Screen Queensland has announced an investment of $197,500 into 17 screen festivals.
The Queensland events are supported through the V-Fest initiative which is part of SQ’s $3.3 million COVID-19 response package as well as its bi-annual Screen Culture Funding program.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said: “In addition to entertaining our communities and stimulating tourism, screen culture events are a source of inspiration for our industry and present a career-building platform to showcase their creations,” said Munnich.
“We are pleased to deliver this vital support and look forward to giving continued assistance to the delivery of dynamic and diverse virtual festivals and COVID-safe live events in 2020 and 2021.”
Screen Queensland’s rolling Screen Culture Program runs twice a year with the goal to support screen events state-wide, celebrating diverse content across film, games and online.
Recipients of the first 2020-21 round include the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Understory Film Festival in Cairns, Game on Festival in Brisbane, Black Screen Touring Film Festival, and Capricorn Film Festival in Yeppoon.
The first V-Fest initiative was announced in June to enable new and existing screen culture events to deliver virtual screen festivals.
Screen Queensland’s screen culture and community director Rowena Billard said:
“Essential Screen Festival, Port Shorts, Queensland Touring Film Festival, Capfilmfestaccessible and Women in Film and Television are amongst the state’s trail-blazers in this “new normal” world of online film festivals,” said Billard.
“As a society, the importance of screen culture on both the big and small screen as a way of creating connection and wellbeing has been particularly underlined in the current landscape.
“In this way, Screen Queensland is proud to support the economic and cultural recovery of our state.”
Applications are open now for Screen Culture Funding Round 2 on the Screen Queensland website www.screenqueensland.com.au and close on 5:00pm Friday 23 October.
Screen Culture Funding 2020/21 Round 1 recipients
• ACS Outback Cinema Masterclass (Winton)
• Animation Alliance Australia Presents (Brisbane)
• Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) (South East Queensland)
• Australian Independent Film Festival (Brisbane)
• Black Screen Touring Film Festival (Far North Queensland)
• Caloundra Film Festival
• Capricorn Film Festival (Yeppoon)
• Game On Festival (Brisbane)
• Queensland Touring Film Festival (Regional Queensland locations)
• Sanctuary Film Festival (Gold Coast)
• Sydney Film Festival – Travelling Film Festival (Regional Queensland locations)
• Understory Film Festival (Cairns)
V-Fest recipients
• Best of Port Shorts
• Capfilmfestaccessible
• Essential Screen Festival
• Queensland Touring Film Festival
• WIFT (Women in Film and Television) Queensland – Women’s Virtual Film Festival