Press release from Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF)
New dates and a high-level addition to the delivery team will see the St George Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) go from strength to strength, Premier and Minister for the Arts Anna Bligh said today.
"In 2010 BIFF will be driven by Richard Moore, who will move to the Festival from Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) where he was executive director," Ms Bligh said.
"Our nationally acclaimed festival will also move to November so it can form a closer association with the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), and create an extended celebration of film in South East Queensland."
Ms Bligh said Mr Moore would remain at MIFF to deliver this year’s festival, before relocating to Brisbane as the Head of Screen Culture at Screen Queensland, the Queensland Government company that delivers BIFF each year.
"In 2009, BIFF marked its 18th year with commercial success and audience acclaim, with average session attendances up 42 per cent on the previous year, contributing to sales targets being exceeded by 18.5 per cent," the Premier said.
"This new role, implemented by Screen Queensland, will oversee the company’s overall screen culture program, including BIFF, Translink Cinesparks and St George Bank BIFF in the Burbs."
Screen Queensland CEO Maureen Barron said Mr Moore’s role would strengthen ties between the festivals and the Queensland screen industry.
"Richard is well known for the work he has done at MIFF and Screen Queensland will no doubt benefit from the experience he will bring with him to the role," Ms Barron said.
"BIFF’s new date to 4-14 November is followed closely by the 4th annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) on the Gold Coast with members of the international jury arriving in November to commence deliberations for the 2 December awards ceremony."
Ms Barron said the core strength of BIFF – its quality of film – would remain the same.
"BIFF will continue to have its own identity and provide cinemagoers with a stunning array of films from Australia and across the world," she said.
"TransLink Cine Sparks – the Australian Film Festival for Young People which combines school screenings with film-related activities and family events – will continue to be staged in July and August to work with the annual school calendar."
For more information about St.George Bank BIFF, visit www.stgeorgebiff.com.au.