Sydney’s city authorities have agreed to provide A$30,000 for a feasibility study that will evaluate the creation of a film centre.
A film centre could be expected to stage major exhibitions and events, provide a venue for the screening of classic films and archived titles held by the Nationals Film and Sound Archive as be a hyub for film-makers.
The proposal is backed by Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Small, and by film industry luminaries including director Gillian Armstrong, producer Jan Chapman, departing Sydney festival head Clare Stewart, George Miller, Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Peter Weir as well as by institutions organisations including the National Film and
Sound Archive of Australia, the Motion Pictures Distribution Association of Australia, Australian Independent Distributors Association and Metro Screen.
“We are proposing the establishment of Sydney Film Centre – an institution that will actively foster smart culture and become integral to the positioning of Sydney as Australia’s leading creative city,” said Margaret Pomeranz, critic and TV presenter.
“NSW is the confirmed leader of screen production in Australia – with NSW companies generating 66% of national drama production alone. Its economic impact is substantial – more than 1,400 film and television related businesses are located in NSW, employing more than 6,800 people and generating income in the vicinity of $1.3 billion each year,” the Lord Mayor said.