IN FILM Newsletter of the Australian Film Societies Federation Inc 28 February 2012

Transcription

1 IN FILM Newsletter of the Australian Film Societies Federation Inc 28 February 2012 Website a big step forward The headline news this month is the launch of our new website: Huge thanks to James Sandry and Jonathan Sykes, who have been working on the project for weeks. Most of this issue is taken up with the much more mundane subject of finding your distributor, and we hope it helps. But first, here s James: I would like to announce the launch of our website: When I became president, I talked to many film society people about the best way the Federation could help them. Some people told me that they wanted more information about running a film group; others said they wanted to network with other societies. Most wanted more members. Our new website is designed to do three main things: 1. Provide useful information to film societies. It features a wide range of information, including a guide to film distributors, a summary of copyright issues and the latest edition of the 16mm Projectionists Manual. 2. Provide a forum where societies can interact on common problems and issues through commenting on posts, replying to other people s comments and keeping everyone up to date on their activities. 3. Provide an internet presence for societies who do not have their own websites, and to expand the online profiles of those who do. These days, if people can t find you with Google you are practically invisible. If anyone is looking for your group online they will find it, because every member society has an entry. (If you would like to change your entry, let us know). So welcome to and check it out (see the tip below). Have a look at your entry, and feel free to leave comments and information so we can keep improving it to help you in any way possible. It is your website. It is there to serve you. James Sandry President Here s a Tip When you Google: Google will display ausfilm.com.au and suggest you search for ausfilm.org.au. Click on the suggested name and the website will appear. According to the people who know about these things, this is happening because the site is new. After a while it will accumulate enough hits to merit recognition in its own right. Hit away! The great detective mystery the right distributor The programming committee has put in the hard yards. Your group s screening program has been worked out and everyone is happy, more or less. All the heavy lifting has been done. Now all you have to do is find out if the non-theatrical screening rights are available and make the bookings. A piece of cake, right? Well, it can be, if your program is securely anchored in the mainstream, or you stick to recent releases. But if you like to see films that are a bit different, and maybe a few years old, this is where the work really starts. So to help cut down the time you might spend looking for distributors, here s a quick guide. It won t solve all your problems, but it will help you off to a good start. Roadshow and Amalgamated Movies take up a lot of space because they both represent other companies, which are also listed. Although the National Film and Sound Archive s Non Theatrical Lending Collection (NTLC) is not a commercial distributor, it is included because it has a growing collection of titles that will interest many societies. Let us know how the guide can be improved.

2 Accent Film Entertainment Website: George Papadopolous, Phone: (03) or Amalgamated Movies Last month we published some of Amalgamated Movies contact details. Here is their full list. New South Wales: (02) ; Australian Capital Territory: (02) ; Victoria: (07) ; (07) Queensland: (07) ; (07) Tasmania: (07) ; (07) South Australia: (08) ; (08) Western Australia: (08) ; (08) Northern Territory: (07) ; (07) Amalgamated Movies represent the following companies: Columbia Screen Gems Madman Sony Ronin Films Tristar Anchor Bay Entertainment Website: Simone Murray, Phone: on (02) or Antidote Films (Gil Scrine) Website: Ruari Elkington, Phone: (07) or Aztec International Website: Paulette Arvizu, Phone: or Beyond Home Entertainment Website: Jason Behan, Phone: (03) or Chapel Distribution Website: chapeldistribution.com Mark Spratt, Phone: (03) or

3 Curious Distributors Australia Website: curiousfilm.com Sarah Noonan, Phone: (02) or Jump Street Films Website: Jamie Bialkower, Phone: (03) or National Film and Sound Archive (Non Theatrical Lending Collection) Website: Phone: (02) , Palace Films Website: Tony Zrna, Phone: (03) or Pinnacle Films (Allinteractive) Website: pinnaclefilms.com.au Rhiannon Anderson, Phone: (07) or com.au Potential Films Website: Mark Spratt: Phone: (03) or Rialto Distribution Pty Ltd Website: Hayley Weston, Phone: or Rialto s Caroline Whiteway recently sent us the following changes to upcoming release dates: No 18 April (was 21 March) A Lady in Paris 9 May (was 18 April) Fill the Void August TBC (was June) Roadshow Non Theatrical NSW and ACT: Chrystal Remington, Phone: (02) or chrystalremington.com.au Qld, far northern NSW and NT: John Anderson, Phone: (07) , john_anderson@roadshow.com.au Roadshow represents the following companies: 20th Century Fox Magna Becker MGM Buena Vista Miramax Dendy Newvision Dreamworks Palace Films Footprint Paramount (Incl some Hopscotch Transmission films) Hoyts Distribution Pixar Icon Rialto Entertainment Roadshow Ent tainment UIP United Artists Universal Village Roadshow Walt Disney Pictures Warner Brothers Sharmill Films Website: Katherine Thornton, Phone: (03) or distribution@sharmillfilms.com.au

4 Shock Entertainment Website: Joshua Hibberd, Phone: (03) or Titan View Website: Claire Phillips, Phone: (02) or Umbrella Entertainment Website: Kim Lewis, Phone: (03) or Blacktown program Roger Swanson at Blacktown City Libraries Film Club has sent us their formidable program. All screenings are at 2.30 pm in the Library Function Centre, on the 3rd Sunday of each month, except September. The year is divide into three themes, The Return of the Leading Man (April to June); The Evolving Musical (July to October) and Delusions of Grandeur (November 2013 and February 2014). The program comprises: The Return of the Leading Man 21 st April, 2013 The Grapes of Wrath Henry Fonda stars in Darryl Zanuck s ultra-realistic production of John Steinbeck s classic novel. Winner of 2 Academy awards in th May, 2013 Mutiny on the Bounty (1936) Charles Laughton and Clark Gable star as Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian. Winner of Best picture in th June, 2013 Gran Torino (2009) Clint Eastwood directs himself as a grumpy retiree who doesn t take kindly to Asian immigrants in his neighbourhood. But things soon change! The odd title refers to his beloved muscle car. The Evolving Musical 21 st July, 2013 Singin in the Rain David Stratton s all-time favourite movie is now on the big screen for you to enjoy. 18 th August The Sapphires Last year s crowd pleaser is a combination of comedy, inspiration and romance with an unbeatable Soul music soundtrack. 20 th October Once (2007) Do not miss the Best music film of our generation as a Dublin busker and Czech single mother bond through their own composed music over several intense days. If you thought you hated all musicals then I challenge you not be captivated by this one! Real musicians, natural performances and original compositions. I even bought the soundtrack. Delusions of Grandeur 17 th November The Man Who Would be King (1975) Based on the story by Rudyard Kipling, Sean Connery and Michael Caine are red coated British sergeants of the Empire who set out to become kings of their own making in a remote Asian province. A swashbuckling morality tale directed by the great John Huston. 16 th February, 2014 Aguirre, Wrath of God (1972) Independent German cinema from the bizarre Werner Herzog. His Fitzcarraldo is better known but I think this is his best. The story of a power-hungry Conquistador in search of the mythical El Dorado gold in 16 th century South America. Klaus Kinski is the demented leader who engineers his own descent into the heart of darkness. It s strange and eerie mood has been compared to Coppola s Apocalypse Now. Mesmerising!

5 For Sale Easton ex-professional 16mm chain drive winder. One winder only, does not include idler unit. $20 plus postage. Contact: at Wollongong WEA Film Society. (Picture at left illustration only sale item not counterbalanced) This issue of IN FILM was prepared and distributed by President, James Sandry, and Secretary, Michael Lines-Kelly. We welcome any inquiries or material suitable for publication related to film, society activities, programs and other film-connected news. Please keep contributions to fewer than 400 words. Please send copy in Word format by to Inquiries to James Sandry at: Phone: or Michael Lines-Kelly at , or ,