Screen Australia commits $.7 million to festivals and events

Screen Australia today announced funding for film festivals and special events across the country, representing $2.7 million in support for Australian screen culture over the next three years.

The funding includes a new collaboration with ScreenWest, combining resources with the state agency to create a regional fund for festivals in Western Australia including the Revelation Perth International Film Festival and the CinefestOZ Film Festival. Ongoing triennial support will also be provided to Screen Territory and Screen Tasmania, to cover festivals in the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Funding has been committed to capital city events Adelaide Film Festival, Brisbane International Film Festival, Canberra International Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival. Triennial arrangements have been set in place to help festivals to streamline processes, reduce administration costs and to provide events with certainty for their future.

Specialist and regional festivals around the country will be supported to showcase diverse content including digital, shorts, children's, disability, documentary, animation, horror, cult and genre films.

Market events MIFF 37 South, MIFF Accelerator and AIDC will receive continued support, along with the peak awards for the Australian production sector, the AACTA Awards.

A strong and vibrant screen culture remains a key focus for Screen Australia, said Kathleen Drumm, Screen Australia's Head of Marketing. Our Festivals and Events program provides communities across Australia with opportunities to access a diverse range of quality screen content including exceptional local filmmaking. The festivals and events being supported are reaching combined Australian audiences of 760,000 every year.

The full list of specialised events and festivals to receive funding are:

Access All Areas Film Festival Australian films for people with a disability, including a tour with more than 50 screenings at locations in NSW and nationally.

Antenna Documentary Festival held each year in Sydney, Antenna will now also tour to Melbourne. A showcase for documentaries, it also includes industry events and sessions with international guests.

Experimenta contemporary new digital content is launched in Melbourne, before embarking on a two-year national tour.

Flickerfest Film Festival Australias only Academy Award accredited competitive international short film festival, held annually in Bondi.

Flickerfest Tour curated programs are toured to 48 regional and metropolitan areas Australia-wide.

Little Big Shots Film Festival and Tour Australia's annual children's film festival, screening in more than 30 locations.

Melbourne Cinematheque dedicated to significant films from the history of international cinema, with screenings at ACMI.

Melbourne International Animation Festival Australia's largest animation festival, which also screens in Wagga Wagga.

Monster Fest showcases horror, cult and genre films in Melbourne, with program tours to Brisbane, Canberra Perth and Sydney.

The Other Film Festival and Tour presents an Australian and international program, with and about people with a disability.

St Kilda Film Festival international short film festival which features Australia's top 100 short films selected from around Australia.

Sydney Travelling Film Festival tours to 17 locations annually, screening in the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.

Tropfest a popular Australian short film competition culminating in the screening of the finalists in Sydney, shared live with venues around the country.

AFI/AACTA Awards The peak awards for the Australian screen production sector; the third AACTAS are set to take place in Sydney in January.

AIDC The annual documentary conference will be held in Adelaide in March.

MIFF Accelerator a four day program during held during the Melbourne Film Festival in July, supporting emerging filmmakers to transition to feature film making.

MIFF 37South this film financing marketplace is also held within the Melbourne film festival environment in July.

Festivals based in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania should contact their local screen agency to access Screen Australia regional funding.

Media enquiries

Teri Calder T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0408 440 995

teri.calder@screenaustralia.gov.au

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2013/mr_131220_scree...
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