Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund shows it worth in its inaugural funding round

Established by Premier of South Australia Hon Mike Rann in July 2003, the AFFIF is fast establishing itself as a prestigious investment partner, with a multi award winning and innovative slate of projects delivered from its inaugural biennial round.

The first feature film to receive investment was Sarah Watt's Australian hit Look Both Ways, which had its world premiere as the Opening Night film for the 2005 Adelaide Film Festival [AFF]. Yesterday Look Both Ways was awarded the Toronto Film Festival’s Discovery Award for $15,000 which was voted on by 750 members of the international media. This follows its Audience Awards at both the AFF and Brisbane International Film Festival [where it also won the FIPRESCI prize for best film]. Look Both Ways has been critically acclaimed and has been performing strongly in its first few weeks of release in Australia. Co-investors Film Finance Corporation, SA Film Corporation, SBS Independent, Film Victoria.

Each of the three 2005 AFFIF recipient short films have received acclaim:
• experimental dance short NASCENT, directed by Gina Czarnecki with Australian Dance Theatre scooped the award for delegates award for best film at IMZ Dance Screen Festival [Brighton UK] and an honorable mention at Napolo Danza [Naples Italy] – co-investor Forma UK
• animation short FRITZ GETS RICH by the People’s Republic of Animation, has been nominated for the AFI best animation award and screened at the prestigious 2005 Annecy International Festival of Animation – co-investors SA Film Corporation & Australian Film Commission
• drama short AZADI directed by Anthony Maras was nominated for best short film at the Sydney Film festival’s Dendy Award and has been nominated for best short film for the AFI Awards, and for the ATOM Awards – co-investor Australian Film Commission

Groundbreaking crossplatform project usmob.com.au has also been nominated for an ATOM Award this year and the AFFIF is delighted to announce it has recently committed funds to support the development of the project into feature length project, for world premiere at the 2007 Adelaide Film Festival. Co-investors: AFC/ABC Broadband Fund, Telstra Broadband, SA Film Corporation

Hatchling Production’s feature length documentary I Told You I Was Ill – Spike Milligan, directed by multi award winning Cathy Henkel is enjoying a successful tour of the East Coast of Australia following sold out screenings across the Australian film festival circuit. Co-investors Film Finance Corporation, SA Film Corporation

The AFFIF is a co-investor in Rolf de Heer’s eagerly anticipated project TEN CANOES which is currently in post production. AFF will present its world premiere in Adelaide, as part of the Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts 2006 program – a fitting partnership given the 2002 AFA’s remarkable commissioning strand which included de Heer’s The Tracker and which inspired Premier Rann to establish the AFFIF.

“It’s really encouraging to see the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund of $500,000 per year paying dividends so quickly,” says Premier Mike Rann. “I decided it was important to support Australia’s local film makers and encourage more production here at home.

“Clearly audiences are endorsing the SA Government’s initiative and filmmakers have left viewers eager for more. That’s got to be a good thing for the next Adelaide Film Festival,” says Premier Rann.