[press release frfom Telstra]
Australia’s biennial and youngest film festival will be known as the 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival, with Telstra’s internet and content brand named the new naming-rights sponsor.
Group Managing Director of Telstra Media, Mr Justin Milne, said Australia has a rich talent of filmmakers making use of new digital media.
“The digital world has not only changed the way we view entertainment, but through super-fast broadband connections it has also transformed the way it is delivered to us, so we are proud to be supporting the next generation of Australian filmmakers through our sponsorship of the 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival,” Mr Milne said.
“BigPond was the first in Australia to allow people to rent DVDs online and also the first in Australia to introduce a movie download service.
“With broadband connections you can now rent and download a movie without leaving your house or you can even sit on a bus and watch a short film on your mobile phone,” Mr Milne said.
Adelaide Film Festival Chairperson Cheryl Bart said, “We are delighted to announce BigPond as the naming rights supporter for the 2009 Adelaide Film Festival. As Australia’s leading provider of access to the small screen – including online and mobile phone – BigPond is the logical partner for our festival, which celebrates the moving image not just in cinemas, but across the myriad screens in our lives.”
The biennial Adelaide Film Festival is one of the youngest but most innovative film festivals in the world and celebrates and explores contemporary screen culture with a program including special events, live performance and the premiere of films commissioned by the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund.
The 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival will take place from 19 February to 1 March, and is expected to attract over 45,000 film lovers and film makers.