ausfilm

The Hon Ted Baillieu MP
Premier
Minister for the Arts

Friday 22 July 2011

Media Release

The red carpet has been rolled out this week to celebrate 60 years of cinematic gems at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), opened by Premier Ted Baillieu at Greater Union Cinemas in Russell St Melbourne last night.

“MIFF has been a key feature of the Victorian major events calendar for the past 60 years and is the oldest, largest and most successful film festival in the Southern Hemisphere,” Mr Baillieu said.

“The festival makes an outstanding contribution to Melbourne’s rich creative culture and its industry programs are particularly important to Australian screen businesses.

“The Victorian screen industry is an important contributor to our State’s economy because events like MIFF help attract international filmmakers, producers and crew to Victoria.”

The festival showcases the last 60 years including a graphic art display at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, film features and the revitalised talking pictures program.

The Victorian Coalition Government supports the MIFF Premiere Fund for new Australian theatrical films and feature-length documentaries. This year will see MIFF world premieres for six films from the Premiere Fund:

• Curse of the Gothic Symphony
• Ben Lee: Catch My Disease
• Autoluminescent: Rowland S. Howard
• Swerve
• The Triangle Wars
• Falling for Sahara

The Coalition Government, through Film Victoria, has supported 22 film and TV productions expected to generate more than $100 million in production expenditure for the State.

“With a thriving independent arts community, internationally acclaimed arts organisations and institutions, rich cultural collections and well-established cultural infrastructure, Victoria has a sound reputation as Australia’s cultural heartland,” Mr Baillieu said.

For further information visit www.miff.com.au