Weatherill Government promises to make Adelaide Film Festival an annual event, if re-elected

AFTER 16 years, the Adelaide Film Festival has been promised an annual berth if the Labor Government is re-elected.

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THE Adelaide Film Festival will be an annual October event if the Labor Government is re-elected.

The AFF which began under former Premier Mike Rann in 2002 as a biennial event, was trialled annually last year coupled with the futuristic Hybrid World Adelaide which explored new technology.

But the Premier, Mr Weatherill, promised it would become a permanent October fixture clustered with OzAsia, the Adelaide Fashion Festival and Tarnanthi.

“Jobs are Labor’s number one priority and annualising the AFF is just one way Labor is backing South Australia’s film industry to grow and create jobs,” Mr Weatherill said.

An annual AFF will cost $6.4 million over four years but was expected to generate an economic impact of more than $11 million, attract 60,000 attendees and create jobs through the screen production sector.

The money spent will include support for the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund which supports film, TV, virtual reality and digital platforms and has a track record that includes this year’s indigenous western Sweet Country, and the Rolf de Heer film Charlie’s Country which won actor David Gulpil best actor in Un Certain Regard at the 2104 Cannes Film Festival

The commitment, made by Mr Weatherill during the ABC leaders’ debate, builds on the recently announced uncapped rebate scheme for visual effects which has brought entertainment giant Tehnicolor to Adelaide.