Written by Joe Jackson on Jun 10, 2022. Posted in General Interest

Make It Australian campaign calls for more Australian narratives on screen

A campaign named Make It Australian is calling for more Australian stories on screen. Organisers are asking supporters to email federal MPs and senators, lobbying for stronger rules that support and promote Australian narratives within the country’s screen industries. To mark the campaign’s national launch, an expert panel at Sydney Film Festival 2022 discussed the social and economic value of these Australian stories for the screen sector and beyond.

 

 

“While the creative industries in places like the UK have had a top billing within their government’s economic agenda for quite some time, Australia’s economy has been predominantly based around other things, such as resources and agriculture,” explains Matthew Deaner, CEO of Screen Producers Australia (SPA). “We are slowly catching up with other screen sectors, and the Make It Australian campaign is designed to ensure that the parliamentarians recognise and support the filmmakers and producers who are an important part of our nation’s creative industries.”

 

 

SPA established Make It Australian in 2017 alongside the Australian Directors’ Guild (ADG), Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) and Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA). Together, the organisations want to see a vibrant, sustainable screen sector that helps to enhance the economic, social, and cultural life of Australia in 2022.

 

 

New safety guidelines are in place, and the screen industry is ready to play a pivotal role as Australia’s national economy continues to recover in the aftermath of Covid-19. However, meaningful action on content rules for streaming platforms is needed to address the decline in Australian stories on screens. Campaigners want to highlight that the federal government’s action is needed to ensure the industry’s potential for intellectual property growth and export value as well as cultural contribution is not put at risk at a moment when the country needs it most and the rewards are so big.

 

 

“We need to make sure that the systems of support that are currently in place for producers continue to evolve with the needs of our filmmakers and remain helpful,” adds Deaner. “From a business perspective, we want to realise the potential of producing Australian-made, English-language content for the global market. It is more important than ever that we keep our screen sector at the top of our new government’s agenda as we seek useful reforms and strong policy frameworks.”

 

 

PANEL DETAILS

Welcome: Matthew Deaner (SPA CEO)

Remarks from Minister: The Hon Tony Burke MP (Minister for the Arts, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations)

Acknowledgement of Country / Introduction: Leah Purcell (Actor, Director, Producer, Writer)

Speaker: Minister for the Arts, Hon Tony Burke MP

Panel Moderator: Van Badham (Writer, Activist)

Panel member: Kriv Stenders (Director)

Panel member: Monica O'Brien (Producer, Writer, Director)

Panel member: Justine Clarke (Actor)

Panel closer: Gillian Armstrong (Director)

 

Thursday, 09 June 2022

Sydney Film Festival Hub @ Lower Town Hall, 483 George St., Sydney NSW 2000

 

Supporters can keep up with the latest news by following Screen Producers Australia on social media, or join the conversation with the hashtag #MakeItAustralian.

 

Images: Angus Bell Young, SPA_MIA_SFF

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