Screen Queensland (SQ) CEO Tracey Vieira today announced the 2015-16 screen culture funding recipients with grants totalling over $1 million going to 32 festivals and screen culture-related activities across Queensland.
‘Screen Queensland is focused on a screen culture program that enriches the cultural landscape of our state,’ said Tracey Vieira.
‘This funding enables greater accessibility to all Queenslanders and engages regional communities that may not have otherwise have film at arm’s reach.’
Queensland Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queenslanders would enjoy a big year of statewide film fare for cinema fans.
‘Festivals can make a big difference to local regions, attracting visitors, boosting the economy and supporting local jobs,’ the Premier said.
‘We only need to look at the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival which was in jeopardy following Winton’s devastating fire in June, due to the loss of their venue and equipment. The community rallied together, with additional support from my Government to ensure the festival went ahead as planned.
‘I’m happy to see this funding support the Winton festival again in 2015, along with other film festivals for this financial year across the state,’ she said.
SQ’s screen culture funding program plays a dual role in that it both celebrates the cultural diversity that co-exists in every part of Queensland plus stimulates screen consumption.
‘These screen culture activities increase the demand for more local content, supporting the growth of the state’s screen industry and meaning more jobs for Queenslanders,’ said Ms Vieira.
‘Our support goes deeper than the bottom line as we engage with local communities by offering workshops, masterclasses and other events.
‘This is an opportunity for Queenslanders to come together to tell incredible stories and learn how to get them on screen. It can help us to foster the emergence of new talent, new skills and new voices.’
This year, Screen Queensland will partner with the Brisbane Festival bringing film to the arts festival for the first time.
“We are excited to be partnering with the Brisbane Festival through Backyard Cinema which will take the Brisbane Festival to all Queenslanders by providing a film that can be downloaded to watch in the backyard, with friends or at a community screening on September 20, regardless of where the backyard is; and also through a Female Gaze, a screening program at Palace Centro Cinemas in New Farm that explores the notion of women’s influence in cinema.’
Some of the other regions supported in 2015-2016 include: the Gold Coast Film Festival; Gympie’s Heart of Gold Film Festival; Mackay’s International Film Festival screening foreign films that would otherwise not be accessible in this region; Cairns’ Understory Film Festival; the Caloundra Fringe Film Festival; and other touring festivals that reach regions such as Bundaberg, Toowoomba, Charters Towers, Townsville, Gladstone, Cloncurry, Dijarra, Cooktown, Barcaldine, Nambour, Airlie Beach, Trinity Beach and Maryborough. Other festivals supported include the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival now in its sophomore year, the Brisbane Queer Film Festival and the Iranian and Alliance Françoise French Film Festivals.
‘Our screen culture program inspires discussion and greater understanding, informing audiences’ and bringing insight into others cultures, traditions and values,’ said Ms Vieira.
‘It adds to the economic well-being of our state as it opens up relationships, opportunities and doors for Queensland practitioners to work with other foreign territories.
‘This is part of our vision for Queensland to become the number one Australian state for screen production.’
Please click here to view the Screen Culture recipients for 2015/2016.
