16 November 2009

REVISED GUIDELINES AND TERMS OF TRADE RELEASED FOR COMMENT

Screen Australia’s program guidelines and terms of trade were introduced in December 2008 and provide the key framework for the organisation’s engagement with the Australian screen industry.

A year later, Screen Australia has reviewed these documents taking into account ongoing industry feedback as well as a commitment to continuous improvement in its operational processes.

The revised draft terms of trade and guidelines, as well as a document highlighting key changes, are available here.

Screen Australia will be consulting with key stakeholders including industry guilds and state and territory film agencies over the next five weeks.

Practitioners are encouraged to contact their guild or representative body to make sure it is aware of their views. Feedback can also be sent direct to the email address below.

Comments are invited until Tuesday 22 December 2009; send to programs@screenaustralia.gov.au or by mail to Screen Australia, GPO Box 3984, Sydney NSW 2001; or fax +61 2 9357 3737.

It is envisaged that final documents will be issued early in the new year.

SCREEN AUSTRALIA AT SPAA

Screen Australia staff are involved in a number of sessions at this week’s SPAA Conference in Sydney.

• Screen Australia Terms of Trade and State of Play – Wednesday 18 November, 10.30–11.00am
  Fiona Cameron, Executive Director, Strategy & Operations, and Chris Oliver, Senior Manager, State and Industry Partnerships, will take participants through the revised Terms of Trade and guidelines.
  
  
•  Future Directions for Development in Australia – Thursday 19 November, 10.30–11.00am
  Part of the conference ‘feature’ strand; with Screen Australia’s Martha Coleman, Head of Development, and Veronica Gleeson, Development Manager, along with Rosemary Blight of Goalpost Pictures, Michael McMahon of Matchbox Pictures, and Troy Lum, Hopscotch Films.

• Feature Co-productions – Thursday 19 November, 3.00–4.15pm
  All about international co-productions, with Screen Australia’s Co-production Manager, Richard Cohen, as well as Bryce Menzies (Marshalls & Dent), Sharon Menzies (Fulcrum Media NZ) and Jonathan Shteinman (Bluewater Pictures).

•  Keynote – in conversation with Ruth Harley – Friday 20 November, 9.00-10.00am
  Screen Australia CEO Ruth Harley in conversation with SPAA President Antony I Ginnane. This not-to-be missed session will canvas the state of the industry, funding issues, the Offset and whether it’s working, raising domestic theatrical box office and more.

Find out more.

CO-PRODUCTION GUIDELINES REVIEW DEADLINE EXTENDED

Screen Australia has extended the deadline for industry submissions to its review of the guidelines for the International Co-production Program and its general administration of the program. The new deadline is Tuesday 15 December.
The terms of reference for the review are to:

1. confirm the objectives and role of the Co-production Program and whether these objectives are being met,

2. review the efficacy of the Co-production Guidelines in administering the Program and identify any areas that may require development or amendment,

3. consider any proposed revisions to the Co-production Guidelines and any recommendations around Screen Australia’s administration of the Co-production Program, and

4. consider any other matters that may arise in the course of considering the above matters.

Find out more. 

NATIONAL SURVEY OF FEATURE FILM AND TV DRAMA 2008/09 RELEASED

Screen Australia recently released the report of its 2008/09 Drama Production Survey, revealing the highest-ever expenditure in Australia for local features and a continuing upward trend in local TV drama.

The survey has been conducted annually for more than 20 years, and is a key indicator of industry trends. It covers all Australian and co-production titles made each year, as well as foreign titles if they are shot in Australia or do post, digital or visual effects (PDV) work here.

In 2008/09 the production slate (defined as projects which started shooting or PDV work during the year) comprised 38 features and 653 hours of TV drama (44 programs) shot in Australia, as well as nine foreign PDV-only projects. The value of production activity, as measured by the portion of budgets spent in Australia, totalled $688 million.

The 29 Australian features in this year’s slate had total budgets of $365 million. This is the highest result for local features since the survey began, and well above the five-year average of $177 million. The increase was mainly due to two high-budget titles, Happy Feet 2 and Guardians of Ga’Hoole, which commenced production during the year. There were also three features made as co-productions, with $17 million of their budgets allocated to expenditure in Australia.

The combined Australian and co-production TV drama slate accounted for 646 hours this year, with expenditure in Australia of $308 million, up on last year’s $257 million and the highest result since 2001. Expenditure by local titles, particularly children’s programs and adult mini-series, was strong, with Australian mini-series well above average at $72 million.

Foreign production in Australia contracted sharply, however, spending just $22 million in Australia in 2008/09, compared to $251 million last year. This balanced out the increase in Australian and co-production projects so that the total value of all production activity ($688 million) was up only slightly on last year’s $679 million.

Visit the Screen Australia website for full details.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 2010 ACE INTERNATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM

Screen Australia, in partnership with the Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (ACE), will offer a special bursary for one selected Australian producer to attend the ACE international training program (ACE IPA).

The ACE IPA is an eight-day residential workshop for independent feature producers designed to favour co-productions between Europe and the rest of the world and to gradually build an international network of independent film producers.

Eight non-EU producers will be selected to participate in the ACE workshop taking place 14–21 March 2010 in Paris, France and Zurich, Switzerland. Screen Australia will offer €5,800 to a selected Australian producer to cover their tuition fees, travel from Paris to Zurich and full board accommodation in Europe. ACE is also offering a long-distance flight ticket to each selected participant.

The deadline for applications is COB Monday 30 November 2009. For more information visit the Screen Australia website.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR EUROPEAN FILM MARKET AND KIDSCREEN SUMMIT TRAVEL GRANTS

Screen Australia is offering Travel Grants for producers to attend two markets in 2010 – the European Film Market (EFM) and the 11th Annual KidScreen Summit, the largest event for children’s entertainment executives.

The EFM is held in conjunction with the 60th Berlin International Film Festival and will run 11–21 February 2010. Producers can apply for up to $5000 towards their travel expenses.

The KidScreen Summit will be held 10–12 February 2010 in New York. Children’s entertainment executives attend to engage in critical dialogue on issues that affect the industry; and understand current market needs, opportunities and challenges. Producers can apply for up to $6000 towards their travel expenses.

The deadline for applications to both EFM and KidScreen is 5pm Tuesday 1 December 2009. Read the industry alert for full details.

SCREEN AUSTRALIA SUPPORTED EVENTS

November highlights include SPAA Conference, IF Awards and X|Media|Lab.

SCREENING NOW

Australian films in cinemas
Screen Australia programs on TV

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