Screen Australia E-Bulletin

20 August 2009

NEW BOARD MEMBER ANNOUNCED

Screen Australia welcomes the Federal Minister of the Arts, Peter Garrett's, appointment of Ross Entwistle to the organisation's Board. Mr Entwistle has been exhibiting and distributing motion pictures for almost 25 years. He has experience in more than 18 international territories as an exhibitor, and has worked on over 150 films as a theatrical distributor in Australia. Read the media release for full details.

INVESTMENT APPROVALS

Screen Australia's latest investments of $12.5 million will trigger in excess of $46 million of production. An adaptation of Louis de Bernieres' best-selling novel Red Dog is among the projects to receive funding, along with ten documentaries, three dramas inspired by real-life events, a children's TV series, and an innovative integrated multiplatform drama experience. Read the media release for full details.

FOUR NEW DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ANNOUNCED

Screen Australia's Development Department has created four new initiatives for 2009/10. The Springboard Short Film program, the Short Film Completion fund, the Screen Australia/Film Four Producer Internship program and the Script Factory Foundation Development training initiative will all support Australian practitioners to create outstanding Australian content that engages audiences. Guidelines for these initiatives will be available at the end of August. More details in the media release.

NATIONAL TREASURES SERIES LAUNCHED

Australia's Heritage - National Treasures, a series of 10 mini-documentaries for TV and a resource-rich website, was launched by Minister Garrett on 4 August. The multiplatform project has been produced through Screen Australia's National Documentary Program in partnership with the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. The Chaser's Chris Taylor hosts the series. The series screens 6.50pm Thursday nights on the ABC till 8 October. Explore the website and read the media release.

OLSBERG AND JONES TO ASSESS FOR ENTERPRISE PROGRAM

As external assessors, Jonathan Olsberg and Ian Jones will join the Screen Australia team to decide on the allocation of the Enterprise Program funding for 2009/10. Both Olsberg and Jones have worked in the film industry for close to 30 years, both here and internationally. "Ian and Jonathan will bring global, strategic, screen industry thinking of the highest calibre to the table," said Ruth Harley. Following the expression of interest process, 27 proposals were invited to submit a full application. Successful applicants are expected to be announced in late September. More details in the media release.

SPECIAL DOCUMENTARY FUND - INDUSTRY ASSESSOR ANNOUNCED

Screen Australia is delighted to announce that the well-respected and award-winning director, writer and producer, John Hughes, will be the Industry Assessor on the 2009 Special Documentary Fund round. In 2006, John was awarded the Stanley Hawes Award for his commitment to Australian documentary as well as the Film Critics Circle Best Feature Documentary Award for his work on The Archive Project. His previous work includes the recently completed Indonesia Calling - Joris Ivens in Australia, One Way Street (about Walter Benjamin), What I Have Written (a feature film adaptation of the novel by John A Scott), and the two FAL series Hidden Treasures - Inside the National Gallery of Australia and Hidden Treasures - Inside the National Library of Australia, both presented by Betty Churcher.

The next round of the Special Documentary Fund closes on 2 October 2009. Details and application forms can be found on the Screen Australia website.

BERLINALE VISITOR TO VIEW AUSTRALIAN FEATURES

We welcome Dieter Kosslick, Director of Berlinale, the Berlin International Film Festival, who will visit Australia in early September. Dieter will be accompanied by Maryanne Redpath, international selector and Director of Berlinale's Generation Program, who will be in Australia to view new feature films for pre-selection for next year's festival. Submission deadline of features to Screen Australia for Maryanne's viewing is 24 August. Full details.

CEO DELIVERS MIFF KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Screen Australia CEO Ruth Harley delivered the keynote speech at the Melbourne International Film Festival in July. You can download the speech as a PDF from our website.

PROGRAM DEADLINES

Marketing
Awards Support - 21 August
Market Escalator - 30 October

Marketing Travel Grants:
American Film Market (AFM) - 1 September
World Congress of Science & Factual Producers - 1 September
History Makers - 1 September

Production Investment
Domestic and International Documentary Programs - 4 September
Special Documentary Program - 2 October
Television Drama Production - 16 October
Children's Television - 16 October
Short Animation - 30 October

Please note: many Screen Australia funding programs do not have deadlines and are not assessed in rounds. Please check the website for application details for specific programs. 

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