A Mandatory Screen Forum Led by Film Industry Heavyweights
Presented by Metro Screen
Moderator: Andrew Urban

SOLD OUT

We intend to record this event for possible vod/podcasting so please check our website late next week.
Plus follow us on Twitter with #OZFILM


Introduced by: Liz Watts - Producer, Porchlight Films
Panellists [see bios. below]:
Dr Ruth Harley – CEO Screen Australia 

Troy Lum – Managing Director of Hopscotch Films
Margaret Pomeranz – At The Movies ABC

Garry Maddox – Journalist, Sydney Morning Herald

Susan Hoerlein – Publicity & Promotions Manager, Tsuki Marketing and PR Agency
Rachel Ward – Actor/Writer/Director - first feature 'Beautiful Kate'

Antony I. Ginnane – President of SPAA
 [Screen Producers Association of Australia]
Kath Shelper – Producer first feature 'Samson & Delilah'

Plus special guests in the audience include:
Screen NSW [former NSW FTO]
Australian Writers Guild
Australian Directors Guild


It has been the cause of many heated debates and is a topic that has overshadowed the Australian Film industry for decades – why don’t the majority of Australian films attract Australian audiences? Why did Oz films represent only 3.8% of the total box office last year* [including Baz Lurmann’s Australia]? Is it the: filmmakers, audiences, funding bodies, distributors? More importantly, what can be done about it?

Metro Screen presents a major screen industry event that is a must for those passionate about the current and future state of the Australian screen industry. Representatives from a cross section of the film industry, from funding to distribution, will discuss why they believe many of our films perform so poorly at the local box office. For those eager to have their say, we will be asking audience members to join in and voice their opinions.

The Australian public will watch Australian stories, ratings for recent TV shows have confirmed this, so why are they avoiding our films? Should more resources be directed to marketing? Are the films not getting a fair run from cinema chains? Do we need to ‘sell out’ to sell tickets?

The issue is no longer the meager amount of films produced; 2009 has been touted as a vintage year for Australian films, with over 30 features being released, but how will they fair with audiences? Although applauded by critics, many have already receded into the shadows, barely making an impact at the box office. Why is this happening?!

Speculation will abound, conspiracy theories will be voiced, and [hopefully] solutions will be reached. The forum will not be a platform to complain about the industry [no whingers allowed], but is aimed to identify the contributing factors to this major crisis facing our films in aid of moving us onwards and upwards.

Watch the short add here

BIOS.

ANDREW URBAN - Moderator - With over 20 years experience in entertainment publishing, film journalist Andrew L. Urban and his partner Louise Keller launched Urban Cinefile in February 1997. At the 1998 Telstra/Australian Financial Review Internet Awards, Urban Cinefile was voted the Best Arts & Entertainment Site, and was soon syndicating its editorial content to major portals including AOL, Telstra Big Pond, Yahoo! and Optus. Urban Cinefile went on to produce movie reviews on mobile phones and a weekly movie review program for subscription tv channels Ovation and World Movies, the latter appointing Urban its Channel Host in 2002, to present two weekly movie hosting programs.

DR RUTH HARLEY - CEO Screen Australia - Dr Ruth Harley joined Screen Australia in November 2008 as Chief Executive Officer. For the 10 years prior to this she was the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Film Commission. Ruth has more than 20 years experience in the cultural and media sectors. Her previous roles include Commissioning Editor of TVNZ, inaugural CEO of television funding agency New Zealand On Air, and National Media Director of Saatchi and Saatchi. She also held a senior management role at the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. Ruth holds a PhD from the University of Auckland. She is a former Fulbright Scholar and former Chair of Fulbright NZ. Ruth's commitment to broadcasting and the arts was recognised in 1996 with an OBE, and in 2006 she received a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to film.

TROY LUM – Managing Director of Hopscotch Films - Troy Lum was the head of Dendy Films from 1998-2002 where he released seminal titles such as Amelie, Buena Vista Social Club, and The Blair Witch Project. In May 2002, Troy Lum launched Hopscotch and it has since become Australia's leading independent distributor. Hopscotch releases include the hits Bowling For Columbine, Touching The Void, Fahrenheit 9/11, Somersault, Downfall, Mrs Henderson Presents, The Lives Of Others, Pan’s Labyrinth, Mongol, The Wrestler, and Vicki Cristina Barcelona. The company has also become involved in Australian production through a new division Hopscotch Productions and has helped develop recent releases such as Somersault, Bra Boys and the eagerly anticipated Mao’s Last Dancer which he also serves as Executive Producer. Troy Lum is currently a board member of the NSW Film & Television Office and in 2004 was listed as one of the ‘Top 50 Young Film Executives In The World’ by Hollywood Reporter.

MARGARET POMERANZ – At the Movies, ABC

GARRY MADDOX – Journalist, Sydney Morning Herald - Garry Maddox has been writing about film for The Sydney Morning Herald for the past decade. His close knowledge of Australian film dates back another decade and covers editing Encore magazine, writing a series of industry reports and working for the Film Finance Corporation.

SUSAN HOERLEIN - Publicity & Promotions Manager, Tsuki Marketing and PR Agency

RACHEL WARD Actor/Writer/Director - First feature: Beautiful Kate

ANTHONY I. GINNANE - SPAA - Antony I. Ginnane has been involved in all aspects of the film and television industry for 35 years.  During that time as a film-maker he has produced 59 feature films, MOW’s, mini series and TV specials: 20 as Producer and 39 as Executive Producer.  His films have been shown all over the world and have achieved both critical acclaim and box office success. He has filmed extensively in Australia and other countries including New Zealand, Mexico, the Philippines, Yugoslavia, Lithuania the USA and Canada.He is President of the Screen Production Association of Australia and a member of the Producers Guild of America, the British Academy of Film and Television (LA) and Napte.  He is a board member of the Independent Film and Television Alliance and serves on both the Legal, TV, Export Alliance and Admissions Sub Committees of IFTA and has written numerous articles on the motion picture industry and served on many panels relating to film financing, distribution and co-production.

KATH SHELPER - Producer 'Samson & Delilah' - 'Samson & Delilah' is Kath's first feature, it won the Adelaide Film Festival Audience Award and the Cannes Film Fest Camera d’Or [best first feature] and the Blue Angel for best director at the Art Film Fest in Slovakia. It has done well at the box office in Australia, has just released in New Zealand and is about to be released in France, South Africa and the UK. Kath has also produced Beck Cole’s documentary 'Making Samson & Deliliah'.Her short films include 'Plains Empty' [Sundance], 'Green Bush' [Best Panorama Short Film, Berlin Film Fest], 'Nana' [Crystal Bear, Berlin Film Fest], 'Hush' [Audience Prize, Creteil Women’s Film Fest], 'Confessions of a Headhunter' [Best Short, AFI Awards], 'Above the Dust Level' [Best Comedy, Melbourne Film Festival], and 'House Taken Over' [nominated, AFI Awards]. She received the IF Award for Rising Talent in 2005.
 
*Screen Australia analysis of the Motion Picture Distribution Association of Australia [MPDAA]

CHECK OUT WHAT'S BEING SAID

• Gary Maddox - The year in pictures - SMH
• Rachel Ward - Cut! Time for a free kick for niche Australian movies and their makers - SMH
• Dave Guzman – Response to Rachel - blog
• Lynden Barber – Response to Rachel – ABC unleashed.
• Michael Coulter - Screening the same old dreary story – Sunday Age
• Luke Buckmaster – response to Michael - Crikey