Trisha Rothkrans has been appointed chief executive of AusFILM, the national marketing alliance that aims to attract offshore productions to Australia.

She replaces Judith Crombie who takes up her new role as head of the South Australian Film Corporation on May 1. Rothkrans was previously the manager of production liaison at the New South Wales Film and Television Office, where Kingston Anderson has replaced her.

AusFILM's membership includes Australian service companies such as laboratories and post-production houses, as well as the state government film agencies. It is closely linked to Austrade film commissioner David Pratt in Los Angeles who funnels US projects that could suit Australia through to the relevant people. Pratt also arranges for groups of US film personnel to visit Australia in order to witness its benefits first hand.

15 offshore drama projects worth A$275m were shot in Australia in 1998/99. These included four offshore features - Birthday Girl, Komodo - The Living Terror, Mission Impossible II and Pitch Black - which were worth a combined A$173m.