Australian Film Commission
Encyclopedia
The Australian Film Commission (AFC) was an Australia
n government agency with a mandate to promote the creation and distribution of films in Australia as well as to preserve the country's film history. It also had a production arm responsible for production and commissioning of films for government. It was established by the Whitlam Government in 1975 as the successor to the Australian Film Development Commission set up by the Gorton Government. The AFC had offices in Brisbane
, Melbourne
, Canberra
and Sydney.
The AFC was funded in part by the national government and in part from its return on investments in film production as well as interest on film development loans. It financially assisted film and television production and also produced films generally intended for government purposes, through its production arm, Film Australia
, -- previously known as the Commonwealth Film Unit. A Film Australia feature film for children, Let the Balloon Go, was released in 1976.
In 1998-99, Film Finance Corporation Australia
was set up as a government-owned corporation and took over the major rôle of financing feature film and television production, with the AFC concentrating on the funding of development, marketing and research work for the media. Film Australia
became a separate entity.
Then in legislation in 2008, the Australian Government created a new agency, Screen Australia
, which merged the major government film bodies Film Finance Corporation Australia
, Film Australia
, and the Australian Film Commission back into a single body, albeit with slightly different functions, roles and financing methods. Screen Australia started operating in July 2008.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n government agency with a mandate to promote the creation and distribution of films in Australia as well as to preserve the country's film history. It also had a production arm responsible for production and commissioning of films for government. It was established by the Whitlam Government in 1975 as the successor to the Australian Film Development Commission set up by the Gorton Government. The AFC had offices in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and Sydney.
The AFC was funded in part by the national government and in part from its return on investments in film production as well as interest on film development loans. It financially assisted film and television production and also produced films generally intended for government purposes, through its production arm, Film Australia
Film Australia
Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia. Its mission was to create an audio-visual record of Australian culture, through the commissioning, distribution and management of programs that deal with matters of national interest or...
, -- previously known as the Commonwealth Film Unit. A Film Australia feature film for children, Let the Balloon Go, was released in 1976.
In 1998-99, Film Finance Corporation Australia
Film Finance Corporation Australia
Film Finance Corporation Australia was the Australian Government's principal agency for funding the production of film and television in Australia...
was set up as a government-owned corporation and took over the major rôle of financing feature film and television production, with the AFC concentrating on the funding of development, marketing and research work for the media. Film Australia
Film Australia
Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia. Its mission was to create an audio-visual record of Australian culture, through the commissioning, distribution and management of programs that deal with matters of national interest or...
became a separate entity.
Then in legislation in 2008, the Australian Government created a new agency, Screen Australia
Screen Australia
Screen Australia is the Federal Government’s key funding body for the Australian screen production industry. Its functions are to support and promote the development of a highly creative, innovative and commercially sustainable industry....
, which merged the major government film bodies Film Finance Corporation Australia
Film Finance Corporation Australia
Film Finance Corporation Australia was the Australian Government's principal agency for funding the production of film and television in Australia...
, Film Australia
Film Australia
Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia. Its mission was to create an audio-visual record of Australian culture, through the commissioning, distribution and management of programs that deal with matters of national interest or...
, and the Australian Film Commission back into a single body, albeit with slightly different functions, roles and financing methods. Screen Australia started operating in July 2008.