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AFI puts major focus on docos in 2008
[Tue 26/08/2008 07:10:55]
By Simon de Bruyn
The Australian Film Institute has put documentaries firmly in the spotlight this year, launching the Trailblazer Initiative as part of its annual awards, and opening each of the AFI Award screenings with Mark Hartley’s doco Not Quite Hollywood.
In early August the AFI announced it had partnered with Reed Midem – the global events giant behind MIPTV and MIPDOC – to give the AFI Award for Best Documentary access to these key markets in Cannes as part of the worldwide Trailblazer initiative.
AFI general manager Damien Trewella said the initiative will give Australian documentarians a new launching platform for their work, with not only screenings organised for the lucky delegate, but also key meetings with factual buyers from around the world.
“It’s a fantastic initiative in recognition of Australia’s fantastic documentary talent. There’s now this opportunity for them to go to this huge documentary market, MIPDOC in Cannes, and turn critical performance into commercial and even further creative opportunities,” he says.
Reed Midem’s UK chief executive, Peter Rhodes OBE, told INSIDEFILM he has been trying to get Australian documentary filmmakers into the program for some years, but it was only when the AFI proved a competent enough partner that the deal was done.
“We had discussions with other Australian bodies before because we were very concerned about getting Australia in because on the documentary side I think Australia is a very important player. We were unable to find a body that could get their act together to do it, until we met the AFI,” he said.
“MIPTV is the most important television market in the world and MIPDOC is the most important documentary screenings opportunity because it’s connected to MIPTV. So it’s great the AFI has done it and it’s great that Australian documentarians will be able to have this profile in the international documentary business that they haven’t until now.”
The AFI has continued with the documentary focus in its 50th year, by launching all its AFI Awards screening series with a documentary, Not Quite Hollywood. Further nominees for Best Documentary are Beyond Our Ken, Rare Chicken Rescue and The Oasis.
The AFI Awards screenings launch in Sydney tonight with a big red carpet gala event, following similar events in Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide.
For more information on AFI Awards screenings, click here.
For more information on the AFI Documentary Trailblazer initiative, click here.
