Cinema of Australia
List of Australian films
1896-1919
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Ned Kelly depicted in the first ever feature-length narrative film

The cinema of Australia has a long history and has produced many internationally-recognized films, actors and filmmakers. Oceanian cinema refers collectively to the Film output and film industries of Oceania. Fiji only began producing its own Feature films in 2004, and has produced just one to date New Zealand cinema can refer to films made by New Zealand -based production companies in New Zealand This is a chronological list of Australian films by decade and year This is a chronological list of Australian films by decade and year for years 1890s-1930s This is a list of Australian films of the 1920s For a complete alphabetical A-Z list see:CategoryAustralian films. This is a list of Australian films of the 1930s For a complete alphabetical A-Z list see:CategoryAustralian films. This is a list of Australian films of the 1940s. For a complete alphabetical A-Z list see:CategoryAustralian films. This is a chronological list of Australian films of the 1950s This is a list of Australian films of the 1960s For a complete alphabetical A-Z list see:CategoryAustralian films. This is a list of Australian films of the 1970s For a complete alphabetical A-Z list see:CategoryAustralian films. This is a chronological list of Australian films by decade and year for years 1980s This is a chronological list of Australian films by decade and year for years 1940s-1990s This is a list of Australian films from 2000 to present For a complete alphabetical A-Z list see:CategoryAustralian films. 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 | Afterlife || Dean Francis 2007 2008 A list of yet to be released Australian films likely to be released in 2009 The arts in Australia have been influenced by its culture including a sense of European Australian isolation and remoteness Architecture in Australia, at least in the early stages of the country's history shows the substantial influence of that of English architecture, and to an extent United History At first Australian comics copied British comic papers until its first comic book The Kookaburra appeared in 1931 Historically Australian cuisine was based on traditional British cooking brought to the country by the first settlers A wide variety of Dance occurs in Australia. Classical ballet companies include The Australian Ballet. Australian literature began soon after the settlement of the country by Europeans Common themes include indigenous and settler identity alienation exile and relationship The music of Australia ranges across a broad spectrum of styles and genres Television in Australia began as early as 1934 in Brisbane with experimental transmissions by amateur station VK4CM European style Theatre in Australia came with the first European settlers in the 1780s The Art of Australia refers to both Australian Aboriginal art and Post Colonial art

History

Australia's film history has been characterized as one of 'boom and bust' due to the unstable and cyclical nature of its industry; there have been deep troughs when few films were made for decades and high peaks when a glut of films reached the market. ^[1]

Australian film has a long history. Indeed, the earliest known feature length narrative film in the world was the Australian production The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906). Feature length is a film term that refers to the length of a Feature film. Fictional film or narrative film is film that tells a Fictional story or Narrative. The Story of the Kelly Gang is generally regarded as the world's first feature length film preceding D Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting

Arguably one of the world's first film studios, The Limelight Department was operated by The Salvation Army in Melbourne, Australia, between 1897 and 1910. The Limelight Department produced evangelical material for use by the Salvation Army, as well as private and government contracts. The Limelight Department was one of the world's first film studios beginning in 1898 operated by The Salvation Army in Melbourne, Australia. In its 19 years of operation, the Limelight Department produced about 300 films of various lengths, making it the largest film producer of its time. The major innovation of the Limelight Department would come in 1899 when Herbert Booth and Joseph Perry began work on Soldiers of the Cross, arguably the first feature length film ever produced. Soldiers of the Cross fortified the Limelight Department as a major player in the early film industry. However, Soldier of the Cross would be dwarfed when the Limelight Department was commissioned to film the Federation of Australia.

The boom of the 1910s

The old Pacific Cinema at Bulahdelah, NSW, a classic example of an early small country town cinema.

The first 'boom' in Australian film occurred in the 1910s. The 1910s decade ran from January 1 1910 through December 31 1919 After beginning slowly in the years from 1900, 1910 saw 4 narrative films released, then 51 in 1911, 30 in 1912, and 17 in 1913, and back to 4 in 1914, the beginning of World War I. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year ^[2] While these numbers may seem small, Australia was one of the most prolific film-producing countries at the time. That is, between 1910 and 1912, almost 90 narrative films were made; between 1906 and 1928, 150 narrative feature films were made. ^[3]

There are various explanations for the subsequent demise of the industry; some historians have pointed to falling audience numbers, a lack of interest in Australian product and narratives, and the decision to participate in World War I. However, a major reason lay in the official banning of bushranger films in 1912. ^[4] Looking for alternative products, Australian theatre chains realised that Australian films were much more expensive than imported films from the United States, which could be purchased cheaply as production expenses had already been recouped. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the To redress this decline, the federal government imposed a tax on imported film in 1914, but this was removed by 1918. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common By 1923, U. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. S. films dominated the Australian exhibition sector, with 94% of all films coming from that country. ^[5]

Another explanation is concerned with anti-competitive behavior between film distributors and theaters. Exclusive dealing refers to when a retailer or wholesaler is ‘tied’ to purchase from a supplier on the understanding that no other distributor will be appointed or receive supplies Between 1906 and 1912 Australia's burgeoning film industry produced more feature-length films than Britain or the USA, but in 1912 Australasian Films and Union Theaters established a monopoly over production, distribution and exhibition and shut out smaller producers. Greater Union is an Australian chain of cinema multiplexes. They are rivals with Hoyts and Village Cinemas, although Amalgamated Holdings That opened the way for US distributors in the 1920s to sign exclusive deals with Australian cinemas to exhibit only their products, thereby crippling the local film industry ^[6].

The boom of the 1970s and 1980s

During the 1970s, government funding for Australian filmmakers was increased. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The South Australian Film Corporation was established in 1972 to promote and produce films, while the Australian Film Commission was created in 1975 to fund and produce internationally competitive films. South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC is a South Australian Government statutory corporation established in 1972 The Australian Film Commission was an Australian government agency with a mandate to promote the creation and distribution of films in Australia as well as to preserve the country's Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [1] A generation of directors and actors emerged who told distinctively Australian stories. Films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock (Peter Weir, 1975) and Sunday Too Far Away (Ken Hannam, 1975) made an impact on the international arena. Picnic at Hanging Rock is a 1975 Australian Mystery Film directed by Peter Weir, adapted from the novel of the same name. Peter Lindsay Weir AM (born 21 August 1944 is an Australian Film director. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975 Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The 1970s and 80s are regarded by many as a 'golden age' of Australian cinema, with many successful films, from the dark science fiction of Mad Max (George Miller, 1979) to the romantic comedy of Crocodile Dundee (Peter Faiman, 1986), a film that defined Australia in the eyes of many foreigners despite having little to do with the lifestyle of most Australians. Mad Max is a 1979 Australian apocalyptic action thriller Film directed by George Miller and written Dr George (Miliotis Miller (born 3 March 1945 is an Academy-Award winning Australian Film and Television Screenwriter, director Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Crocodile Dundee is a 1986 Australian Comedy film set in the Australian Outback and in New York City Peter 'Pete' Faiman is a well known Australian Television producer with experience in film live television and events Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar)

The industry today

The Australian film industry continues to produce a reasonable number of films each year, but in common with other English-speaking countries, Australia has often found it difficult to compete in a marketplace dominated by American product. The most successful actors and film-makers are easily lured by Hollywood and rarely return to the domestic film industry.

After Rupert Murdoch, the head of Fox Studios and an Australian, saw that the new Fox studios were moved to Sydney, some US producers have chosen to film at Fox's state of the art facilities as production costs in Sydney are well below US costs. Studios established in Australia, like Fox Studios Australia and Warner Roadshow Studios, host large international productions like The Matrix and Star Wars II and III. Fox Studios Australia is a major Movie studio located in Sydney, Australia, occupying the site of the former Sydney Showground at Moore Village Roadshow Limited is an Australian media company with interests in cinema, Theme parks film production and distribution The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction - martial arts - Action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski and Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones is a 2002 Film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 Space opera Film written and directed by George Lucas.

Government support

A recurring debate in the Australian film industry revolves around the necessity or otherwise of government support for the industry. In brief, the argument for government support maintains that a viable film industry is only possible if it is supported in some way by the government and proponents of this view hold that the industry cannot compete against the hegemony of Hollywood. The argument against government support is that the industry is viable without support and will become stronger if increasingly globalized market forces are allowed full and untrammeled play. Others argue that a film industry in itself has little value. The history of the industry in Australia is to some extent a result of the ascendancy of one position over the other.

Australian exports

The Australian film industry has produced a number of successful actors and directors, some of whom have moved on to Hollywood.

These include actors and actresses Peter Phelps, Maj Zetterling (Sweden), Errol Flynn, Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe (New Zealand), Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Geoffrey Rush, Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger, Hugo Weaving, Paul Hogan, Guy Pearce, Toni Collette, Emilie de Ravin, Judy Davis, David Wenham, Rachel Griffiths, Rose Byrne, Abbie Cornish and Eric Bana, directors George Miller, Peter Weir, Bruce Beresford, James McTeigue, Alex Proyas, Mario Andreacchio and Baz Luhrmann, Phillip Noyce, Gillian Armstrong and associated production experts Mikael Borglund(Sweden). Peter Phelps (born September 20, 1960 in Sydney) is an Australian actor of English & Scandinavian descent Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn ( June 20, 1909 &ndash October 14, 1959) was an Australian Film Actor, most Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson, AO (born January 3 1956 Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964 is an Academy Award - BAFTA - Golden Globe - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning New Zealand and Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett (born 14 May 1969 is an Academy Award -winning Australian Actress and Stage director. Naomi Ellen Watts (born September Geoffrey Roy Rush (born 6 July 1951 is a Golden Globe - BAFTA - Emmy - AFI - and Academy Award -winning Australian actor Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October, 1968) is an Tony Award -winning and Emmy Award -winning Australian Actor Heath Andrew Ledger (4 April 1979 – 22 January 2008 was an Australian television and film actor Hugo Wallace Weaving (born 4 April 1960 is a Nigerian-born English, although naturalised Australian film stage and voice actor best known for films such as Paul Hogan AM (born October 8, 1939) is an Australian Golden Globe -winning actor and comedian most famous for his role as Guy Edward Pearce (born October 5, 1967) is a Screen Actors Guild Award -nominated English -born Australian raised actor perhaps Antonia "Toni" Collette (born 1 November 1972 is an Academy Award - and Golden Globe -nominated Australian actress and Musician Emilie de Ravin (pronounced də ˈrævɪn (born 27 December 1981 is an Australian actress. Judy Davis (born 23 April 1955 is an Academy Award -nominated Screen Actors Guild Award, three-time Emmy Award, two-time BAFTA Award David Wenham (born 21 September 1965 is an Australian actor who has appeared in movies Television series and Theatre productions Rachel Anne Griffiths (born 18 December 1968 is an Australian Golden Globe - and SAG Award -winning Academy Award -nominated and Emmy Award Rose Judith Esther Byrne (born July 24 1979) is a Golden Globe -nominated Australian actress. Eric Bana (born Eric Banadinovich; 9 August 1968 is an Australian Film and Television Actor. George Miller may refer to in the arts George Miller (producer (born 1945 Australian film and television screenwriter film director and producer Peter Lindsay Weir AM (born 21 August 1944 is an Australian Film director. Bruce Beresford (born 16 August 1940 is an Academy Award -nominated Australian film director writer and producer James McTeigue is an Australian Film director. Born in Tauranga, New Zealand, he grew up in Collaroy Plateau, a suburb on the Northern Beaches Alex Proyas (born 23 September 1963 is an Australian Film director, writer and producer who directed The Crow, Dark City Mario Andreacchio (born January 1, 1955) is an Australian film director Baz Luhrmann (born Mark Anthony Luhrmann on 17 September 1962 is an Oscar and Golden Globe -nominated Australian Film director, Screenwriter Phillip Noyce (born 29 April 1950 is an Australian Film director. Gillian Armstrong (born 18 December 1950 is an award-winning Australian director of feature films and documentaries

See also

• Australian Film Commission
• Film Australia
• South Australian Film Corporation
• List of Australian films
• List of films set in Australia
• List of movies filmed in Melbourne

• World cinema

References

Literature

Encyclopedia and Reference

• Murray, Scott, ed. Australian Film: 1978 – 1994. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-19-553777-7
• Pike, Andrew and Ross Cooper. Australian Film: 1900 – 1977. revised ed. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-19-550784-3
• McFarland, Brian, Geoff Mayer and Ina Bertrand, eds. The Oxford Companion to Australian Film. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-19-553797-1
• Moran, Albert and Errol Vieth. Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2005. ISBN 0-8108-5459-7
• Reade, Eric. Australian Silent Films: A Pictorial History of Silent Films from 1896 to 1926. Melbourne: Lansdowne Press, 1970.
• Verhoeven, Deb, ed. Twin Peeks: Australian and New Zealand Feature Films. Melbourne: Damned Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-876310-00-6

Critique and Commentary

• Collins, Felicity, and Theresa Davis. Australian Cinema After Mabo. Sydney: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
• Dawson, Jonathan, and Bruce Molloy, eds. Queensland Images in Film and Television. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, 1990.
• Dermody, Susan and Elizabeth Jacka, eds. The Screening of Australia, Volume 1: Anatomy of a Film Industry. Sydney: Currency Press, 1987.
• — — — . The Screening of Australia, Volume 2: Anatomy of a National Cinema. Sydney: Currency Press, 1988.
• Moran, Albert and Tom O’Regan, eds. An Australian Film Reader (Australian Screen Series). Sydney: Currency Press, 1985.
• O'Regan, Tom. Australian National Cinema. London: Routledge, 1996.
• Stratton, David. The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry. Sydney : Pan Macmillan, 1990. 465p. ISBN 0-7329-0250-9

External links

Commonwealth and State Government Sites

• Australian Film Commission

• National Film and Sound Archive homepage
• Australian Government site on Film in Australia
• Pacific Film and Television Corporation (Queensland)
• New South Wales Film and Television Office
• Australian Centre for the Moving Image (Victoria)
• South Australia Film Corporation
• Filmwest (Western Australia)
• Australian Film, Television and Radio School

Non-government sites

• film.org.au: the best of Australian Films
• Internet Movie Database, Australia
• TV Cream on Australian films
• Australian - Live Online Radio and TV