WINNER OF BEST FILM, BEST SCRIPT, BEST ACTOR IF AWARDS 2008

WINNER OF BEST FILM, BEST SCRIPT, BEST ACTOR IF AWARDS 2008
MEN AT WORK

9 Dec 2008

AFI ANNOUNCES FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT

Film Producer and Screenwriter John L. Simpson has been awarded the 2008 AFI Fellowship: a grant of $25,000, which, according to the AFI, "... seeks to support the recipient to expand their national and international networks, and encourages the development of local talent in new projects". This is the second annual Fellowship to have been awarded, after its establishment last year. The Award is supported by enterprises such as the Besen Foundation, the Pratt Foundation and Portland House.

Simpson's new film: Men's Group screened to broad acclaim at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival, and is currently screening exclusively at Cinema Nova.

Audiences attending last night's Q&A (following a screening of Men's Group), were able to hear Simpson speak first-hand of his experiences making this film.

The AFI website states that Simpson "... plans to use the fellowship to research and develop a national regional screenings map, creating a blueprint for future filmmakers to follow; a way to screen their films and actively attract audiences รข€“ whether that be in cinemas, community halls, outdoor areas, oil-rigs or prisons".

This certainly seems to be an area in which distribution in Australia is currently lagging.

In a recent interview for Screenthemes, Grant Dodwell, who stars in Men's Group, also spoke of the importance of broadening audience access to Australian cinema.

If Simpson's use of the AFI Fellowship has as much impact on Australian film distribution as Men's Group has had on those who have seen it, Australian cinema-goers will be doubly rewarded.

http://www.screenthemes.info/?news&nid=115

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