Prestigious Chinese Film Academy disembark for Outback Hollywood
Students of the prestigious Beijing Film Academy and the Film and Television Institute of India are about to embark on a journey to the tiny town of Winton in Queensland’s outback for the fourth annual Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival.
The visit is part of the Festival’s foundation partnership with Griffith Film School in a bid to further develop a burgeoning film industry in Outback Queensland.
Twelve students from the Beijing Film Academy are heading to Winton with the Academy’s Vice President Professor Sun Lijun, and students from the Griffith Film School animation program.
The Beijing Film Academy is the largest and most prestigious film school in China receiving over 20,000 applications a year.
The students will form part of a total delegation of over fifty students from Griffith Film School, the Queensland Conservatorium, the Queensland College of Art (Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art), Film and Television Institute of India and the University of New South Wales as part of their annual visit to Winton
“The visiting film students are an integral part of the festival. They literally take over the streets of our town”, explains Winton Shire Council Mayor, Mr Butch Lenton. “The community has really welcomed them with open arms and let the students take free reign on our locations, such as Searle’s Outback Store, which was the location of the award winning short film, ROY, made during last year’s festival by Griffith Film School graduate Luke Angelo Roberts of Why Not Films?“.
“The visit from such a prestigious film academy and international film institutes will help to develop the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival and the newly formed Vision Splendid Institute” said Festival Director, Mr Mark Melrose. “We are honoured to welcome a record number of students from Griffith Film School and the University of New South Wales”.
“Opening this year’s festival is Australian film industry critic, producer and television personality, Margaret Pomeranz AM”, said Creative Director, Dr Greg Dolgopolov. “The intensive nine day program features immersive film writing and producing workshops, a virtual reality masterclass, free kids club, the Qantas Short Film Competition and contemporary, classic and cult Australian films, all inspired by the Australian Outback”.
Winton’s Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival 23 June – 1 July, 2017 www.visionsplendidfilmfest.com
INTERVIEWS
Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival
Dr Greg Dolgopolov, Festival Film Creative Director M: 0424 610 123
Mr Mark Melrose, Festival Director M 0461 158 697
Cr Butch Lenton, Mayor, Winton Shire Council M 0438 361 038
Mr Roy Billing, Festival Patron, Actor (mobile number available on request)
Griffith Film School
Chinese delegation:-
Dr Peter Moyes, Program Director, Animation Department, Griffith Film School: M 0408 180 179
Mr Kevin Coetzee, Animation Graduate, Griffith Film School M 0400 148 286
Griffith Film School & Indian student delegation:-
Ms Erika Addis, Head of Cinematography M 0419 818 281
Ms Maeve McKenna M : 0422 877 649
Mr Ashley Burgess, Lecturer, Griffith Film School, M 040416 446 144, E a.burgess@griffith.edu.au
Bus Queensland
Janet Edwards M 0447 712 221 E Janet.Edwards@busqld.com.au