The Victorian Government has delivered a $900,000 renewal of the Melbourne International Film Festival MIFF Premiere Fund, which provides minority co-financing to new Australian films that go on to premiere at MIFF.
"The MIFF Premiere Fund’s continuation is clear evidence of the Victorian Government’s commitment to supporting Victorian screen culture,” said MIFF Chair Claire Dobbin.
“The Fund’s continuation is important for MIFF, audiences, local filmmakers and the State’s creative economy. It generates a pipeline of world premieres for MIFF, and screenings for the MIFF Premiere Regional Showcase, and helps MIFF remain the Southern Hemisphere’s leading film event.”
"Together with MIFF 37ºSouth Market & Accelerator, the MIFF Premiere Fund reinforces Melbourne's position as a creative industries capital,” said MIFF Industry Director and Premiere Fund Executive Producer Mark Woods.
“Securing finance for independent Australian films is always a challenge and the contribution of the Premiere Fund has helped close the financing gap on some 45 films. The Fund is also proud of its part in fostering diversity and equality with nearly 50% of the Premiere Fund titles having feature debut directors, 31% having female directors and 53% female producers, while 13% had indigenous elements, 29% CALD community elements and 9% LGBTI engagement.”
The MIFF Premiere Fund is one of a suite of MIFF Industry Programs which include MIFF 37ºSouth Market, Australia’s only festival-based movie financing market, and the MIFF Accelerator emerging director workshop.
With combined budgets of more than $100 million, the MIFF Premiere Fund’s 45 films include Bran Nue Dae starring Geoffrey Rush, Balibo starring Anthony LaPaglia, The Turning featuring Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne and Hugo Weaving, feature documentaries Electric Boogaloo and In Bob We Trust and the recent hit children’s film Paper Planes, starring Sam Worthington and David Wenham, that grossed nearly $10 million at the local box office.
Following their world premieres at MIFF, the MIFF Premiere Fund-supported films also tour regionally with the MIFF Premiere Regional Showcase and have been selected for numerous overseas festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance.
MIFF 2015 is shaping as another exciting year from the MIFF Premiere Fund with world premieres comprising the following feature dramas:
Looking for Grace, starring Richard Roxburgh (Rake) and Radha Mitchell (Melinda and Melinda) with Terry Norris (Paper Planes) and Julia Blake (Last Dance) from director Sue Brooks (Japanese Story);
Downriver, starring Kerry Fox (An Angel at My Table) and Reef Ireland (Blessed) from feature debut director, and MIFF Accelerator alumnus, Grant Scicluna;
Early Winter, starring Suzanne Clement (Mommy) from director Michael Rowe (Cannes Camera d’Or winner Leap Year).
Also on the slate are feature documentaries:
Neon from director Laurence Johnson;
Ecco Homo from directors Richard Lowenstein and Lynn-Marie Milburn;
Putuparri & The Rainmakers from director Nicole Ma.