september 24, 2006

In this issue:

1. Valhalla DA comments
2. National Film Sound Archive
3. Corrections
4. Chauvel news
5. More property news: Surry Hills Water site
6. Upcoming screenings

1. Valhalla DA comments

We requested from City Council an extension on the deadline for submissions regarding the Valhalla on the grounds that the community had only recently learned about the DA. The planner in charge says that he can't officially extend the deadline, but that he will accept objections until the time they need to produce their report - which will probably be in a few weeks. So if you or we get something in by the end of next week that would be fine. If you have thoughts or comments, let us know asap, or send them directly to Philip Jamieson, in reference to DA: D/2006/1384.

We understand that Chris Kiely, who ran the Valhalla successfully for many years, is keen to sell. We hope that we can find an approach which makes sense both for Chris and which preserves the possibility of the Valhalla being run again as a cinema sometime in the future.

2. National Film Sound Archive

As many of you will know, the National Film and Sound Archive is the storehouse of Australia's audiovisual heritage, including film, television, radio and recorded sound, with a national collection of almost 2 million items stretching from the late 1800s to today. In 2003, following a review of the NFSA and other cultural bodies, the Government made the NFSA a part of the AFC. The Government promised that the new arrangements would be beneficial for the NFSA and its constituencies, and would protect and enhance the identity, budget and integrity of the institution.

However, we understand that the Government has never made public the Review's terms of reference or its report - in much the same way that the Government has never spelled out the reasons for the merger of the OFLC into the Attorney General's office. In addition, as with the OFLC, stakeholders were not consulted about the merger. This is simply unacceptable. How can the community evaluate the rightness of such major reorganisations if the Government is unwilling to publish their rationales?

Many of these same NFSA stakeholders now feel strongly that the Government's claims about the merger's benefits have not come true, and cannot possibly come true - that the merger is fundamentally flawed. In a new statement, four of the stakeholder groups - the Australian Society of Archivists, the Australian Historical Association, the Friends of the NFSA and Archive Forum - cite UNESCO's best practice policies and argue that the key features of national "memory" institutions like the NFSA cannot be met under the AFC's act. That Act does not provide any basis for a national memory institution in these terms. It does not even recognise the existence of the NFSA as an entity, so its survival is consequently at risk. The NFSA is by nature a permanent entity, now under the control of an inherently impermanent body, without safeguards for its continuity beyond the AFC's life. In addition, a satisfactory, non-partisan, trustworthy regime for legal deposit of moving images and sound recordings is not possible under this Act.

Supporters of the NFSA are calling for an independent Review to test whether the promises and predictions made by Government in 2003 have been fulfilled, and - in the light of experience - to assess whether the public good has been served. We join with them in calling for this independent review. If you know of reasons why you believe this merger is a good idea - we'd like to hear them. And if you believe it's a bad idea, we'd like to hear that too - and we invite you to ">tell Minister Rod Kemp as well.

If you want to read more about the issue, we've set up for download in our read more section an executive summary, a media sheet, and the full text of a joint document from the four stakeholder groups on our site. You can also download Peter Garrett's press release on the NFSA. And you can look at the AFC's arguments in favour of the merger in their submission to DCITA's Review, and at the four stakeholder groups' response to the AFC. Indeed, the future of the NFSA (and the AFC) could very well be determined by DCITA's Review of Film Funding Arrangements, currently underway.

3. Corrections

A couple of mistakes in recent newsletters. First, the man who tirelessly programs the Art Gallery of NSW's film series is named Robert Herbert, not Hughes. Sorry Robert!

Also, we referred to the Valhalla as a single-screen cinema, which obviously ignored the second screen upstairs.

4. Chauvel news: Rose Byrne and DVD screenings

The Chauvel recently announced actress Rose Byrne as the first patron of the newly re-opened Chauvel Cinema.

Sydney-born and raised, Rose is one of Australia's leading actresses with success both at home and internationally. Rose commented, "I am very proud to be a patron of the new revitalized Chauvel Cinema and to have the opportunity to lend my support to this great project. The Chauvel Cinema is an important part of Sydney's cinematic heritage having supported the early work of some of Australia's most high profile filmmakers." It's great to see high-profile members of the industry getting behind independent cinema in NSW.

A few of our members have written to us that they were disappointed to discover that some of the Sunday/Wednesday retrospective films at the Chauvel were being screened on DVD. We raised the issue with Courtney Botfield, the Chauvel's GM, who told us that she understands people's hesitation about watching films projected on DVD, and that she is insistent, unless it is absolutely unachievable, that films are screened on film. She noted that In Cold Blood was one of only 2 or 3 films screened on DVD, and that she felt it was an important programming choice to play that film with Capote. Courtney also emphasised that the Chauvel has installed a very high-end new digital projector, and that she will definitely let people know in the future if a film is to be screened on DVD.

We appreciate her openness to feedback from the community, and would encourage you to contact us or the Chauvel directly with your comments both positive and constructively critical.

5. More property: Crown Street Reservoir in Surry Hills

The Crown Street Reservoir, which has repeatedly been used as a filming location, is to be sub-divided and sold for private development. This is happening after Sydney Water pressured the Heritage Office to reverse a previous listing which would have permitted sub-division only if the Crown Street side were leased, not sold.

We believe this is a loss and a shame. This site would be ideal for continued filming, community access office space, artist studios, even a cinematheque!

The application to sub-divide and sell is currently before City Council, but Council can not refuse or put conditions on an application from a State Minister unless the Minister agrees - hence the best Council can do at this point is to note our objection and take a last ditch stand to try and convince the State Government not to proceed with this sub-division - which was the Council resolution at their last meeting.

We believe the land is not yet for sale - so it is very important that the community lobby the State Government loud and clear that the land, in public ownership, should remain that way - if the State Government don't want this land it should be returned to the City of Sydney, who originally purchased it - not sold for private development.

Write to:

The Hon Morris Iemma MP, Premier of NSW
Level 40 Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place, Sydney, 2000
thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au
fax 9228-3934
phone 9228 5239

The Hon David Campbell MP, Minister for Water Utilities
GPO Box 5341, Sydney, 2001
david@campbell.minister.nsw.gov.au
fax 9228 3722
phone 9228 3777

You can also contact Patrick Watson (pwatson@unwired.com.au) who is starting a residents action group to oppose the sub-division and sale.

6. Upcoming screenings

We've heard about an intriguing sounding film event coming up: The Poetry Picture Show, ten poems about film and moving images, performed live by the poets, alongside the premiere of ten moving image adaptations of the poems. The online video and audio versions of the poems will be broadcast following the event and the national community radio broadcast of the poems.

The event stars Ivy Alvarez, Emma Jones, John Tranter, JS Harry, David Prater, Sarah Holland Batt, Felicity Plunkett, Briohny Doyle, Kate Lilley and Nathan Shepherdson. There will be popcorn, ushers and fantails.

Poetry Picture Show
Saturday 6th October
Presented by the Red Room Company
With support from Wales Arts International & the Australia Council
Time: 6pm
Cost: entry by donation
Where: Old Darlington School, Redfern (behind Sydney University's Wentworth Building, view map)
Web: www.redroomorganisation.org/wordpress/index.php

[archive] september 18, 2006

1. Free tickets to Chauvel for FLICs members
2. DCITA's film funding review
3. Popcorn Taxi screens Suburban Mayhem
4. Report from SAMAG's censorship panel
5. Valhalla DA on display until 21/9/06

1. Free tickets to the Chauvel for FLICs members

The Chauvel is currently hosting an Australian Film Feast - screenings of classic Aussie films including Muriel's Wedding, Newsfront, Head On, Caterpillar Wish, Macbeth, and many others. The Chauvel management has kindly extended invitations to FLICs members to attend the premiere of a new print of Goodbye Paradise with a special Q & A session with Australian film legend Ray Barrett and cast and crew, hosted by Jamie Leonarder.

This special event co-presented by the NFSA takes place on Sat Sept 16 @ 2 pm. If you're on this list you're a FLICs member, and members just need to tell the box office staff that they are from FLICs, and they will receive a free double pass.

In the meantime, you can check out the other offerings in the Australian Film Feast - it's a great chance to see Aussie stories on the big screen.

Goodbye Paradise
Dir Carl Schutlz, 1982, 119 mins, 35! mm, col. (M)
An insanely inventive film with Ray Barrett in a career-best performance as a sacked police commissioner turned shambling Gold Coast PI, trying to stay sober long enough to make sense of doggy off-shore oil deals, a White Shoe Brigade campaign to turn Queensland into an independent state, and a military coup. Director Carl Schultz revels (as anyone would) in writer Bob Ellis and Denny Lawrence’ script, and its Raymond Chandler-like plot, Bjelke-Petersen-era political in-jokes and wicked social satire.

Ray Barrett and other cast and crew members will be in attendance for a Q & A talking about the making of Goodbye Paradise. Barrett will also talk about a long career in Australian and UK film and TV that ranges from Hammer Horror and Thunderbirds to Don's Party and the mini-series After the Deluge.

2. DCITA's film funding review

A number of groups have published their submissions for the Government's major film funding review on their websites. That includes the AFC, the FTO, and FLICs, and you can find their and our submissions by following these links.

We've also been in communication with a group who has been lobbying for the separation of the NFSA from the AFC. We're currently digesting all these documents and ideas and will write to you about them - and about action you can take - in the near future.

In the meantime, if you have thoughts or feedback on these submissions or on any film funding review issues, please let us know!

3. Popcorn Taxi screens Suburban Mayhem

On Wednesday September 27th at 7:30 pm Popcorn Taxi presents an advance preview screening and Q & A for Paul Goldman's supercharged new black comedy Suburban Mayhem. The film centres around Katrina Skinner, a 19-year-old single mum who lives in a world of petty crime, fast cars, manicures and sex. A master manipulator of men, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even murder. When her father threatens to contact social services to take away her child, Katrina sets in motion a plan to wreak suburban mayhem that will leave a community in shock. After the screening director Paul Goldman and screenwriter Alice Bell will join guest interviewer Margaret Pomeranz for what promises to be a probing discussion about the film and its themes.

Like the Chauvel screenings above, this is a great chance to engage in dialogue about Aussie films with the film's makers - the sort of dialogue that is vital to a vibrant filmmaking and film-viewing culture.

4. Report from the SAMAG's censorship panel

A FLICs member reports back on the censorship panel, put on by the Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group, which took place a few weeks ago at the Australia Council:

"Stephen Sewell kicked things off with a pre-prepared appeal to consider the dangers of censorship. He went on to describe the type of censorship policies that the arts had experienced under the Howard 'regime' which led to a wider debate on Australian society - the effects of censorship and government control.

"David Marr was entertaining and eloquent, citing examples from his own journalstic experience and was particularly...critical of the narrow, selective information that the media provides Australian. He suggested journos had been so constrained and compromised by conservative media bosses and politicians (on both sides) that they have virtually given up asking anything that is challenging or worthy of investigating....

"These arguments...were put forward with a lot of passion and a few amusing anecdotes about the ins and outs (pun intended!) of examining restricted newsagency material (ie pornography). They all agreed that one of the main dangers with the curently unadventurous funding bodies, is the potential block to funding that more radical artists may find. Only art that supports the current political climate will receive financial backing.

"Again the panel pulled out a number of examples, of performances that had been blocked from government financial support but which got up anyway through fundraising/private sponsorship. Interestingly Stephen Sewell found this to be an oppressive damper on artists and resulted in a lack of quality, challenging work, but Liz Ann McGregor felt the exact opposite - that a poorly financed/supported arts culture operating under conservative forces spurred artists on to challenge the controlling forces of the day."

Thanks for the report - if any of you out there know of or attend events you think our members should hear about, please let us know.

5. Valhalla DA on display for 3 more days

Graham Quint from the National Trust writes that the current development application for the Glebe Valhalla which is on public exhibition till 21st September:

Graham tells us "The development proposal envisages keeping the shops and the facade and foyer and undertaking restoration of these areas but putting offices into the main auditorium and then subdividing and strata titling the offices. While from a strictly construction viewpoint this could be reversed the subdivision and strata titling would make it highly unlikely that the Valhalla could ever be converted back to a cinema at any future time."

If you want to make a comment on this DA, email Philip Jamieson, pjamieson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. Tell them in your own words what the Valhalla means to you, how important historic cinemas are, and why you believe the building should be retained in a form which could one day be a cinema again.

[archive] august 7, 2006

1. Minister for the Arts calls for commments on film industry
2. Cinémathèque activity in Sydney
3. Upcoming screenings


1. Minister for the Arts calls for commments on film industry

Helen Coonan, the Minister for the Arts and Sport, released an issues paper, "Review of Australian Government Film Funding Support" on 12 July. The paper calls for comment on Government support measures for the Australian film industry: in the context of the 2006–07 Budget, the Government wants to review the full range of support measures being provided to fund film production in Australia.

The purpose of the review is to ensure that the current film funding measures, and the structures which underpin them, are appropriate and effective. The review is broad ranging and all Australian Government programs for funding film are within its scope. The paper is available on the DCITA website, and covers topics from agency structures to tax incentives, from production issues to questions of distribution - and there's a fair amount of emphasis on making the industry more commercial viable.

Comments are due very soon, by August 11, the end of the week. We apologise for the late notice - we only found out about the paper a few days ago. Still, this is a great chance to have your views considered by the government. Submissions are invited both on matters covered in the paper, and on any other relevant issues.

FLICs is primarily concerned with increasing opportunities for the production and distribution of independent film, including greater support for digital technology as well as for independent screening venues. We're working on our submission now. If you have ideas about what we should say please let us know; we'll post our document as soon as we can in the "take action" section of our website.

Submissions should be addressed to:

Mr Peter Young
General Manager
Film and Digital Content
Dept. of Communications, Information Technology & the Arts
GPO Box 2154
CANBERRA ACT 2601
filmreview2006@dcita.gov.au

Submissions should be provided electronically and preferably in a format compatible with Microsoft Word 2003. Further information can be obtained from Rhonda Thorpe at 02 6271 1713 (fax 02 6271 1688, email rhonda.thorpe@dcita.gov.au)

Persons providing a submission should be aware that submissions may be made public and that they should, therefore, clearly indicate whether any aspect of the submission should be kept confidential. Where confidentiality is requested, submitters are encouraged to also provide a public version of submissions.

2. Cinémathèque activity in Sydney

While we're working to get a full-time cinémathèque happening in NSW, it's a good time to point out some of the cinémathèque activities which are here already.

The Art Gallery of NSW shows terrific film series on Wednesdays, Sundays, and some Saturdays, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Robert Hughes.

The new Chauvel has cinémathèque programs, often featuring hard-to-find short films, on Saturdays and Mondays.

And the WEA Sydney Film Society has been programming cinémathèque-type screenings in Sydney since 1961. For more information contact John Burke (9280 3376 or jonbev@iprimus.com.au) or Leth Maitland (9476 4770 or leth_maitland@hotmail.com). For other independent screenings, check out the "on screen" section of our website.

3. Upcoming Screenings

It's a good time for Australian feature releases, and two independent groups are screening some of the new Aussie features, along with a chance to meet the filmmakers.

Popcorn Taxi presents a sneak preview screening of 48 Shades, a fast and funny adaptation of the best selling novel by Nick Earls, a contemporary coming of age tale set in Brisbane that celebrates all those great things about youth. The film shows Monday, August 14th at 7:30pm at the Greater Union Bondi Junction and will include a Q&A with director Daniel LaPaine, producer Rob Marsala, and star Richard Wilson.

The Festivalists present a warm-up event for the 2nd Sydney Seniors Film Festival, which is open to anyone, not just seniors. The event is called A Weekend At The Flicks, and features tons of new Aussie films. Filmmaker Ann Turner will fly to Sydney for the premiere of Irresistible, starring Susan Sarandon and Sam Neill. Filmmaker Margot Nash will present her new feature, Call Me Mum - there's a still from it on the front page of our site. Also screening are previews of Opal Dream and Black Sun, the world premieres of several new Aussie shorts, and there are free filmmaking workshops. The festival takes place August 19th and 20th at the Randwick Ritz.

[archive] july 27, 2006

1. Chauvel re-opens; volunteers still needed to deliver programs
2. John Holden and David Throsby discuss cultural value
3. Upcoming screenings: doco Scared Sacred at the Chauvel

1. Chauvel re-opens; volunteers still needed to deliver programs

The Chauvel re-opened on July 24th with the world premiere screening of Hunt Angels, a semi-fictionalised account of real-life Australian filmmaker outlaws. Palace and the City of Sydney have put enormous resources into the Chauvel, and it shows in everything from the new foyer to the sound system to the program design. Due to the efforts of the Chauvel team, the diversity of films on screen in Sydney is expanding, and that's great. (You can download the program at www.chauvelcinema.net.au). We believe that Sydney audiences are hungry for this diversity, just as we believe they would support a publicly-funded cinematheque.

The re-opening has received a fair bit of press. Jonathan and Courtney Botfield were interviewed separately by the good folks of the Radio National breakfast show. You can listen to it here. The story was also covered on the ABC news - although their coverage devoted much more time to the opening film than to the cinema itself. This quite general piece appeared in the Herald on the weekend.

In addition, the Lord Mayor made a speech about the importance of the Chauvel and of Australians telling Australian stories. Clover particularly lauded the efforts by FLICs and the community to save the Chauvel, saying that she received more letters about the closure than about any other arts issue during her tenure. You can read the full text of that speech on our site.

The Chauvel is still looking for volunteers to distribute programs in return for free tickets. If you're heading there, you might want to check first to make sure someone's at the office. You can call 9361 5465 to double check if someone's there. And remember to identify yourself as a FLICs member when show you up!

One thing we haven't read about in the press is the removal of the "Sydney Film Centre" moniker from the glass doors leading into the Town Hall. Some of the groups that formerly made up the Sydney Film Centre are no longer there, including D/Lux Media Arts; and others, including Women in Film and Television, have moved to the Clock Tower in the Town Hall. If you have any thoughts or information about these moves we'd be keen to hear about it.

2. John Holden and David Throsby discuss cultural value

The Australia Council for the Arts is presenting a discussion on "Why Government and Business Should Invest in the Arts" featuring John Holden (Head of Culture at UK think tank Demos) and Professor David Throsby (Macquarie University). Debates such as these are vital for examining the reasons behind our current cultural situation, and for figuring out ways forward.

Tuesday 1 August 2006, 5pm to 7pm
The Rover Thomas Auditorium
Australia Council for the Arts
372 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills

RSVP to Natasha Eves 02 9215 9175 or evesn@ozco.gov.au by 25 July. Please don't RSVP to us at FLICs!

John Holden is an internationally recognised expert on cultural policy. He is the author of several important publications including Cultural Value and the Crisis of Legitimacy and Capturing Cultural Value.

Prof David Throsby is well-known for his work in the field of economics and culture. Over the past thirty years, he has researched and written extensively across issues of cultural policy, economics and the arts and education.

3. Upcoming screenings: doco Scared Sacred at the Chauvel

If you know of any independent film screenings in Sydney or NSW that you'd like our list to know about, you can send us information about them. We can't guarantee to mention every screening, but we'll do our best. And if you have an image from your film, we may be able to put it on the front page of our website.

We're particularly keen to mention the following screening because the film is distributed by Gil Scrine Films, and Gil and Teri from Gil Scrine Films were instrumental in calling the public meeting which led to the formation of FLICs and the campaign to save the Chauvel. Appropriately enough they are screening a new documentary at the Chauvel. Scared Sacred visits the 'Ground Zeros' of the planet, and asks if it's possible to find hope in the darkest moments of human history. The film has been an audience favourite at festivals all over the world and garnered numerous awards including the Special Jury Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Screening Tuesday, August 1 at 6.00pm
Featuring a Q&A with filmmaker Velcrow Ripper & guest Stuart Rees, director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
At the Chauvel Cinema, Cnr Oxford St & Oatley Rd, Paddington
Tickets can be purchased from the cinema from July 27

[archive] july 16, 2006

1. Reminder about website launch
2. Chauvel calls for volunteers to deliver programs

1. Reminder about website launch

The FLICs website is live, so from now on news emails will arrive from info@flics.org.au. We encourage you to put that address in your email program so that our news doesn't go into the junk folder!

2. Chauvel calls for volunteers to deliver programs

To get the word out about The Chauvel re-opening this July 27th, Palace is looking for locally based volunteers to help with a residential letterbox drop. Their target areas are East Sydney, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, and Paddington, and they're offering cinema passes for volunteers.

If you're interested, show up at the Chauvel from July 14th, during business hours, name your streets, and they'll give you the materials to distribute. It'll be first-come, first-served, so get there early to avoid disappointment. You can check that someone is in the office by calling 9361 5465.

[archive] may/june 2006

1. FLICs launches our website
2. Office of Film and Literature Classification update
3. Chauvel re-opening on July 27; Brisbane's Schonell closing
4. Cinémathèque debate features at recent film festivals
5. GetUp.org's success with the ABC; take action with GetUp to oppose media monopolies

1. FLICs launches our website

We're excited to say that we're about to launch our website. We'll send an official launch email in a few days from info@flics.org.au. Please put that address in your email program so that our newsletters don't end up in your junk folder!

2. Office of Film and Literature Classification Update

Your letter-writing campaign had a strong effect on the way the OFLC merger was dealt with at Senate Estimates last month. Senator Joe Ludwig (Labor, QLD) and Senator Linda Kirk (Labor, SA) asked the questions we hoped they would, including how the merger will affect the OFLC's functioning, why the merger is needed in the first place, and why it's happened with no community consultation.

Not surprisingly, the government maintained that the independence of the Classification Boards will not be compromised. But we just don't know whether this is true, because the government has neither released nor, as we understand it, finalised details of the new arrangements. The only way to know whether the changes are more than simply administrative would be to hear from the relevant stakeholders, but the government says they don't need to hear from the stakeholders, because the changes are purely administrative. It's a Catch-22.

Still, the Labor Senators asked the OFLC Director to report back on the changes when they are finalised. We hope that they will follow up on this request and pressure the government to provide complete anwers - if you do as well, you can email Senator Kirk and Senator Ludwig and say so. At the same time, we encourage you to thank them for their diligent questioning!

For more information on the Senate Estimates proceedings, including what happens next and what you can do, head to the read more and the take action section of our site.

3. Chauvel re-opening on July 27; Brisbane's Schonell Cinema closing

Palace has announced their grand re-opening date. We hope we can speak on behalf of all the Chauvel's fans when we say that we're very excited about the resources Palace and the City are putting into the space, and we look forward to hearing more about future programs and the opening night film for July 27.

One cinema re-opens and another one closes: With the introduction of voluntary student unionism on Australian campuses, student organisations are being forced to radically rationalise their services and the Schonell Cinema at the University of Queensland is set to join the list of casualties. The Student Union is looking for a suitable lessee, and if one is not found, the cinema will close as early as this month and Brisbanites will lose not just a screening venue, but also an important piece of the city's film history. For further information, check our website, or contact Gil Scrine: gil@gilscrinefilms.com.au.

FLICs commiserates with Brisbane's film fans. The closure of the Schonell is yet another sign of a screening culture which is in a state of disrepair.

4. Cinémathèque debate features at recent film festivals

At both the Sydney Film Festival's Melville retrospective, and at the German Film Festival's panel on the future of the art film, the first issue on many minds was the lack of a NSW cinémathèque. Film professionals and scholars from Troy Lum, of Hopscotch films, to Dr. Adrian Danks, formerly of the Melbourne cinémathèque, have bemoaned the fact that Sydney filmmakers and film lovers do not have regular access to the great works of film history, presented as they were meant to be seen, on film, on the big screen.

FLICs has already met once with NSW Arts Minister Bob Debus about funding a cinémathèque, and the Minister has committed to meeting with us again at the end of 2006. In addition, FLICs is thrilled to report that Cate Blanchett, through her agent, has expressed support and a willingness to help with our efforts to establish a NSW cinémathèque. Cate has been outspoken on the issue in recent times, and we're incredibly grateful to her for taking a stand. We'll keep you posted on this developing relationship.

For more information on cinémathèques, including what exactly they are, what the efforts have been to establish them in the past in NSW, what sort of efforts are currently underway, and information on the cinémathèque Working Party, head to our website, www.flics.org.au.

5. GetUp.org's success with the ABC; take action with GetUp to oppose media monopolies

GetUp.org.au reports that their petition drive garnered more than 75,000 signatures, and that the ABC will now get an extra $88.2 million over the next three years. That's an extra $30 million to produce Australian content, an extra $13.2 million to enhance regional and local programming and an extra $45 million to upgrade equipment and infrastructure. These additional funds still fall short of the recommendations from the independent consultant KPMG, but they far surpass anything experts were predicting seven weeks ago when GetUp launched their campaign. ABC Chairman Donald McDonald calls this the best budget outcome for the ABC in more than 20 years - reminding us, and our politicians, what Australians can accomplish when we work together.

Congratulations and thanks to GetUp for their campaign, and to all of you who wrote to your representatives!

We haven't heard anything about Senator Coonan's decision to remove the staff position from the ABC Board - but we are certainly dismayed by the appointment of Keith Windschuttle to the Board. If you know anything about either situation, please let us know. Here's the link to the Sydney Morning Herald's original article on Senator Coonan's actions. If you want to write Minister Coonan directly, her email is minister@dcita.gov.au - but if you ask her to reconsider her decision about the board elections we encourage you to also thank her for increasing the ABC's budget!

In the meantime, GetUp has launched a campaign opposed to media ownership monopolies. We encourage you to head to their site and support this important fight.

[archive] april 2006

1. Avoca Beach cinema closes
2. The Chauvel re-opens for the Festival of German Films
3. Somersault director Cate Shortland launches filmmaker's studio
4. FLICs meets with new Chauvel management
5. Valhalla sells for office space

1. Avoca Beach cinema closes

The Avoca Beach cinema closed at the end of April in preparation for being turned into a multiplex. Filmmakers and community members are concerned that redevelopment plans will turn what now stands as a charming and niche art house venue into a multi purpose business convention centre and an evangelical church, an outreach arm of the local Coastlife church, founded by Brian Houston of Hillsong.

There is a very strong argument being mounted against the plans for redevelopment. To find out more information and to review the plans, go to:

http://www.avoca-beach-theatre-story.org.au

The issue of the cinema's redevelopment raises serious questions about the state of NSW independent cinemas and the need for a considered nurturing of screen culture in NSW.

2. The Chauvel re-opens for the Festival of German Films

The Chauvel is back! On April 20th the Festival of German Films kicked off with an opening night screening and party for the Chauvel's audience of film lovers, filmmakers and guests from Sydney and around the world.

It was a great relief to see the Chauvel re-open. The director of the Goethe Institute, Klaus Krischok, spoke very movingly about the importance of the Chauvel to the film community in Sydney. He said that having the festival at the Chauvel was like returning home.

These sentiments were echoed by Councillor Robyn Kemmis in her keynote speech. Councillor Kemmis recognised the efforts of the community and of FLICs, noting that it was at the community's behest that City Council passed the Chauvel Motion, giving in principle support for a rental subsidy to any potential lessee of the Chauvel for the purpose of maintaining opportunities for new Australian films, quality art house cinema, cinémathèque programming and other cinema culture activities.

Councillor Kemmis stated unequivocally that the plan put forward by the Palace Group as the new managers of the Chauvel met the terms of this Motion. In addition, she gave a strong indication of the Chauvel's cultural importance to the City and to the City's commitment to the Chauvel as a centre for screen culture.

Now it's our turn: for the Chauvel to continue to prosper into the future, the film community must turn out to support it. Last night's screening of The Red Cockatoo was a politically charged drama about a couple of beatnik-artist-wannabes in the months before the building of the Berlin Wall. It was an engaging combination of politics and pop culture, and a brilliant beginning to the festival.

We encourage you all to check out the program for the festival at www.goethe.de/ozfilmfest06 and to attend both films and discussion sessions. It's not just watching films that is important, but talking about them as well - that's a key way for us to raise the level of critical thinking about our own films and our visual culture.

After this festival, the Chauvel will close again until next month, when it will open for a brief festival of German films about football. Then the cinemas will undergo a renovation in preparation for a major re-opening in July or August.

3. Somersault director Cate Shortland launches filmmaker's studio

Metro brings you the opportunity to hear Cate Shortland discuss visual ideas and filmmaking in conversation with Andrew Urban.

Cate Shortland, director of the award winning Australian feature film Somersault - the first project from FTO's Aurora Script Development Workshop and a recipient of Production Investment and Script Development funding from the FTO - will be led in conversation by Andrew Urban at Metro Screen's first Filmmaker's Studio event, April 20.

Cate will screen sections from her short film Flowergirl, feature film Somersault and two part TV series The Silence - also a recipient of Production Investment and Script Development funding from the FTO. Find out about Cate's film influences, how she got her start and how she works as a filmmaker. Audience members will also be given the opportunity to ask questions in the question and answer time provided.

As this is the launch of the Filmmaker's Studio the night will be extended to include food, wine and a chance to network and discuss the evenings conversation.

4. FLICs meets with new Chauvel management

FLICs had a productive meeting with Courtney Botfield, new general manager of the Chauvel.

Courtney will be programming and booking the films at the Chauvel, while the Palace programming staff will be negotiating the terms of film screenings. However Courtney stressed that the Chauvel will be different from the other venues in the Palace chain - she stated that the Chauvel will not show any films showing at any other Palace Cinemas in Sydney. The Chauvel will focus on first-run screenings, retrospectives, and film festivals. Courtney mentioned the possibility that she will bring in guest curators for some programming.

It is currently unclear to what extent the Chauvel will host any cinémathèque programming - and particularly whether any cinémathèque offerings will be programmed by Palace themselves, or whether the Chauvel will host the programs curated by the AFC and the Archive. We at FLICs continue to believe that a full-time cinémathèque is needed in Sydney, and we will keep you posted on our progress towards achieving this long-term goal.

Courtney emphasised a desire to make the Chauvel accessible and welcoming, in terms of availability, cost, and feeling. In order to facilitate this, one of the cinemas will not be booked far in advance, so that screenings can be arranged without too much advance preparation. She also spoke of a desire to have free screenings, particularly of new Australian work, though the details are still to be worked out.

As mentioned above, the Chauvel will undergo renovations after the two German film festivals. These renovations will focus on everything from new paint to the opening up of the office space on the top floor. This space will eventually be used for drinks, receptions, exhibitions, and other events.

FLICs is encouraged by the philosophies expressed by Courtney and by Palace, and look forward to the re-opening of the cinema.

5. Valhalla sells for office space

On April 1st the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Valhalla cinema in Glebe sold for $2.95 million to W Property for conversion into offices.

The cinema closed its doors in August 2005, around the same time that the Chauvel cinema in Paddington also ceased operations.

Whilst there is some consultation that the new owners plan to keep the exterior and foyer in an office development aimed at the "creative sector," FLICs remains disappointed by the confirmation that the former art house cinema has definitely shown its last film.

The Valhalla was unique in Sydney, thriving as an avant-garde cinema for decades that provided audiences with challenging, vibrant and diverse programming that film goers would be hard pressed to find in cinemas around Sydney today.

Local cafes, galleries and community halls have recently been stepping in to showcase the kinds of films once seen at the Valhalla.

FLICs recognises the creativity of the film community in the face of such limited exhibition venues. The changing climate of exhibition opportunities is reason for the State and Federal Governments to review their policy structures and funding levels for screen culture venues across the state: the only way to truly reap the benefits of investment in our production and training industries is to ensure there are sufficient venues in which our local and ground breaking international product can be screened, debated and thus improved.