Australian writers, producers, directors, funding agencies and distributors should ask one key question when evaluating feature film projects: “Does this warrant a theatrical release or is streaming a smarter option?”
Australian films and feature documentaries raked in theatrical revenues of $49.4 million in calendar 2017, a market share of 4.1 per cent.
The Australian titles released in cinemas this year including holdovers will overtake the calendar 2017 total in the next week or so, boosted by Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black.
Exhibitors have renewed calls to address the challenges facing most Aussie films in the crowded theatrical market.
No Australian film has broken through with mainstream cinema audiences since Simon Baker’s 'Breath' launched in May. Even so, the upcoming line-up looks sufficiently appealing to ensure this year will surpass the 2017 calendar year total of $49.4 million
The records smashed by doco 'John Farnham: Finding the Voice' have proven that Australians will still come out in numbers to see local stories on the big screen, and there is significant optimism among exhibitors about the commercial potential of 'Force of Nature: The Dry 2'. However, broadly the year so far has been a very slow one for Australian films at the box office.
As the Australian feature films and feature docs released in cinemas this year have surpassed the calendar 2017 total, exhibitors generally are happy with the diversity of product and the number of titles that have resonated with mainstream audiences.
Australian feature films and feature documentaries released in cinemas have a very good shot at beating the 2017 calendar year total of $49.4 million, judging by the results for the first five months.