ALARIC MCAUSLAND DEPARTS ADGYesterday, Alaric McAusland wrapped up two brilliant years as ADG Executive Director. The ADG team is sad to see him leave and would like to thank him for his wonderful leadership. Alaric has been instrumental in some astonishing platform building and growth at the ADG. We have a new website, members hub, new educational and cultural initiatives, and record membership numbers, none of which were in play prior to Alaric’s arrival. The ADG wishes Alaric all the best for the future.

ANA TIWARY APPOINTED AS ACTNG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ana Tiwary has been appointed as Acting Executive Director, and will be working 4 days a week while the recruitment process is underway. Ana has been working 2 days a week for the past two years as the Strategy and Development Executive at the ADG. During this time, she has contributed to the new ADG website and membership management system, re-designed the membership levels and benefits and completed 37 of the 40 First-Hand webinars. She has been actively involved in the ADG’s arts policy submission, Make it Australian campaign, Diversity Showcase, Solidarity with Ukrainian filmmakers and the ADG Conference.  Ana has over two decades of experience working in the screen industry, including serving on the WIFT Australia board and the Screen Australia Gender Matters Taskforce. Ana has directed documentaries for ABC TV and other networks and holds a master’s degree in film and has worked at National Geographic in Washington DC. Ana will continue to run the Credit Maker program, along with the other responsibilities and understands the needs of Australian directors and the systemic challenges they face. Ana is an advocate for safe spaces, equity, access, and good working conditions for all screen practitioners and has been recognised for her industry development work including: NSW Woman of the Year Top 10, Stellar South Asian Woman in Australia Award 2022 and was recently included in the prestigious list of Asian Australians who have had the most impact on culture, society and institutions over the past year. The ADG would like to wish Ana all the best as we move into this new phase.

SAMANTHA LANG RECEIVES THE CECIL HOLMES AWARD

Acclaimed director Samantha Lang was awarded the Cecil Holmes award at the ADG Awards 2022 and gave a powerful speech.

"Cecil Holmes understood that to interrogate what it is to be Australian, as a filmmaker, required not only that he compose his own narratives, but that he support other filmmakers to create multiple perspectives on what it meant to them to live in Australia. He understood that there is an intrinsic responsibility that accompanies the privilege of having a voice – and that is to create space for other voices to co-exist and create – to give light to the multiplicity of stories - that make up our national identity.

My great privilege and small contribution has been to participate in the ecology of care that is the Australian Directors' Guild and to take part in sustaining our wonderful, brilliant, contradictory, diverse, eclectic community of filmmakers."

Read Samantha's full speech here. 

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

2022 ADG AWARDS

THOMAS M. WRIGHT, LEAH PURCELL, SIAN DAVIES, CORRIE CHEN, EMMA FREEMAN TAKE OUT MAJOR AWARDS

“It is fantastic to see an increased diversity in ADG Awards winners this year. Whilst there’s more to do, it does reflect that equitable representation is on its way to becoming a reality amongst Australian directors.  My congratulations to all the winners and nominees and my thanks to all those ADG nominees and members who celebrated our craft at today’s gala awards ceremony,” said ADG Executive Director Alaric McAusland.

Read the full press release and list of winners here. 

The ADG is assisting Draw Your Own Box Productions with an urgent call-out for directors for their feature-length production entitled Carmen & Bolude, expected to commence preproduction in Sydney from April 2023. Interested Australian-resident director’s meeting their selection criteria and with the requisite experience in the budget-range and genre should email an expression of interest including a short introductory cover letter, their CV and/or IMDb Links to admin@adg.org.au with the subject Carmen & Bolude Call-out before 1^st November 2022.

 

Summary:

Production Company: Draw Your Own Box Productions

Production Title: Carmen & Bolude

Genre: Buddy-Comedy

Budget: $3/4M (AUD)

Format: Feature Length

 

Logline:

Best friends Carmen and Bolude must travel from Spanish-Harlem, NYC to Sydney, Australia, wherethey have ten days to collect 100 ‘welcomes’ sothat Bolude’s traditional Nigerian father will agree to let her marry an Australian. Based on true events.

 

Target Schedule:

Sydney: 4x5x6 weeks (pre x shoot x post) in April/May 2023

With 1 week International Location TBC.

 

Selection Criteria:

Australian female director who is of Indigenous Latin-American or African heritage, and who has experience, credibility and marketability directing narrative feature comedies at the $3/4M budget level.

The Australian Directors' Guild, Australian Cinematographers Society and WIFT Australia 

invite the screen community to:

Solidarity with Ukrainian Filmmakers

DATE: Saturday, 6 August 2022

TIME: 2pm-3pm (AEST)

REGISTRATION: Registration is FREE but required. 

https://SolidarityWithUkrainianFilmmakers.eventbrite.com.au

Everyone in the screen industry is invited to attend this webinar to hear directly from five Ukrainian filmmakers about the challenges they are facing and how we can provide practical support. For more details click here. 

MAKE IT AUSTRALIAN – BACK ON THE AGENDA

Leading Australian actors, directors, writers, producers and crew joined together last night for the national re-launch of the Make it Australian campaign at the Sydney Film Festival Hub in Sydney Town Hall and online. 

Joining the industry were the new Minister for the Arts, the Hon Tony Burke MP and Minister for Communications, and the Hon Michelle Rowland MP to show their support for seeing more Australian stories on our screens. Tony Burke addressed the gathering and both Ministers received a rapturously warm welcome for their attendance and words of support.

The screen industry was represented by actor/writer/producer Leah Purcell, director Gillian Armstrong, actor Justine Clarke, director Kriv Stenders and producer/writer/director Monica O’Brien.

Read more HERE. 

Link to media release HERE.

Make It Australian is presented by:

Australian Directors’ Guild launches its ‘DIRECTORY’  

 

SYDNEY, FEBRUARY 22^ND 2022: The ADG today announced the launch of a first of its type searchable database showcasing Australia’s directorial talent; Its ‘DIRECTORY’ is designed as a new resource to benefit both its members and the wider screen community.  

The ADG is holding an online launch event on the 25th of February to provide information about its DIRECTORY’ with ADG President Rowan on-hand to officially launch the initiative.  

“Our Directory is part of ADG’s efforts to support the career aspirations of all members, no matter what stage of their career, how they specialise or where they are located”, said ADG President Rowan Woods. 

To be included in its Directory, Directors will need to be an ADG member and follow the steps on the ADG Website: www.adg.org.au/directory. All members and interested industry participants are welcome to the ADG launch event at 10.30am AEST on Friday 25^th February with registration here.

To read the full press release click here.