Indigenous Screen Australia submission. to the. Department of Communications Information Technology and the Arts

Transcription

1 Indigenous Screen Australia submission to the Department of Communications Information Technology and the Arts Review of Government support for funding films. August

2 This submission has been prepared by Indigenous Screen Australia (ISA) on behalf of its members, which includes more than sixty Indigenous film & television practitioners and media organisations nationwide. ISA is also a member organisation of the consortium that comprises the Australian Indigenous Communications Association (AICA) and National Indigenous Television (NITV). This submission provides responses to limited issues which the Government seeks comment on. On the broader issues of increased indirect support, ISA welcomes any strategies that assist in injecting increased investment into the Australian industry. Other industry organisations will comment on these questions at length. ISA has chosen to comment specifically on mechanisms of direct government support, specifically in regard to Indigenous programs. Comment is sought on; whether the current Government objectives for the film sector are appropriate; ISA believes direct Government support for Australia s audiovisual industries, through financial support and regulation, should continue to deliver cultural outcomes, to ensure Australian stories are delivered to local and global audiences. Film and television is the most powerful media available and it has a pervasive influence in reflecting and transmitting culture to wide audiences. To maintain and transmit Australian culture, Australian film and television content must be available to Australian audiences. Australian film and television programs also play a critical role in transmitting and promoting Australian culture overseas. There are many cultures and communities that combine to form what we broadly call Australian culture. In recent times it is has been recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures should be specifically acknowledged for their unique status as Australia s first cultures. Within the government objective of supporting the film and television industry to deliver cultural outcomes, it follows that special consideration should also be given in delivering Indigenous content, as well as broader Australian content. In the last ten years we have witnessed highly successful results from direct government support for Indigenous content. Evidence of this success can be measured in two ways. Firstly, the extraordinary demand for Indigenous films by overseas audiences, specifically international film festivals and secondly, the overwhelming critical success of Indigenous films, relative to the number produced (see appendix 1). 2

3 The additional benefits of specific support for the Indigenous film and television industry have delivered increased employment opportunities and developed a viable niche industry within Indigenous communities. the areas where Government support is most needed or appropriate; whether different mechanisms are needed for productions supported solely for cultural or national significance reasons, compared to projects with higher commercial potential; Direct support for Indigenous production and professional development is appropriate and critical for two reasons. The film and television industry, like most industries, is an industry that has historically had minimal participation by Indigenous Australians. To illustrate; of the 600 or so Australian features produced, only five have been created by Indigenous people and only in the last twenty years. The burgeoning Indigenous film and television industry is in its infancy and arguably requires direct and strategic support to ensure its continued growth. Secondly, although Indigenous productions are culturally significant and demonstrably critically successful, they are considered difficult to commercially finance. Furthermore, Indigenous film and television productions have not been, to date, commercially successful in the mainstream broadcast and exhibition environment. This means Indigenous production is unlikely to secure private sector investment that seeks an assured financial return. For the above reasons direct government support is fundamental in developing Indigenous practitioners and supporting their film and television productions to deliver the governments cultural outcomes. whether current agency functions and structures are appropriate; the best way to maintain overall consistency in Government support programs with the general principles outlined above. Indigenous Screen Australia welcomes the changes that have occurred in the federal film funding agencies in recent times, in acknowledging Indigenous cultural content as fundamental to the delivery of cultural and economic outcomes. Arguably the two organisations that have most substantially supported Indigenous economic and cultural outcomes are the AFC and the AFTRS. 3

4 The Australian Film Commission The AFC Indigenous Unit has been instrumental in the professional development of Indigenous practitioners and the creation of a critically successful slate of film and television. These works include the features Beneath Clouds, Radiance and One Night The Moon, short films such as Green Bush Tears and documentaries such as Bush Mechanics and Yellow Fella. Programs also include important exhibition opportunities of Indigenous works under the Blackscreen initiative. With the recent merging of the AFC with the NFSA, an Indigenous Unit has been established within the NFSA. The Indigenous industry welcomes this positive development. It is anticipated that the establishment of this unit will deliver similarly successful outcomes as those achieved at the AFC, but in the preservation and management of Indigenous cultural materials. AFTRS The AFTRS also has a targeted strategy aimed specifically at developing Indigenous practitioners who are becoming well known in the industry, such as Ivan Sen. The AFTRS offers two scholarships annually with private sector support. Most leading Indigenous film practitioners have been beneficiaries of this scheme and have gone onto achieve success in their ongoing careers. The FFC The Film Finance Corporation with its commercial focus, has had less emphasis on supporting Indigenous film. Indeed some sectors of the industry have lobbied against targeted support of Indigenous production via the FFC. Despite this, and thanks to a new management team in recent times, Indigenous people are now accessing direct government support from the FFC through the National Indigenous Documentary fund and other one off projects. The Indigenous sector welcomes this new approach at the FFC in recognising Indigenous culture as part of Australian culture. Film Australia Film Australia is active in the distribution of Indigenous programs which do better for them than any other titles within the educational market. It has produced some Indigenous created productions, but, as far as ISA is aware, FA has no particular focus or strategy in place for Indigenous production within the NIP. 4

5 ACTF ISA is unaware of any policy or strategy within the ACTF which encourages Indigenous Australian industry participation. ISA is cognisant of proposals for a super agency which might combine some of the above organisations. It could be argued that a super agency may deliver a more coherent Indigenous industry wide strategy. However, a combined organisation may risk undoing the experience and corporate knowledge that has been accumulated during the last ten years in delivering Indigenous programs. Indigenous Screen Australia asks that careful consideration be given of a merger which may result in one organisational culture dominating another. ISA suggests that it would be preferable for each of the government agencies to be asked to adopt specific strategies to support Indigenous practitioners and their productions, as a fundamental tier of its cultural objectives. We ask that the agencies be asked to annually report on their strategies. 5

6 APPENDIX 1 Plains Empty Sundance Film Festival, Sami Film Festival, Norway Arizona International Film Festival, USA Isfahan International Short Film Festival, Iran, Message Sticks Film Festival, Wairoa Maori Film Festival, NZ, Colourised Festival, Queensland, Salento International Film Festival, Italy, Bend Film Festival, Oregan, USA, All Roads National Geographic Film Festival, LA & Washington Uppsala International Short Film Festival ImagineNative Film Festival Damascus International Film Festival, Syria Green Bush Sundance Film Festival, USA, Jan 05 Berlin International Film Festival: Winner Best Short, Panorama, Germany, Feb Longbaugh Film Festival, Portland USA, Mar Sami Film Festival, Norway, Mar Arizona International Film Festival, USA, Apr Nashville Film Festival, USA, Apr Australian Film Festival in Israel, Jun Kracow Film Festival, Special Screening, Poland, Jun Heard Museum Film Festival, Arizona, USA, Jun International Hamburg Short Film Festival, Germany, Jun Provincetown International Film Festival, USA, Jun Short Film Festival Madrid, Spain, Jun Sydney Film Festival, Retrospective, Jun Dendy Awards Sydney Film Festival Winner Best Fiction Over 15 Minutes and Rouben Mamoulian Award Tabor Film Festival, Croatia, Jun Wairoa Maori Film Festival, NZ, Jun Wordstorm NT Writer s Festival, Darwin, Jun NAIDOC Festival, National Museum of Australia, Jun Curtas Vila do Conde International Film Festival, Portugal, Jul Colourised Festival, Queensland, Jul National Museum NAIDOC Week Celebrations, Canberra, Jul Short Black Films, NAIDOC Week Celebrations, Sydney, Jul New Zealand Film Festival, Jul/Aug Edinburgh International Film Festival, Aug Silhouette Short Film Festival, Paris, Aug Garma Festival, Gulkula, NT, Aug Abuja International Film Festival, Nigeria, Sept Indigenous Film Festival, Queensland, Sept Salento International Film Festival, Italy, Sept Bend Film Festival, Oregan, USA, Sept Calgary International Film Festival, Canada, Sept International Short Film Festival in Drama, Greece, Sept Silhouette Film Festival, France, Sept All Roads National Geographic Film Festival, LA & Washington, Sept/Oct International Cherokee Film Festival, Oct. Warwick Thornton - Most Originality in a Short, Green Bush - Best Short, David Page - Best Actor in a Short Aarhus Film Festival, Denmark, Oct ImagineNative Film Festival, Canada, Oct Damascus International Film Festival, Syria, Nov exground filmfest, Germany, Nov 6

7 London International Film Festival, Nov Resfest Digital Film Festival, Korea, Nov DaKINO Film Festival Romania Roumanian Critics Jury Honour Award Nominated Best Short Film Film Critics Circle of Australia Australia, Lexus IF Awards Best Short Film, Nov Santa Fe Film Festival All Roads program, Dec International Film Festival Kerala, India, Dec Flickerfest, Australia, Jan The Djarn Djarns Berlin International Film Festival - Crystal Bear Best Short Film The Deadly s - Outstanding Achievement in Film & Television Wayne Blair Flickerfest - Best Achievement in an Original Screenplay My Brother Vinnie Melbourne International Film Festival Best Documentary Wirriya: small boy WOW International Film Festival - Best Australian Film Award Beck Cole Sydney Film Festival Rosie Australian Teachers On Media Awards - Best Short Documentary Yellow Fella Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard) Melbourne Int Film Festvial Sydney Int Film Festival The Dream of Love Melbourne International Film Festival Turn Around Aspen Shortsfest - In competition Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival Flickerfest - Highly Commended Screenplay Sundance Film Festival (Native Forum) Flat Edinburgh International Film Festival Sundance Film Festival (Native Forum) Broadcasted on SBS Black Talk St Kilda Film Festival - Best Achievement with an Original Screenplay Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films, First Prize (Fiction under 15 min) In the Bin Film Festival - Best Sound Fitzroy Shorts - Punters Choice Award for June Shit Skin Sundance Film Festival (Native Forum) ImagineNATIVE The Foundation Australian Teachers of Media Award -Best Indigenous Resource Flickerfest - Most Popular Documentary 7

8 Queen of Hearts AFI Awards - Best Screenplay in a Short Film Danielle Maclean Chicago International Television Comp - Certificate of Merit Cold Turkey Australian Cinematographer Society Awards - Silver Allan Collins One Night the Moon Australian Cinematographers Society Awards - Gold Kim Batterham AFI Awards - Best Cinematoraphy Open Craft Award in Non Feature AWAGIE Awards - Television Original & Feature Film EthnoFilmfest Film Critics Circle of Australia - Unique Achievement in Sound, Image & Music New York International Independent Film & Video Festival - Best Musical & Best Cinematography in Non Feature Arizona International Film Festival Berlin International Film Festival Cinema des Antipodes Sundance Film Festival (Native Forum) Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival Whispering in Our Hearts Tudawali Film and Video Awards - Best Documentary Mitch Tores Beneath Clouds AFI Awards - Best Direction Ivan Sen - Best Cinematography Allan Collins Berlin International Film Festival - Piper Heidsieck New Talent Award-Danielle Hall (International) - Premiere First Movie Award Ivan Sen Durban International Film Festival - Best First Feature - Best Actress Danielle Hall IF Awards - Best Direction Ivan Sen -Best Cinematographer Allan Collins London Australian Film Festival Saint Tropez Film Festival - Audience Award - Best Actress Danielle Hall Tudawali Film and Video Awards - Best Long Format Drama Ivan Sen - Best Cinematography Allan Collins Clermont-Ferrand International Film Fest Sundance Film Festival (Native Forum) The Kate Challos RAKA Award - Ivan Sen Scriptwriting Road Australian Cinematographers Society Awards - Gold for Allan Collins Dublin Film Festival Flickerfest 11th Australian International Short Film Festival Flickerfest - Award for Best Director in an Australian Film - Award for Most Popular Film Cinema des Antipodes-Cannes Locarno International Film Festival Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival Black Chicks Talking Brisbane International Film Festival IF Awards - Best Documentary Leah Purcell Sydney Film Festival - Top Ten Documentaries at Dendy Opera 8

9 Radiance AFI Award - Best Performance by an Actress Deb Mailman Australian Screen Sound Guild - Best Achievement in Sound Effects Film Critics of Australia - Best Actress Deb Mailman Melbourne International Film Festival - Most Popular Feature Film Montreal World Film Festival Sydney Film Festival - Best Feature Film (Audience Vote) Toronto International Film Festival Festival Internazionale Cinema Delle Donne - Jury Prize Best Full Length Film Hollywood Black Film Festival - Jury Award Honorable Mention (Feature Film) London Australian Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Tudawali Film and Video Awards - Best Direction in Longer Format Bermuda International Film Festival Confessions of a Headhunter AFI Award - Best Short Fiction Film Australian Screen Composers Awards - Best Music for a Short Film ImagineNATIVE Saint Topez Film Festival WthnoFilmfest Palm Springs International Short Film Festival Flickerfest 11th Australian Short Film Festival - Award for Most Popular film Arizona International Film Festival Locarno International Film Festival Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival Bush Mechanics Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival AFI Awards - Open Craft Award for Original Concept My Bed Your Bed Auckland Film Festival - Special Commendation Dendy Awards - Best Fiction Erica Glynn Wellington Film Festival Cannes Australie 25th Anniversary of Australian Film Inter Film Festival Telluride Film Festival Tudawali Film and Video Awards - Best Direction in Short Film Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival Grace Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival Cannes Australie 25th Anniversary of Australian Film Promise Cannes Australie 25th Anniversary of Australian Film 9

10 Saturday Night, Sunday Morning FIPA Cannes Tudawali Film and Video Awards - Best Original Concept Arizona International Film Festical Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival Tears Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) Awards Silver Allan Collins - Best International Short Film St Kilda Film Festival - Best Short Film & Best Achievement in Direction Cannes Australie 25th Anniversay of Australian Film Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival Telluride Film Festival Regus London Film Festival Tampere International Short Film Festival My Colour, Your Kind Australian Cinematographers Society Award Gold-Allan Collins Cannes Australie 25th Anniversay of Australian Film Flickerfest International Outdoor Film Festival Palm Springs International Short Film Festival Inter Film Festival Berlin Telluride Film Festival Passing Through Hof International Film Festival St Kilda Film Festival - Palm Door Encouragement Award Cannes Australie 25th Anniversay of Australian Film Night Patrol Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival Wind Australian Cinematographers Society Award Gold-Allan Collins Australian Cinematographers Society Award Distinction-Allan Collins Cinema des Antipodes-Cannes Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival Special Commendation Flickerfest 10th Australian International Short Film Festival Saint Tropez Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Verlin Arizona International Film Festival Tampere International Short Film Festival Harry s War Melbourne International Film Festival - Outstanding Australian Short Film Promoting Human Values. - International Catholic Film Org Award Australian Teachers Media Award Best Short Fiction Black Filmworks Festival of Film & Video- First place (short film) Cinema des Antipodes-Cannes FIPA-Cannes Flickerfest-10th Australian International Short Film - Best Australian Short Richard Frankland Hollywood Black Film Festival - Jury Award ImagineNATIVE 10

11 Saint Tropez Film Festival Cinema de Antipodes St Kilda Film Festival London Australian Film Festival Arizona International Film Festival International Film Festival Berlin Strike Your Heart Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival No Way to Forget Asia Pacific Film Festival AFI Awards - Nominated for Best Short Fiction AFI Award - Best Sound in Non Feature Cannes Film Festival - Screening (un Certain Regard) Festival des Antipodes - Paris St Kilda Film Festival - New Director Award- Richard Frankland Australian Teachers of Media Award - Best Short Drama Brest Short Film Festival Hannover International Film Festival Bathurst Film and Video Festival - Best Film- Richard Frankland Edge of the World Short Film Festival - Highly Commended-Richard Frankland Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival Black Man Down Festival des Antipodes - Paris Brest Short Film Festival Shintoku Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Payback Festival des Antipodes - Paris Telluride Film Festival Brest Short Film Festival Shintoku Film Festival International Film Festival Berlin Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival Two Bob Mermaid Asia Pacific Film Festival - Best Dramatic Short Film Festival des Antipodes Venice International Film Festival Brest Short Film Festival Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival Film Critics Circle of Australia - Best Australian Short Film Shintoku Film Festival 11

12 Arizona International Film Festival Locarno International Film Festival International Film Festival Berlin Round Up Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films 1996 (NSW Ethnic Affairs Commission Award) Festival des Antipodes Asia Pacific Film Festival Australian Teachers Media Awards - Best Short Fiction Brest Short Film Festival Shintoku Film Festival ImagineNATIVE EthnoFilmfest International Film Festival Berlin RAKA The Kate Challis Award - Rima Tamou (Scriptwriting) 12