ANNUAL CONFAB EMBODIES LOCAL SECTOR FILM FERVOUR

The 68^th edition of the Australian International Movie Convention (AIMC) is in progress on Australia’s idyllic Gold Coast tourist mecca. This annual coming-together of the exhibitor and distributor sectors is one-part boozing-&-schmoozing party time and one-part dissection of the key issues impacting the cinema-going culture of this nation.

Following the charity golf challenge that traditionally kicks off the AIMC, the event opened in earnest at the Jupiters Casino resort Screening Theatre (pictured, above) with a splash of Hollywood hoopla last night, Sunday October 13. The Australian premiere of Tom Hanks real-life thriller, Captain Phillips, courtesy of Sony Pictures, proved a heart-pounding success; attendees happily flocked to the DeLuxe Open Bar for some nerve-soothing cocktails that ensured the party atmosphere was maintained well into the wee hours.

The Paul Greengrass directed film kickstarts a week of much-anticipated screenings, always a highlight of the Convention. In 2013, the vast delegate contingent will see advance screenings of Universal’s Last Vegas (Dir: John Turteltaub; stars, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, Michael Douglas); Hopscotch Entertainment’s Philomena (Dir: Stephen Frears; stars, Judi Dench, Steve Coogan); Warner/Roadshow’s August Osage County (Dir: John Wells; stars, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts); 20^th Century Fox’s Enough Said (Dir: Nicole Holofcenter; stars, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, James Gandolfini); Pinnacle Film’s Dallas Buyer’s Club (Dir: Jean-Marc Vallee; stars, Matthew McConnaughey, Jared Leto); Icon’s Filth (Dir: Jon S Baird; stars, James McAvoy, Imogen Poots); Paramount’s Bad Grandpa (Dir: Jeff Tremaine; star, Johnny Knoxville); Walt Disney’s Delivery Man (Dir: Ken Scott; stars, Vince Vaughan, Chris Pratt); and, Studio Canal’s Cuban Fury (Dir: James Griffiths; stars, Nick Frost, Ian McShane).

Traditionally, the titles selected for AIMC showings are those from which the distributors hope to gain the most positive word-of-mouth, translating into broader bookings amongst the exhibitor sector.

In addition to the marketing might of the Hollywood majors, the Australian Independent Distributors Association (AIDA) is afforded a major evening function during which execs present first-glimpses of their product for the year ahead. These include Becker Film Group (set to release in 2014 the Toni Collette/Simon Pegg project, Hector and The Search for Happiness); Curious Film (high off the success of Kim Morduant’s The Rocket, will soon release the dark genre work Errors of the Human Body); Madman Films (readying Blackfish and How I Live Nowfor late 2013 slots); and, Rialto Distribution (launching in 2014 the latest from international superstar Mads Mikkelsen, historical drama Michael Kolhass, and the animated French charmer, Ernest et Celestine).

The outpouring of love for the year ahead in cinema is tempered by incisive key-note addresses and lengthy panel discussions as to the state-of-play of the Australian movie-going landscape. In 2013, the Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts, the Honourable George Brandis will take the podium alongside executives from the National Association Cinema Operators Executive Director Michael Hawkins and Chairman Peter Beattie; Chairman of the Motion Picture Distributors of Australia (MPDA), Marc Wooldridge; and, Regional VP of industry leader Rentrak, Steve Ashmore.

Known for determinedly keeping an eye on the future of film distribution and exhibition in Australia, the 2013 AIMC has drawn upon some of the industry’s most forward-thinking minds to address issues confronting the sector. News Corp’s Group Director of Digital Product and Development, Alisa Bowen, ruminates upon the impact of social and digital media in the years ahead; top-tier execs from Village Cinemas, Majestic Cinemas, Studio Canal, Hoyts Technology Group, Deluxe Digital and Paramount Pictures take on the contentious issue of Digital Delivery under the moderation of MPDA GM Lori Flekser; and, perhaps of most importance, will be the lecture given by KPMG’s Demographic Group partner Bernard Salt (pictured, right) entitled ‘Managing and Engaging Generation Y’.

Above all else will be the re-emergence of beloved industry figure, Australian Film Institute (AFI) Chairman Alan Finney. Having fought off life threatening illness for much of the last 12 months, Finney will be in attendance to present the AFI portion of the event.

The sense of celebration that surrounds the AIMC has ensured it has remained an integral part of the Australian film calendar for close to seven decades. Revellers traditionally go well into the night, following such extravagant events AIMC Trivia Night and the Gala Convention Wrap Party. Expect 2013 to be similarly fuelled by the attendees united passion for the local industry.

Full details of the 2013 Australian International Movie Convention can be found at their website.