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(1)

Indigenous Screen Australia submission

to the

Department of Communications Information Technology and the

Arts

Review of Government support for funding films.

(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).

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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 Hawaii International Film Festival

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

(7)

• London International Film Festival, Nov • Resfest Digital Film Festival, Korea, Nov

• DaKINO Film Festival Romania – Roumanian Critics Jury Honour AwardNominated 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 International Film Festival Rotterdam Sundance Film Festival (Native Forum) Flat

Edinburgh International Film Festival International Film Festival Rotterdam Sundance Film Festival (Native Forum) Broadcasted on SBS

Black Talk

Hawaii International Film Festival

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

International Film Festival Rotterdam

Fitzroy Shorts - Punters Choice Award for June Shit Skin

International Film Festival Rotterdam Sundance Film Festival (Native Forum) ImagineNATIVE

The Foundation 1963-1977

Australian Teachers of Media Award -Best Indigenous Resource Flickerfest - Most Popular Documentary

(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 Hawaii International Film Festival

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

Cinema des Antipodes – Cannes Cork Film Festival

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 International Film Festival Rotterdam

Black Chicks Talking

Brisbane International Film Festival

IF Awards - Best Documentary – Leah Purcell

(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

Hawaii International Film Festival

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

International Film Festival Rotterdam Confessions of a Headhunter AFI Award - Best Short Fiction Film Hawaii International Film Festival

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 International Film Festival Rotterdam

Bush Mechanics

Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival

AFI Awards - Open Craft Award for Original Concept EthnoFilmfest Berlin

International Film Festival Rotterdam My Bed Your Bed

Auckland Film Festival

Cork Film Festival - Special Commendation Dendy Awards - Best Fiction – Erica Glynn Hawaii International Film Festival

Wellington Film Festival

Cannes Australie 25th Anniversary of Australian Film Inter Film Festival

Telluride Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Berlin

Tudawali Film and Video Awards - Best Direction in Short Film Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival

International Film Festival Rotterdam Grace

Cork Film Festival

Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Berlin

Cannes Australie 25th Anniversary of Australian Film Promise

Cork Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Berlin

(10)

Saturday Night, Sunday Morning FIPA – Cannes

EthnoFilmfest Berlin

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 Cork Film Festival - 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 EthnoFilmfest Berlin

Telluride Film Festival Regus London Film Festival

Tampere International Short Film Festival My Colour, Your Kind

Australian Cinematographers Society Award Gold-Allan Collins Cork Film Festival

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 EthnoFilmfest Berlin Passing Through Cork Film Festival

Hof International Film Festival

St Kilda Film Festival - Palm Door Encouragement Award Cannes Australie – 25th Anniversay of Australian Film EthnoFilmfest Berlin

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 International Film Festival Rotterdam 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 Hawaii International Film Festival

Hollywood Black Film Festival - Jury Award ImagineNATIVE

(11)

Saint Tropez Film Festival – Cinema de Antipodes St Kilda Film Festival

EthnoFilmfest Berlin

London Australian Film Festival Arizona International Film Festival International Film Festival Berlin Strike Your Heart

Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival Cinema des Antipodes – Cannes

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

Hawaii International Film Festival

St Kilda Film Festival - New Director Award- Richard Frankland Australian Teachers of Media Award - Best Short Drama Brest Short Film Festival

Cinema des Antipodes – Cannes Cork 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

EthnoFilmfest Berlin

International Film Festival Rotterdam Black Man Down

Festival des Antipodes - Paris Hawaii International Film Festival Brest Short Film Festival

Cinema des Antipodes – Cannes Cork Film Festival

Shintoku Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Payback

Festival des Antipodes - Paris Hawaii International Film Festival Telluride Film Festival

Brest Short Film Festival Cinema des Antipodes – Cannes Cork 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

Hawaii International Film Festival Venice International Film Festival Brest Short Film Festival

Cinema des Antipodes – Cannes

Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival

Film Critics Circle of Australia - Best Australian Short Film Cork Film Festival

Shintoku Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Berlin

(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

Hawaii International Film Festival Asia Pacific Film Festival

Australian Teachers Media Awards - Best Short Fiction Brest Short Film Festival

Cinema des Antipodes – Cannes Cork Film Festival

Shintoku Film Festival EthnoFilmfest Berlin ImagineNATIVE EthnoFilmfest

International Film Festival Berlin

References

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