people in film, interactive media, games, entertainment, arts, media, music, advertising, communications and information technology. It will be held as part of the 50th anniversary Sydney Film Festival in June 2003 with a roster of specially selected international mentors. Australian Movie Convention 12-16 August 2003 The Australian Movie Convention is an effective marketplace for producers to promote local feature films. What's On in Film The AFC sponsors this monthly national guide to screen events across Australia: awards, competitions, exhibitions, festivals, screenings, seminars and workshops.
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6. ICD-FUNDED EVENTS
15/15 Film Festival (ACT, NSW, VIC) 8 March - 30 August 2003 Small Screen Big Picture (Perth) 7-9 May 2003 TV conference for industry practitioners. Streaming Worlds - Fifth Digital Art and Culture Conference (Melbourne) 19 May - 19 June 2003 Conference on interactive and streaming media. Australian Teachers of Media ATOM Awards (Melbourne) 24 May 2003 St Kilda Film Festival (Melbourne) 27 May - 1 June 2003 Popcorn Taxi (Sydney, Melbourne) Weekly screenings and Q&As with filmmakers. Arts Law Centre of Australia (Sydney) Lectures and seminars. Darwin Film Society Exhibition Program (Darwin) January - November 2003 dLux media arts (Sydney) January - December 2003 Experimenta 2003 (Melbourne) January - December 2003 *ACT Filmmakers' Network Seminar Series (Canberra) February - December 2003
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7. INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS AND MARKETS
Australian presence at MipTV and Cannes markets MipTV (24-28 March) was well attended (despite SARS and war warnings) with 131 Australians joining the crowds. Feedback from producers was that business was nearly as brisk as previous markets but meetings were more relaxed. Preparations are underway for AFC attendance at the Cannes Market (14-25 May). See tips on attending the Cannes Market. Scouts from Canadian festivals in Australia The AFC coordinated two visits by international film festival selectors in March and April. Steve Gravestock, Manager Festival Programming for Toronto International Film Festival, and Hannah Fisher, Programmer Montreal World Film Festival, viewed potential films for screening at their festivals. It is hoped both festivals will continue to visit Australia seeking films in future years. See Festival Profiles of Montreal and Toronto.
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8. AUSTRALIAN FILMS SCREENING AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS
Visions du Reel, Switzerland (28 April - 4 May 2003) Inheritance - A Fisherman's Story* Cannes Film Festival, France (14-24 May 2003) In Competition: Cracker Bag; Un Certain Regard: Japanese Story; Directors' Fortnight: Unit #52, Watermark* * Hollywood Black Film Festival US (3-8 June 2003) Black Talk.
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9. AUSTRALIAN AWARDS WON AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS
Chicago International Television Awards US (6 March 2003) Gold Plaque for Best Feature Length Telefilm (Drama): Heroes' Mountain - The Thredbo Story. London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, UK (2-16 April 2003) FilmFour TX Prize: Blow* See Festival Profiles for information on over 50 key international festivals including screening histories of Australian films. See Award Winners in Get the Picture Online.
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AFC NEWS APRIL 2003