Australian box office takings last year totaled $1.245 billion, up 3.6 per cent on the previous year, as a record 758 titles flooded the market
The good news for Australian cinema: Last year ranks as the third biggest ever for Oz films and feature docs released theatrically in the home market
A recap on some of the stories that broke while IF was in recess.
Director Benjamin Gilmour's 'Jirga' took home the inaugural AACTA Award for Best Indie Film - designed to honour films made under $2 million - at the AACTA Industry Luncheon in Sydney yesterday.
Given the record number of titles flooding into cinemas this year, Australian feature films and documentaries overall have performed respectably, most as limited releases with minimal marketing.
Bruce Beresford’s 'Ladies in Black' has grossed $11.4 million in seven weeks, encouraging Sony Pictures, which acquired worldwide rights, to start devising plans to release the comedy-drama in offshore markets.
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.
Joel Edgerton and Simon Baker have scored nominations in the feature film direction and acting categories for 'Boy Erased' and 'Breath', the first time that’s happened in the same year in AFI | AACTA history.