The Australian Film Institute is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and today announced that the feature film and non-feature ‘Best Film’ judging season will commence on Tuesday 19th August with a national launch at the Rivoli Cinema in Melbourne.
The L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards Screenings will be held throughout the months of August and September in Canberra, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Melbourne.
The L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards Screenings will see over 250 screenings of 25 feature films & 12 nominated non-feature films in 7 cities across 6 weeks.
Preview screenings of one of Australia’s most highly anticipated feature films will launch the L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards Screenings at gala opening night industry events in each city. Not Quite Hollywood, a film by Mark Hartley, is the first detailed examination and celebration of Australian genre cinema of the 70s and 80s.
The L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards Screenings bring the public and the industry together to enjoy, consider and appraise all entered feature films and nominated non-feature films in the L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards.
The Australian Film Institute is encouraging the Australian public to vote for their favourite films. Anyone can attend the screenings by becoming an AFI member and celebrating 50 years of pride and passion in the Australian film industry:
The Feature Films entered into the L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards promise an eclectic mix of viewing with films from a broad range of genres being showcased at the screenings. There are 25 feature films in total vying for nominations in this year’s AFI Awards, an increase from recent years due to a change in entry criteria allowing a broader scope of films to enter.
The Feature Film Contenders for the L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards are: All My Friends are Leaving Brisbane, Bitter and Twisted, Black Water, Cactus, Children of the Silk Road, Death Defying Acts, Five Moments of Infidelity, Gabriel, Green Fire Envy, Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueberger, Men’s Group, Punishment, Rats and Cats, Salvation, September, Ten Empty, The Black Balloon, The Independent, The Jammed, The Plex, The Square, The Tender Hook, The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark, Three Blind Mice, and Unfinished Sky.
A synopsis and cast and production credits summary of all feature film entrants is attached and can also be found at afi.org.au.
Australian Film Institute General Manager, Damian Trewhella says of the increase in Feature Film Contenders this year: "We are very excited to present such an exciting slate of films which range from the work of enterprising young independent film makers to that of more established film practitioners. In this challenging global screen environment it’s encouraging to see that we have such a vibrant and talented creative community. The L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards Screenings provide a great opportunity for Australian audiences nationally to see the diversity and quality of Australian films on offer".
The L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards Screenings dates and venues are:
Melbourne – National Launch Tuesday 19 August – Rivoli Cinema
Melbourne Screenings run from September 5 to September 28 at ACMI Cinemas
Canberra – Opening Night Thursday 21 August – National Film and Sound Archive
Canberra Screenings run from August 22 to September 14 at various venues
Adelaide – Opening Night Monday 25 August – Palace Eastend Cinemas
Adelaide Screenings run from August 29 to September 21at Palace Eastend Cinemas
Sydney – Opening Night Wednesday 27 August – Cinema Paris, The Entertainment Quarter
Sydney Screenings run from August 29 to September 21at Cinema Paris, The Entertainment Quarter
Brisbane – Opening Night Friday 29 August – The Regent, Birch, Carroll & Coyle
Brisbane Screenings run from August 29 to September 21 at The Regent, Birch, Carroll & Coyle
Perth – Opening Night Monday 1 September – Cinema Paradiso
Perth Screenings run from September 5 to September 28 at Cinema Paradiso
Hobart – Opening Night Wednesday 3 September – State Cinema
Hobart Screenings run from September 5 to September 28 at State Cinema
A full schedule of screening session dates, times and venues can be found on afi.org.au
Anyone with a passion for film can join the AFI and register to vote in the L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards. Celebrating 50 years, the L’Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards take place in Melbourne in early December and will be televised on the Nine Network.
[release from Kerry O’Brien Publicity]