All articles by Sandy George – Page 30
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Kojo's Smith breaks ground with new Sony HD camera on Beautiful
A group of Australian filmmakers, some of whom were involved on the very successful digital feature Wolf Creek , are making their new project Beautiful as one of the first features to be shot with the new Sony F23 CineAlta HD camera. Dean O'Flaherty is directing and Adelaide-based Kojo Pictures' ...
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Oz awards season kicks off with Home Song Stories in the lead
The Home Song Stories was the stand-out film when the Inside Film Awards announced their nominees yesterday (Oct 10). Only in the editing category did it miss out. Those named in relation to the film include producers Liz Watts and Michael McMahon for best film, director Tony Ayres, actress Joan ...
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Australia tries to ramp up Asian co-productions with new event
A search has begun in China, India, Korea and Singapore for films and television programmes that would be suitable co-productions with Australia. The projects will form the heart of an event, announced today, which will run alongside the annual conference of the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA). The conference ...
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Films from 19 countries nominated for Asia Pacific awards
Lebanon's Caramel , South Korea's Secret Sunshine, Turkey's Takva: A Man's Fear Of God and Iran's Night Bus are the most nominated films competing for the inaugural Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Each of the four films have been nominated three times, including for the best feature category, it was announced ...
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Ausfilm appoints Pitcher as chief executive
Ausfilm, the organisation that markets Australia 's filmmaking talents to the world, has appointed Caroline Pitcher as its new chief executive. She is no stranger to the requirements of a locations role or to Ausfilm: she has spent the last four years as general manager of the Melbourne Film Office, ...
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Shabana Azmi to head jury of new Asia Pacific awards
The Indian actress and humanitarian Shabana Azmi has been named president of the international jury at the inaugural Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), to be held on Australia's Gold Coast on Nov 13. 'The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is strongly committed to cinematic excellence and the promotion of the regions' ...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 ...