37 SOUTH:
37 SOUTH: BRIDGING THE GAP
Top international and Australian film financiers will face off in ‘Open Sessions’ at MIFF’s (Melbourne International Film Festival) 37 South: Bridging the Gap. The FREE Open Sessions program gives you the opportunity to witness discussions by key decision makers on the state of Australian cinema. 37 South is the first film festival forum of its kind to ever run in Australia and will be attended by some of the most influential industry figures from across the globe.
The 37 South’s Open Sessions are an exciting, rare opportunity that shouldn’t be missed:
THURSDAY 26 JULY Forum Theatre, 4.00 – 5.30pm “What’s what in the global film market – and Australia’s place in it” How do Australian films, scripts, producers and funding arrangements stack-up against the rest of the world? And what is it that the sales agents want from an Australian film?
Moderator: Sue Murray (Dr Plonk, Ten Canoes, Alexandra’s Project) Speakers: Iain Canning, Becker International; Kathleen Drumm, NZ Film; Beatrice Neumann, ContentFilm International; Ashley Luke, Fortissimo Films; Richard Guardian, Lightning Entertainment; Kirk D’Amico, Myriad Pictures.
FRIDAY 27 JULY ACMI Cinema 1, 2.30 – 4.00pm “Mind the Gap Financing and the new Oz rebates” Get the lowdown on how financiers feel about the changes in the Australian industry right now, how to cashflow the new incentives, and what sort of films recoup – and with what talent?
Moderator: Greg Sitch (Crackerjack, Boytown, Macbeth) Speakers: Tait Brady, Film Finance Corporation; Paul O’Kane, Pacific Film and Television Commission; Jennie Hughes, International Film Group; Simone Govic, A3 Crosby Fund; Matthew Street, Omnilab Group; Catherine Waters, Australian Film Commission; Ros Tatarka, Film Victoria.
Forum Theatre, 4.15 – 5.45pm “End Users – What they want and how they want it?” What are they looking for? Who is looking for it? What competition does Australia face? Are Australian films good releases overseas? Get the answers to questions you were too afraid to ask!
Moderator: Mark Woods (The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Breakfast on Pluto) Speakers: Ellen Pittleman, Paramount Pictures; Jane Smith, Seed; Joel Pearlman, Roadshow; Gail Gendler, Sundance Channel; Rachel Connors, Slingshot Distribution; Jude Troy, Hopscotch; Alan Finney, Buena Vista International. SATURDAY 28 JULY Forum Theatre, 9.00 – 10.30am “New Kids on the Block – Australian distributors” New Australian independent distributors have mushroomed in the last decade. Does Australian content work for them? What are they looking for? What sort of commitments do they make? When and how should producers approach them?
Moderator: Liz Watts (The Home Song Stories, Little Fish, Walking on Water). Speakers: Paul Wiegard, Madman Entertainment; Simon P Killen, Aztec International; Eric Cherry, Siren Visual Entertainment; John Davies, Arkles Entertainment; Sherard Kingston, All Interactive Media; Annette Smith, Kojo Pictures.