The 69th Australian International Movie Convention has kicked off this morning with a spate of opening addresses from some of Australia’s key players in cinema.
Held at Jupiter’s Resort and Casino on the Gold Coast, the AIMC this year has drawn a record crowd, with over 100 of the 1,000+ attendees coming from overseas.
Executive Director of the National Association of Cinema Operators Australasia and AIMC host, Michael Hawkins, started proceedings with a welcoming address covering issues such as piracy, cinema marketing and, of course, box office, for which 2015 looks extremely promising.
“We suggested to you that this year’s convention was one not to be missed,” Hawkins said. “We have read from numerous sources that the box office for the 2015 and 2016 years will be record breaking. That the content will be mind-blowing and that the decisions you are required to make about what to put on your screens will be harder than ever.”
He was then followed by Steve Ashmore from Rentrak, Terry Jackman AM (Chairman of the National Association of Cinema Operators, Australasia) and Marc Wooldridge (Chairman of Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia).
All speakers touched on the need for the industry to continue to work on the issue of piracy and gave kudos to the tireless effort of Village Roadshow Chairman Graham Burke in tackling the issue.
“2013 was a hugely productive year for our Industry and the National Association of Cinema Owners. We continued to work hand in glove with our colleagues at the MPDAA and MPA and our partners in the Creative Industries to further research the habits of film pirates and to craft messages for all stakeholders that piracy is the biggest threat facing our industry today and that the time for legislative reform is upon us,” Hawkins said.
But mostly there has been great excitement surrounding the promising 2015 box office, with distributors confident we will see a strong year follow from this year’s flat performance.
“Distributor presentations are seriously bursting with content,” said Hawkins. “And it may or may not be true that one approached me seeking a double session and was prepared to pay anything for it!”
Though officially opened this morning, the social aspect of the Conference took off last night with the 2014 AIMC Welcome Function, hosted by Schweppes Australia.
In attendance were several hundred guests including Michael Hart MP (Member for Burleigh), Terry Jackman AM (Chairman of the National Association of Cinema Operators-Australasia – host of the AIMC), Mike Baard (MD, Universal Pictures Australasia), Michael Selwyn (VP, Paramount Pictures Australia & NZ), Lisa Cruse (Hollywood Reporter Aust/NZ).
The attendees then were treated to the opening night film and Australian premiere of The Theory of Everything, starring Eddie Redmayne as the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.
The AIMC will conclude this Friday.