Last Cab to Darwin Stakeholder Report 2014/15 Stakeholder Report 2014/15 2 Table of Contents Message from Screen NSW ................................... 3 Year in Review ....................................................... 9 Strategic Plan 2013–15 ............................................ 5 Appendices ........................................................... 11 Organisational Chart .............................................. 6 Contact Details ..................................................... 31 Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee .... 7 Stakeholder Report 2014/15 3 Message from Screen NSW Together these international projects are estimated to generate more than $340 million in NSW production expenditure and create over 1400 jobs. Screen NSW supported feature films screened at Welcome to this year’s festivals around the world and many also achieved Stakeholder Report critical and commercial success. In 2014/15 Screen NSW continued to pursue George Miller’s highly anticipated Mad Max: Fury its goals of fostering creative excellence and Road screened at Cannes and went on to take maximising the State’s share of national over $370 million at the worldwide box office. The screen production. LEGO Movie, also produced at Animal Logic, won Best Animated Film at the BAFTAs and took over Competition for both development and production $460 million at the worldwide box office. funds was exceptionally strong this year. Unbroken — directed by Angelina Jolie Production Finance worth more than $4.3 million and Regional Filming Fund grants of Attracting international productions to NSW Hacksaw Ridge — directed by Mel Gibson $375,000 supported the production of 32 local film, television and interactive projects in NSW. NSW continued to attract footloose film Together these projects leveraged over $89 million projects, which are integral to the State’s screen in NSW production expenditure and supported production ecosystem. Through the NSW Film over 5,500 jobs. Regional filming locations and TV Industry Attraction Program (FIAP), included the Southern Highlands, Broken Hill, the Government secured three new animated Katoomba, Bourke, Tumut, Batlow and Carcoar. feature films from Warner Bros to be made by Animal Logic while Alex Proyas’s large budget fantasy epic Gods of Egypt moved into post- DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION FUNDING production. NSW also secured the independent The Early and Advanced Development programs US production, Truth, starring Cate Blanchett and supported 71 screen projects. Festival Travel Robert Redford, which shot for eight weeks in supported 15 projects to attend international Sydney, and the new Mel Gibson directed feature, festivals. The Aurora program supported four Hacksaw Ridge, which commenced filming in features, giving talented teams the chance to September 2015. work in an accelerated development process with an impressive list of Australian and international script advisors. Message from Screen NSW (cont’d) Stakeholder Report 2014/15 4 INDUSTRY SUPPORT Arab Film Festival Ruben Guthrie Support for emerging filmmakers remains an important focus for Screen NSW. This year three high quality short film projects were funded through the Emerging Filmmakers Fund, helping talented teams on the road to success. Two emerging producers were offered placements under the Producer Extension Placement and all projects receiving more than $100,000 in Production Finance were required to engage NSW practitioners in paid attachments. Screen NSW continued its strong support for industry and audience development activities. The Industry Development Fund provided $426,700 to FESTIVALS AND AWARDS ten organisations for conferences, workshops and NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED mentoring.In addition to support for Sydney Film Screen NSW supported television performed well Screen NSW CEO Maureen Barron resigned Festival, the Audience Development Fund provided at this year’s AACTA awards. The Code won six from her role, effective August 7 2015. She $141,000 to 12 organisations for public screenings, categories, including best TV drama series, while will be replaced by Courtney Gibson from festivals and touring events to more than 60 Devil’s Playground took out best telemovie/ mid-November 2015. mini-series and Tender won best TV documentary. venues across the state. Screen NSW will continue to work with industry to stimulate investment and Six Screen NSW supported films screened at the innovation, and boost the participation of NSW Sydney Film Festival — Ruben Guthrie, Last Cab To practitioners in the local and global industry. Darwin, Strangerland, The Daughter (selected for the official competition), Women He’s Undressed and the closing night sell out, Holding the Man. Holding the Man Strangerland was selected to screen at the Sundance Film Festival. The supernatural thriller Backtrack had its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Cut Snake premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Contemporary World Cinema program. Two short films funded through the Screen NSW Emerging Filmmakers Fund achieved international recognition: The Guests screened in competition at Cannes and Flat Daddy at Palms Springs International Shortfest. Stakeholder Report 2014/15 5 Strategic Plan 2013–15 How we work WE PRIORITISE THIS MEANS WE Who we are PEOPLE Respect people and their contributions Strive for professional behaviour at all levels Screen NSW is the state government agency established to assist, promote and strengthen Value diversity the screen industry in NSW so as to promote Collaborate and share information Australia’s cultural identity, encourage Appreciate the giving and receiving of constructive feedback employment in all aspects of screen production, encourage investment in the industry, enhance the Aim for mutual understanding industry’s export potential, encourage innovation STAKEHOLDERS Listen and respond and enhance quality in the industry. Through its funding programs and skilled staff Screen NSW: Make it easy to do business Keep our stakeholders informed ◆ supports the screen production sector to make quality projects that create jobs and grow stable Are open in our dealings businesses in the State; Are accessible ◆ provides advice and information to improve Demonstrate value-add in all that we do capability in the sector and enable industry Focus on strategically important issues practitioners to participate in the global industry; RESULTS Look to the future ◆ funds and promotes new forms of screen content and use of technology; Deliver services our stakeholders need Measure and report our performance ◆ collaborates with industry to create opportunities; and Have an in-depth understanding of the sector ◆ facilitates all aspects of filming in NSW to make it the most attractive State for screen production. Stakeholder Report 2014/15 6 Organisational Chart As at 30 June 2015 MINISTER FOR THE ARTS DIRECTOR GENERAL, NSW DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT, REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, INDUSTRY, INNOVATION & INVESTMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARTS NSW CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SCREEN NSW — MAUREEN BARRON EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, SCREEN NSW — BRYONY TESORIERO STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS PRODUCTION ATTRACTION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT PRODUCTION AFFAIRS AND INCENTIVES Manager Grainne Brunsdon Manager Mark Hamlyn Manager Karen Telfer Director Matt Carroll Project Officer Tracey Corbin-Matchett Senior Executive Kate Stone Officer Stephen Bull Senior Executive Cynthia Meyer Project Coordinator Ted Rose Executive Dylan Blowen Executive Lisa Scope Executive Lucy Taylor Coordinator Shannon Wheeler Executive Sue McCreadie Coordinator Bianca Ritchie Coordinator Renee Crea Screen NSW would like to acknowledge the following personnel who also contributed during 2014/15: David Clune, Kate Cunningham, Justin Donoghue, Sharne Hiscoke, Megan Simpson Huberman, Rachel Imms, Sheila Jayadev, Sam Jennings, Lynne Vincent McCarthy, Emma Moroney, Sandra Stockley. Stakeholder Report 2014/15 7 Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee AMIN PALANGI Appointed as Film and Television Industry Introduction to the Committee Advisory Committee Member to 20 July 2017 An Iranian born Australian filmmaker, and director of Palangi The Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee was established on Productions, Amin has made fictional and documentary 1 July 2014 and acts as an independent advisory body. Its functions are to films in Afghanistan, Iran and Australia. His debut feature advise the Minister for the Arts on the operation of the film and television documentary, Love Marriage in Kabul, was in competition industry in New South Wales as required, and to provide specific advice to and won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the the Department (through Screen NSW) as set out in regulations. Sydney Film Festival 2014. Amin is an AFTRS graduate and holds a PhD from Australian National University (ANU). He lectures at the University of Western Sydney, teaches at a number of film schools and runs the Persian International HELEN WRIGHT Film Festival in Australia. Re-appointed as Chair to 31 December 2015 SUE MURRAY Ms Wright holds a Bachelor of Laws from UNSW, attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business, was a Partner at Reappointed for three years to 31 December 2016 leading Australian law firm, Freehills, for 17 years, and has served on a number of commercial, university and public Ms Murray has worked in the film industry since 1977. She sector boards. She presently sits