The Barossa Valley is to become the home of an international film festival.
The British consortium AMRITSA has agreed in principle to host the International Film Festival of Australasia - Barossa starting in October, 2011.
About 200 short and feature films would be screened during the festival at various selected venues with free admission.
Tanunda film writer and director Dave de Vries has been negotiating with Binda Singh from AMRITSA and the festival would be an annual event.
“AMRITSA operates film festivals around the world and Australia was the one continent where they don’t hold one,” Mr de Vries said.
“I’ve been able to convince them the Barossa would be a perfect location.
“The festival would be a four day conference and convention, centred in and around a central headquarters, which would culminate in a black tie awards night.”
Mr de Vries said the tourism potential was unlimited.
“How long is a piece of string? But the event is going to attract worldwide interest.
“I believe it will be a value-added Barossa experience.
“I encourage wineries, venue operators, and anyone who would like to be involved to contact me so we can present something special.”
The festival would attract international filmmakers whose films are appearing, filmmakers from the host nation, state and region, international, national and local film lovers and film festival followers, tourists, day trippers and the local population.
Mr de Vries said the organisers have agreed many of the films appearing in competition should also be screened outside of the convention ‘headquarters’, via informal screenings in high profile winery and tourism venues - such as barrel halls, restaurants, cellar doors - as well as al fresco screenings among the grapevines.
“Currently, a grant application is with the Barons of the Barossa to fund five portable projection kits - comprising five DVD digital projectors and five purpose built portable cinema screens.”
Mr de Vries said the International Film Festival of Australasia - Barossa would seek to differentiate itself from the Adelaide International Film Festival.
“The Adelaide festival focuses on arthouse films, or established local film makers working inside the Australian mainstream.”
The Barossa festival will focus on:
• Emerging film makers - first and second time feature film makers in particular
• Genre film makers - those creating films which draw upon the tradition of genre film making rather than arthouse, for example; thriller, horror, sci-fi, western, romantic comedy
• Independent and underground film makers - in particular those filmmakers who have been working outside the system.
Organisation of the event - selecting the films, financing, international publicity and overseeing the screening operations will be conducted by AMRITSA’s head office in Britain.
Anita Attenborough, administrator from the AMRITSA Film Festival Network said the company had been trying to organise an Australian festival for some time.
“Our attention was focused when ‘Carmilla Hyde’ directed by Dave de Vries was submitted to one of our events,” Ms Attenborough said. “We rapidly realised that truly independent film making from the region was rapidly coming of age.
“Our thoughts led luckily to discussions with Mr de Vries and his team and we sincerely hope that our combined efforts will help give South Australia a head start in establishing a moving image event of global stature.”
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