Victoria's Napthine Coalition Government has agreed to invest $3.8 million in the Melbourne International Film Festival.s (Miff) Premiere Fund over the next four years.
The announcement in the lead-up to the state election this Saturday has been widely welcomed by filmmakers and distributors.
.I strongly believe our industry in Victoria and Miff is elevated by the significant opportunities the Miff Premiere Fund provides," said Seph McKenna, head of Australian Production at Roadshow Films, which released the fund-supported Bran Nue Dae, These Final Hours and the upcoming Paper Planes.
Lizzette Atkins, who produced Sue Brooks. Looking for Grace starring Richard Roxburgh and Radha Mitchell with the fund.s assistance, said, .It is imperative for the state of filmmaking in Victoria that both the Miff Premiere Fund and Miff 37ºSouth Market continue to thrive..
Since taking office in December 2010, the Coalition Government has committed more than $9.5 million to Miff for the festival,...
The announcement in the lead-up to the state election this Saturday has been widely welcomed by filmmakers and distributors.
.I strongly believe our industry in Victoria and Miff is elevated by the significant opportunities the Miff Premiere Fund provides," said Seph McKenna, head of Australian Production at Roadshow Films, which released the fund-supported Bran Nue Dae, These Final Hours and the upcoming Paper Planes.
Lizzette Atkins, who produced Sue Brooks. Looking for Grace starring Richard Roxburgh and Radha Mitchell with the fund.s assistance, said, .It is imperative for the state of filmmaking in Victoria that both the Miff Premiere Fund and Miff 37ºSouth Market continue to thrive..
Since taking office in December 2010, the Coalition Government has committed more than $9.5 million to Miff for the festival,...
- 11/25/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Josh Lawson.s sex comedy The Little Death has raked in nearly $127,000 in its first week at 34 cinemas after Tuesday takings improved on Monday.s figures.
Jamie Hilton, who produced the low-budget film with Matt Reeder and Michael Petroni, is encouraged by the trend in ticket sales and hopes momentum will build over the long weekend.
.We are alive and kicking, contrary to sensational reports in the mainstream press,. he told If today. .Our tiny, self-financed film was one of the break-out hits of the Toronto International Film Festival and audiences around the world will see it..
Lawson has been inundated with favourable comments from those who.ve seen the comedy, which features Bojana Novakovic, Damon Herriman, Kate Mulvany, Lisa McCune, Patrick Brammall, Lachy Hulme and Lawson.
.We.re just a little independent Aussie film, we can.t afford billboards or TV ads or anything like that,. he said on his Facebook page.
Jamie Hilton, who produced the low-budget film with Matt Reeder and Michael Petroni, is encouraged by the trend in ticket sales and hopes momentum will build over the long weekend.
.We are alive and kicking, contrary to sensational reports in the mainstream press,. he told If today. .Our tiny, self-financed film was one of the break-out hits of the Toronto International Film Festival and audiences around the world will see it..
Lawson has been inundated with favourable comments from those who.ve seen the comedy, which features Bojana Novakovic, Damon Herriman, Kate Mulvany, Lisa McCune, Patrick Brammall, Lachy Hulme and Lawson.
.We.re just a little independent Aussie film, we can.t afford billboards or TV ads or anything like that,. he said on his Facebook page.
- 10/2/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
To have any chance of international sales, Australian films need to be original, bold, tell universal stories and be extremely well executed.
That.s according to some international sales agents whom If interviewed as part of our ongoing series of articles on the state of Australian cinema and ways to reach audiences more effectively.
While their views may sound obvious, they say that too often Australian films are failing on most if not all counts.
Michael Favelle of Odin.s Eye Entertainment agrees with the premise that producers should go big or small and avoid middle budget films, as If canvassed last week, but he sees a deeper problem.
.Yes there is a challenge in recouping and financing mid-range films but where we are failing more often is in original films with clear and compelling premises or stories with universal appeal,. says Favelle, the international sales rep for Canopy, Forbidden Ground,...
That.s according to some international sales agents whom If interviewed as part of our ongoing series of articles on the state of Australian cinema and ways to reach audiences more effectively.
While their views may sound obvious, they say that too often Australian films are failing on most if not all counts.
Michael Favelle of Odin.s Eye Entertainment agrees with the premise that producers should go big or small and avoid middle budget films, as If canvassed last week, but he sees a deeper problem.
.Yes there is a challenge in recouping and financing mid-range films but where we are failing more often is in original films with clear and compelling premises or stories with universal appeal,. says Favelle, the international sales rep for Canopy, Forbidden Ground,...
- 9/16/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Film Victoria is investing $1.14 million in three features and five TV projects through its new assigned production investment program.
Combined these projects will create employment for around 400 creatives, cast and crew and generate an estimated $11.8 million in production expenditure in the State, according to CEO Jenni Tosi.
.Under our assigned production investment program, which came into effect in July, Film Victoria.s equity, copyright and recoupment position is assigned to the producer, giving screen production businesses access to an increased level of returns and a greater financial capacity to develop new ideas and expand their output,. she said.
.The diversity of projects in this round reflects the significant production activity taking place in Victoria right now . activity that is being driven by our talented local screen practitioners." The projects are: Downriver, Happening Films Jannine Barnes, producer Grant Scicluna, writer/director
The plot follows a teenager, James (Reef Ireland) who serves...
Combined these projects will create employment for around 400 creatives, cast and crew and generate an estimated $11.8 million in production expenditure in the State, according to CEO Jenni Tosi.
.Under our assigned production investment program, which came into effect in July, Film Victoria.s equity, copyright and recoupment position is assigned to the producer, giving screen production businesses access to an increased level of returns and a greater financial capacity to develop new ideas and expand their output,. she said.
.The diversity of projects in this round reflects the significant production activity taking place in Victoria right now . activity that is being driven by our talented local screen practitioners." The projects are: Downriver, Happening Films Jannine Barnes, producer Grant Scicluna, writer/director
The plot follows a teenager, James (Reef Ireland) who serves...
- 8/27/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Female directors have dominated the Documentary Feature category of the 2014 Australian Directors Guild Awards, whilst Home & Away has muscled out any other competition for TV Drama Serial. The nominees, announced this morning, cover 16 categories across film, television, multiplatform, music and advertising. This year has seen the Adg receive more entries than ever before, making the judging process a difficult one. .In the TV drama category, the documentary feature category and the feature film categories especially, the caliber is really high so that.s why there are so many nominations,. says Adg Executive Director Kingston Anderson. .The judges take it very seriously and fully understand the recognition the awards can bring.. In the feature film category, Baz Luhrmann was unsurprisingly nominated for box office hit The Great Gatsby alongside strong contenders Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), Ivan Sen (Mystery Road), Jonathan Teplitzky (The Railway Man) and Zak Hilditch, whose film These Final Hours,...
- 4/9/2014
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
Ivan Sen.s Mystery Road and Kim Mordaunt.s The Rocket shared the best film honours at the Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards presented last night.
The Great Gatsby collected four awards followed by The Rocket with 3 and Mystery Road and The Turning with 2 awards each.
Naomi Watts was named best actress for her role in the little-seen Adoration and Aaron Pedersen was best actor for Mystery Road. Sen was best director.
There was another tie for the supporting actor prize: The Great Gatsby.s Joel Edgerton and Mystery Road.s Hugo Weaving. The Turning.s Rose Byrne was best supporting actress. The Rocket.s Sitthiphon Disamoe was on hand to receive the gong for best young performer.
Best script award went to The Railway Man.s Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson. Haydn Keenan's Persons of Interest was named best documentary.
An Acknowledgment Award was presented to...
The Great Gatsby collected four awards followed by The Rocket with 3 and Mystery Road and The Turning with 2 awards each.
Naomi Watts was named best actress for her role in the little-seen Adoration and Aaron Pedersen was best actor for Mystery Road. Sen was best director.
There was another tie for the supporting actor prize: The Great Gatsby.s Joel Edgerton and Mystery Road.s Hugo Weaving. The Turning.s Rose Byrne was best supporting actress. The Rocket.s Sitthiphon Disamoe was on hand to receive the gong for best young performer.
Best script award went to The Railway Man.s Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson. Haydn Keenan's Persons of Interest was named best documentary.
An Acknowledgment Award was presented to...
- 3/11/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The Great Gatsby dominated. Aacta.s technical and short films awards today, collecting gongs in all six craft categories for which it was nominated, plus the Aacta award for outstanding achievement in visual effects.
The co-production Top of the Lake bagged two TV trophies while Matchbox Pictures. Nowhere Boys, created by Tony Ayres, was named best children.s TV series.
The TV documentary prize went to Redesign My Brain, which explores the revolutionary new science of brain plasticity, written and directed by Paul Scott and produced by Isabel Perez and Scott for ABC TV.
Writer-director Nick Verso's The Last Time I Saw Richard, produced by John Molloy, was honoured as best short fiction film. Developed and funded through Screen Australia.s Springboard program, the short is a prequel to the upcoming feature film Boys In The Trees, tracing the friendship between two teenagers in a mental health clinic in...
The co-production Top of the Lake bagged two TV trophies while Matchbox Pictures. Nowhere Boys, created by Tony Ayres, was named best children.s TV series.
The TV documentary prize went to Redesign My Brain, which explores the revolutionary new science of brain plasticity, written and directed by Paul Scott and produced by Isabel Perez and Scott for ABC TV.
Writer-director Nick Verso's The Last Time I Saw Richard, produced by John Molloy, was honoured as best short fiction film. Developed and funded through Screen Australia.s Springboard program, the short is a prequel to the upcoming feature film Boys In The Trees, tracing the friendship between two teenagers in a mental health clinic in...
- 1/28/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
An analysis of the Australian films released in cinemas in 2013 makes for grim reading, with a handful of critical and/or commercial successes outnumbered by misfires and under-achievers.
On the positive side, the debut films from directors Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), Catriona McKenzie (Satellite Boy) and Mark Grentell (Backyard Ashes) unearthed talent with plenty of potential.
The year ended on a strong note with the Boxing Day launch of Jonathan Teplitzy.s The Railway Man, which ranks as the second-highest local grosser behind Baz Luhrmann.s The Great Gatsby, which amassed $27.4 million to become the fifth-biggest Australian title of all time.
Tellingly, the drama starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman raked in more money in its first week than the lifetime earnings of every other title. According to If.s estimate, the combined B.O. tally of the 26 local films and documentaries is $38.88 million, well short of 2012.s $47.9 million.
Only...
On the positive side, the debut films from directors Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), Catriona McKenzie (Satellite Boy) and Mark Grentell (Backyard Ashes) unearthed talent with plenty of potential.
The year ended on a strong note with the Boxing Day launch of Jonathan Teplitzy.s The Railway Man, which ranks as the second-highest local grosser behind Baz Luhrmann.s The Great Gatsby, which amassed $27.4 million to become the fifth-biggest Australian title of all time.
Tellingly, the drama starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman raked in more money in its first week than the lifetime earnings of every other title. According to If.s estimate, the combined B.O. tally of the 26 local films and documentaries is $38.88 million, well short of 2012.s $47.9 million.
Only...
- 1/5/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The producers of horror/thriller feature Patrick and documentary In Bob We Trust are finalising Australian release plans after their well-received world premieres last Saturday at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Patrick, Mark Hartley.s re-imagining of Richard Franklin.s 1978 psychological thriller, will open in Australia in October. Producer Antony I. Ginnane said distributor Umbrella Entertainment is tossing up between October 17 and October 24.
.A skilfully made genre piece, Patrick is a very satisfying movie meal, well done with a garnish of dark humour,. opined Radio 3Aw.s Jim Schembri.
The Guardian.s Luke Buckmaster sparked to a .high-powered genre film that works fiendishly hard to satisfy its target demographic of squealers, thrill seekers and horror buffs. They won.t leave disappointed..
The film, which got an Ma rating last week, stars Sharni Vinson as Kathy, a nurse who takes a job at a private hospital for the clinically comatose in...
Patrick, Mark Hartley.s re-imagining of Richard Franklin.s 1978 psychological thriller, will open in Australia in October. Producer Antony I. Ginnane said distributor Umbrella Entertainment is tossing up between October 17 and October 24.
.A skilfully made genre piece, Patrick is a very satisfying movie meal, well done with a garnish of dark humour,. opined Radio 3Aw.s Jim Schembri.
The Guardian.s Luke Buckmaster sparked to a .high-powered genre film that works fiendishly hard to satisfy its target demographic of squealers, thrill seekers and horror buffs. They won.t leave disappointed..
The film, which got an Ma rating last week, stars Sharni Vinson as Kathy, a nurse who takes a job at a private hospital for the clinically comatose in...
- 7/29/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Four Australian films and two feature-length documentaries will premiere at the 2013 Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff), which runs July 25 . August 11.
All were backed by the Miff Premiere Fund, which launched in 2008 and has supported more than 40 films and docos.
All told the festival will screen 310 films, 10 world premieres, 166 Australian premieres, 17 program strands, 26 forums, talks and master classes.
The curtain raiser, previously announced, is I.m So Excited! Pedro Almodóvar.s satire on contemporary Spanish society. The closer is All is Lost, the almost wordless survival-at-sea drama starring Robert Redford, writer-director J C Chandor.s follow-up to Margin Call.
Accorded the Centrepiece Gala slot is The Turning, the film adapted from the Tim Winton novel consisting of 17 chapters, each from a different director with a stellar cast led by Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, Callan Mulvey, Susie Porter and Harrison Gilbertson.
The Australian Showcase section features Zak Hilditch.s These Final Hours,...
All were backed by the Miff Premiere Fund, which launched in 2008 and has supported more than 40 films and docos.
All told the festival will screen 310 films, 10 world premieres, 166 Australian premieres, 17 program strands, 26 forums, talks and master classes.
The curtain raiser, previously announced, is I.m So Excited! Pedro Almodóvar.s satire on contemporary Spanish society. The closer is All is Lost, the almost wordless survival-at-sea drama starring Robert Redford, writer-director J C Chandor.s follow-up to Margin Call.
Accorded the Centrepiece Gala slot is The Turning, the film adapted from the Tim Winton novel consisting of 17 chapters, each from a different director with a stellar cast led by Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, Callan Mulvey, Susie Porter and Harrison Gilbertson.
The Australian Showcase section features Zak Hilditch.s These Final Hours,...
- 7/2/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
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