Bryan Brown will receive this year's Longford Lyell Award, the highest honour bestowed by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA).
In a further sign of consolidation in the independent film sector, Universal Pictures International will take over the theatrical marketing and distribution of Entertainment One (eOne) releases in Australia and New Zealand.
The disappearance of eOne from the theatrical distribution landscape in Australia/New Zealand is being lamented by exhibitors, producers, former staffers and even rival distributors.
Rachel Ward’s Palm Beach, a comedy-drama about a group of lifelong friends reuniting to celebrate a special birthday, will open the Sydney Film Festival at the State Theatre on Wednesday June 5.
It’s been a quiet start for the year for Australian films at the national box office, particularly compared to last year when Peter Rabbit and Sweet Country were drawing crowds.
Two Aussie films, Mirrah Foulkes' 'Judy & Punch' and Ben Lawrence's 'Hearts and Bones', will be among the 12 features in official competition at this year’s Sydney Film Festival (SFF).
The 18 Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas since the start of the year, plus holdovers, have racked up a modest $14.3 million.