Launched today the Australian Feature Film Summit (AFFS) will, for the first time, bring exhibitors, distributors, producers and investors together in two dynamic events designed to grow the current success of the Australian feature film sector and demonstrated audience appetite for its content.
Held in October 2021 and February 2022, the AFFS will focus on the future and merge art and commerce, facilitating a valuable information exchange between the often-siloed parties of the screen industry and develop ideas for working together more effectively to ensure the success and growth of the theatrical film sector.
For the first time, exhibitors will be asked to share insights from working at the coalface in cinemas and provide valuable intel about what gets their audiences through the door. Exhibitors and distributors will also offer a peek at the data that drives programming decisions, while producers will be invited to lift the veil on the development and filmmaking process where the magic begins.
The Summit will be managed by Film Art Media and has wide industry support including NACO, MPDAA, ICA, AIDA and SPA with principal funding support from Screen Australia. Summit Director, Sue Maslin AO said: “Australian audiences have demonstrated their love affair with quality Australian films when given the opportunity to see them. The past 12 months provided that opportunity. Australian movies have delivered a record-breaking box office performance in 2020/21 in the absence of Hollywood product. But the seismic industry changes in the past 12 months have meant that all of us – producers, distributors and exhibitors – need to look at new ways to do business, raise finance and grow audiences. On the back of restoring the 40% Producer Offset, the time is right for us to come together and have a long overdue conversation about working together more strategically going forward.”
Stage 1 will be an online event taking place on Friday 22 October, 2021 that will provide an overview of the performance of Australian cinema in 2020/21 and survey the challenges and opportunities currently facing producers, distributors and exhibitors. It will be a prelude to the main event next year and invite all participants to identify common ground and new ideas on how to increase cinema audiences for Australian films.
Stage 2 will be an in-person conference event to be held on the final day of the Australian International Movie Convention, Friday 11 February, 2022.
The AFFS is an initiative of the Australian Feature Film Working Group (AFFWG), an informal group of industry representatives from the production, exhibition and distribution sectors including Sue Maslin AO, Adrianne Pecotic, Antony Ginnane, Claire Gandy, Holly Brimble, Lori Flekser, Marc Wooldridge, Sasha Close and working in consultation with advisor Gino Munari and key industry agencies and associations.
A full speaker program will be announced in due course but, for anyone in the business of making, distributing or exhibiting Australian feature films, be sure to save the dates.
Visit www.affsummit.com.au to register.