Screenwest has announced the 27 recipients of the Bright Ideas Crew Capacity Initiative, who will share in more than $126,000 in funding to deliver 25 projects.
Once this paralysing crisis has passed, Emile Sherman questions how quickly cinemas will recover and he predicts consolidation among streaming services.
Nine Entertainment expects to save spending on drama and children's programming as part of a radical plan to slash costs by $266 million this year.
Just over a week ago 'F9' revved into cinemas, posting the highest opening weekend since the pandemic began. Many exhibitors were then excited about the further promise of school holidays and two other upcoming major releases in 'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard' and 'In The Heights'.
But what a difference a week can make, with new outbreaks of the virus impacting cinemas across the country and disrupting the market.
Australia's independent exhibitors warn that more than 50 per cent face being forced to shut down permanently in the next six months unless they get urgent relief from the Federal Government.
In response to COVID-19, Screenworks has launched a small grants program specifically for practitioners based in regional NSW.
Hoodlum Entertainment chair Deanne Weir calls on the screen industry to restate the case for regulation which protects Australian storytelling in response to the Screen Australia/ACMA options paper.
Faced with the prospect of not going ahead due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, St Kilda Film Festival has instead opted to go online.