[press release from IMMEDIA!]
Overseas Trip to Success for Seven Australian Film Makers Kick-Started by Australian Government Grant
Seven Australian independent film makers have received a major grant from the Australian government to assist in the promotion, publicity, marketing and on the ground presence at one of the world’s top film events–the South by Southwest Film Festival and Conference in Austin, Texas March 13-22.
A $20,000 one-off grant from the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, administered through peak film body Screen Australia, has given the film creators a stand at the SxSW Film Trade Fair, advertising to the trade and films fans in Austin during multiple showings of their films as well as travel assistance to meet with key industry figures at this crucial event. A media campaign with publicists has also started in the lead up to SxSW,
It’s the first time that the Federal Government has gotten behind Australian films at this 16 year event that will showcase over 120 features and documentaries and more than 150 shorts, experimental, animated and music video productions. The six Australian films and one short are:
* THE SQUARE-Written by Joel Edgerton & Matthew Dabner, Directed by Nash Edgerton
* THREE BLIND MICE-Written & Directed by Matthew Newton
* RATS AND CATS-Written by Jason Gann & Adam Zwar, Directed by Tony Rogers
* LAKE MUNGO-Written & Directed by Joel Anderson
* INTANGIBLE ASSET NUMBER 82-Written & Directed by Emma Franz
* THE HORSEMAN-Written & Directed by Steven Kastrissios
* Short: CHILDREN OF THE ECLIPSE-Produced by Nick Heydon
It’s the fifth year that SxSW Film has had a significant Australian ‘sidebar event’ showcase which have included films as diverse as "Kenny" (Regional Premiere), Black Sheep (US Premiere) and "The Devil Made Me Do" (World Premiere) most recently, and in previous years "Puppy", "Somersault", "Thunderstruck", "Josh Jarman", "Alexandra’s Project," "Black and White", "Undead" and "Welcome to the Waks Family".
Sydney-based SxSW Australian representative Phil Tripp reveals the strategy for the Australian presence at SxSW Film as mirroring what the music industry has done over the past seven years with the assistance of AUSTRADE, the Australia Council for the Arts and state-based peak music bodies such as WAM & MusicNSW.
"Australian culture is an export commodity but unlike coal, woodchips, uranium or steel, it is a renewable one with music and film creators coming up with new products or ‘creativity crops’ for local and overseas markets each year or so. Screen Australia and DFAT have invested in taking the creators to the market and also marketing their talents to the 7000 overseas film industry professionals who attend through a Discoveries From Down Under promotional stand, a publicity campaign to media and advertising in key event publications."
"In 2002, there were only five bands and 20 AustralAsian delegates that attended SxSW Music Festival and Conference, but with AUSTRADE resources for stand, advertising and promotion over that event, the presence doubled each year so that in 2009 70 Australian and New Zealand bands were invited, of which 30 OZ &15 NZ artists will showcase with over 240 delegates from both countries on top of the 200+ band and crew members. Now, after the film industry and government observing those outcomes for five years through various administrations, Screen Australia and DFAT have taken the ball and are running hard to emulate the success. With multiple showings of the homegrown productions, we’re projecting a world-class image to the industry."