All articles by Sandy George – Page 30
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News
Australian Film Institute Awards shortlists 15 films
Fifteen films are in the running for the Australian Film Institute Awards, which will be held in Melbourne on December 5 and 6, with Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush hosting. The films that have already been released are Burke & Wills, Clubland, Gone, Irresistible, Like Minds, Lucky Miles, Noise, Razzle Dazzle, Romulus, ...
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News
Schepisi and Sardi on board for adaptation of The Secret River
Director Fred Schepisi is working with Jan Sardi on the adaptation of Kate Grenville's novel The Secret River. While a script has yet to be written, the Australian producers have announced they have acquired the three-year option. 'It is a landmark book and we just wanted it known how excited ...
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News
FFC greenlights new films from Campion, Blanks, Brooks
Five new Australian films have received a production greenlight from Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC), including projects from world-renowned directors Jane Campion (The Piano), Jamie Blanks (Urban Legend) and Sue Brooks (Japanese Story). All three of these films - UK/Australian period film Bright Star, horror film Long Weekend and comedy ...
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Australia launches landmark website for film history
A comprehensive website showcasing Australia's extensive filmmaking history is about to be launched today in Sydney.The Australian Film Commission (AFC) received A$2.4 million to create the site - www.australianscreen.com.au - and executive producer Ron Saunders worked with a different curator for each genre. 'To the best of our knowledge this ...
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News
New Zealand boosts incentive for foreign producers
Significant improvements have been made to the financial incentives available to foreign producers taking advantage of New Zealand's locations and filmmaking skills, the Government announced today. Films that spend over $11.9m (NZ$15m) in New Zealand on production can now claim back 15 percent, instead of the previous ...
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News
Melbourne festival unveils participants for financing forum
John Maynard (Romulus , My Father), Liz Watts (Little Fish) and Bridget Ikin (Look Both Ways) are among the 41 Australian producers pitching feature film projects at the Melbourne International Film Festival's (MIFF) inaugural film financing forum. The new sidebar, called '37 South: Bridging the Gap', has attracted about a ...
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FFC to determine which films are classed as Australian
The points-based cultural test that was being developed by Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC) has been scrapped, and the local industry has reverted back to the less prescriptive method that has been in place for more than 20 years. The FFC had based its proposed new method of determining which ...
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News
Mark Woods to leave Ausfilm when contract expires in August
Ausfilm chief executive Mark Woods today said that he will not seek an extension of his two-year contract when it expires in August. Ausfilm is the government-industry partnership that has responsibility for talking international producers into using Australia 's locations, crews and facilities for their film and television productions. Woods, ...
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News
Prime finally acquires control of Becker and Dendy
Australian regional broadcaster, Prime Television, has taken control of the Becker Group, which includes Dendy Cinemas, Dendy Distribution, and sales agent Becker International, as well as significant television production and outside broadcast interests.Prime acquired the 42.6% of the company owned by father-and-son directors Russell and Richard Becker late last week ...
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News
Australian distributor Kojo to launch with 4 Months, 3 Weeks
Kojo Pictures is launching itself into Australian theatrical distribution with a very high-profile title: Palme d'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. The abortion-themed story from director Cristian Mungui is likely to go into cinemas by October and will first screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival next ...
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News
Paramount Australia picks up its first local project, The Final Winter
Paramount Pictures Australia has acquired Australian rights to the low-budget drama The Final Winter, its first local pick-up since UIP split into Paramount and Universal at the beginning of the year. The film is directed by Jane Forrest and Brian Andrews and written by Matt Nable, who also plays the ...
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News
Australia distributor to kick off theatrical runs with You Kill Me
Australia 's newest theatrical distributor, All Interactive Distribution, has picked up five titles and will make its first theatrical release, John Dahl's You Kill Me, in September. The US independent film, which is sold by Capitol Films, goes out in US cinemas later this month. It stars Ben Kingsley and ...
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News
South Australian Film Corp appoints Richard Harris as head
Richard Harris, who is currently executive director of the Australian Directors Guild (ADG), has been appointed head of the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC). He will leave what was formerly called the Australian Screen Directors Association in mid-July, after nine years at the helm, and relocate from Sydney to Adelaide ...
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News
Producers close in on Miramax deal for Boys Are Back In Town
The producers of the Australian/UK co-production The Boys are Back in Town are in negotiations to pre-sell US rightsto Miramax on the project, which is Australian director Scott Hicks' first film shot in Australia since hit Shine. Australian producer Tim White, of Southern Light Films, would not comment when contacted ...
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News
Australian government radically overhauls film sector
The Australian government has announced the most fundamental structural and financing shake-up of Australian film for nearly 20 years. As expected, and as proposed by the industry itself, a tax rebate is to be introduced for producers from July 1 this year. It will allow filmmakers to claim back 40% ...
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Features
Distribution - Making a splash
Expectations are high for the Australia and New Zealand box office this year - and not just because of the number of high-profile studio sequels scheduled to open over the summer months.Admissions have been rising steadily in recent years - from 76 million in 1997 to 83.6 million in 2006 ...
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Features
Digital Rights - Territory report - Australia
The agreements covering film production in Australia are in place until 2009, so all is calm between the unions right now. Digital and new media is not an issue - yet - because the agreements in place already capture the small amount of money flowing from new technologies.Actors' fees are ...
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Luhrmann's Australia starts production in Sydney
Filming started today in Sydney on the long-planned romantic action adventure Australia , Baz Luhrmann's fourth film and his third with 20th Century Fox. The cast is headed by Nicole Kidman, as English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley, and Hugh Jackman, the rough hewn cattle-drover who initially repulses her, then catches ...
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New Asia Pacific Screen Awards land backing from CNN, UNESCO
The Queensland Government today launched the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, which will get global coverage from CNN, giving filmmakers from 70 countries an opportunity to showcase their work. The first awards presentation ceremony will be held Nov 13, the first night of the annual conference of Screen Producers Association of ...
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Features
Australia - Ward and peace
The Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC) last week announced its intention to throw its weight behind the directorial debut of a familiar name in the acting world.Rachel Ward was a 1980s icon, starring in films such as Against All Odds, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid and How To Get Ahead ...