South Australian Film Corporation

The South Australian Film Corporation was founded as a production company in 1972,[1] established under the South Australian Film Corporation Act by the Dunstan government.[2][3] It was intended “to stimulate and encourage the formation and continued development of the South Australian film and television industry”.[4] At the time of the Corporation's establishment, the Australian film industry was stagnating, and the Corporation played a significant role in the revival of Australian film making. Premier Don Dunstan played an instrumental role in the foundation of the Corporation and its early film production activities.[5]

From its genesis, the SAFC collaborated with various government departments and agencies in the production of short documentaries and educational films.[6] These included co-productions with the South Australian Department of Agriculture and Fisheries,[7][8] Department of Marine & Harbors,[9] the Education Department,[10] the Office of Fair Trading,[11] the Department of Housing, Urban and Regional Affairs[12] and others.

In the 1980s, the SAFC shifted its focus to television production. It relocated to a disused Philips factory in Hendon in the north-west suburbs of Adelaide. Jock Bair was head of drama.[13][14]

In 1994 its role changed, as it ceased producing films and became the government's central agency to provide assistance to independent film makers. The television mini-series The Battlers was the last production produced by the SAFC. As the first state film corporation in Australia, the success of its business model led other state governments to establish similar bodies charged with the promotion of film production and fostering industry development.[4] Since then, it has focused on supporting (including providing funding) and facilitating the production of films and television in South Australia, as well as making production and post-production facilities available.[4][15]

SAFC facilitated the production of the Nine Network program McLeod's Daughters (2001-2009), which was filmed on location in rural South Australia.[16]

In 2008, SA Premier and Arts Minister Mike Rann secured cabinet approval from the South Australian Government to fund the relocation of the SAFC[17] at a cost of A$43 million.[18] The project included new sound stages and mixing suites, as well as a major refurbishment of an historic 19th-century building as a high-tech film hub. The Corporation moved its headquarters to Glenside, an inner eastern suburb of Adelaide, sharing the historic former administration building of Glenside Hospital with film production company Closer Productions. The new Adelaide Studios were opened by Rann on 20 October 2011.[19]

FilmLab was a low-budget feature film initiative created in 2008, with a budget of A$4.2 million to be allocated to the production of eight low-budget feature films over four years, from initial concept through to delivery and marketing of the films. In May 2009 the four successful teams were announced, chosen from a shortlist of 14: Sophie Hyde, Bryan Mason and Matt Cormack of Closer Productions; Hugh Nguyen and Eddie White of the People's Republic of Animation; Julie Ryan of Cyan Films with Matthew Bate of Plexus Films; and Ashlee Page and Sonya Humphrey of Sacred Cow Films.[20] The initiative ran until 2012, and was credited with launching the careers of at least 12 filmmakers, and also helped to bring to fruition critically acclaimed films including Shut Up Little Man, 52 Tuesdays and The Infinite Man.[21]

In 2017, the Corporation announced that a new TV Series called "Soccer Swap" was a co-production with Australia's 57 Films and China's Qingdao TV.[22]

Also in 2017, The Heysen Hicks Set Construction Studio, so named in honour of filmmakers Scott Hicks and his wife Kerry Heysen AM, was opened.[23]

James Wan's reboot of video game franchise Mortal Kombat as a feature film was the largest film production in the state's history.[24] In May 2019, it was announced that the film had entered pre-production and would be shot in South Australia,[25] before being released in April 2021.[26]

In August 2019, CEO Courtney Gibson resigned, returning to Sydney 15 months after taking up the role. A few weeks later, the government confirmed the appointment of South Australian producer Kate Croser, who has had a long career in Australian film and television.[27]

Amanda Duthie, who in late 2018 left her post at the Adelaide Film Festival and became Head of Production, Development, Attraction and Studios, also serving as acting CEO of SAFC after Gibson's departure, resigned her position to return to Sydney as of 22 November 2019.[28]

The First Nations Screen Strategy 2020–2025 was launched in November 2020,[31] in partnership with Channel 44.[32] The First Nations Advisory Committee comprises Elaine Crombie, Natasha Wanganeen, Major Moogy Sumner, Dennis Stokes, and John Harvey.[31]

"Film Lab: New Voices" is an initiative launched in 2021, delivered by the SAFC and the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF), in collaboration with Mercury CX, with the delivery of the development phase of the inaugural round assisted by Screen Australia. It enables teams of emerging filmmakers to develop a low-budget feature film over a 12-month period, mentored by an experienced story developer, with one team chosen for funding to complete the making of their film ready for the next AFF.[33] At least one member of each team must be from a group under-represented in the SA film industry, including filmmakers who are women; First Nations; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD); Deaf and disabled; LGBTQIA+; and/or who live in regional and remote parts of the state.[21]

In the inaugural round, 49 teams submitted 63 projects,[34] and three teams were selected for further development of their projects[33] over an 11-month period.[35] Funding of A$400,000 (US$288,000) was provided by the SAFC and AFF for the winning team, comprising director Matt Vesely (director), Lucy Campbell (scriptwriter) and Bettina Hamilton (producer), to bring their film Monolith to the 2022 AFF. The other two teams continue to be developed and will seek funding to bring their projects to completion.[34][36]

The second round opened in August 2021, with seven projects shortlisted in February 2022 and the three successful teams eligible for further development to be announced in March 2022.[36] To support the SAFC First Nations Screen Strategy (2020-2025), one of the three teams selected for development will have at least two members identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.[37][38] The winning film will be shown at the AFF in 2024.[21]