[Press Release by Solid Ink Communications]
Melbourne will host the 17th World Congress of Science and Factual Producers in December 2009.
Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said the annual Congress is the peak international event for producers, broadcasters and distributors of science, history and natural history programs.
“In previous years, the Congress has been held in New York, Manchester, Tokyo and this year in Florence where it has attracted around 500 industry professionals from more than 24 countries,” Mr Jennings said.
“The Congress has become a must-attend event for those working in specialist factual television with the 2007 and 2008 events selling out well before entry registrations closed.
“Winning the Congress for Melbourne further confirmed Victoria as a leading Australian hub for the screen industry.
“Victoria is home to Australia’s fastest-growing factual production sector and hosting the Congress will give it a forum for developing projects with the world’s leading international broadcasters and producers of science and factual television.
“Local broadcasters will also enjoy new opportunities to secure the world’s best science and factual programs for Australian audiences. The Congress will also showcase Victoria’s production and post production capabilities.”
Film Victoria CEO Sandra Sdraulig said the Congress brings together the world’s leading international broadcasters and producers of science and factual television with Victoria’s vibrant broadcasting, academic, journalistic, scientific and research communities.
“It is an opportunity for Victoria’s factual screen industry to engage with practitioners from around the world and an acknowledgement that Melbourne is a national leader in screen production and culture,” Ms Sdraulig said.
“Film Victoria should be congratulated for its valuable work in helping to win this prestigious international screen industry event for Melbourne,” Mr Jennings said.
“It is the latest in a series of excellent outcomes for Victoria’s vibrant screen industry which this year enjoyed an all-time high of $262 million in production activity.
“Of that record-breaking figure, Film Victoria leveraged $205 million of the total industry result, a 44 per cent increase on the previous financial year.”
The Congress will be jointly supported by Film Victoria and the Victorian Science Agenda’s Science and Community Initiative.