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Public Forum

Filmmaking Forum

People love to be swept off their feet, to go into an environment where they've never been, to experience things they only ever dream about.  And filmmaking offers that potential.
Peter Gruber

Stella Dimadis, Chair, Public Filmmaking Forum

So the greek Film Festival is in full swing in Melbourne and Sydney.  I'm excited to say the hard work that has gone in to organising the Greek Australian Short Film Festival, alongside Katerina Kotsonis and Jim Koutsoukos will all be unveiled tomorrow night, the 23rd of October in Melbourne and the 29th of October in Sydney.  There are two sessions this year, National Shorts and International Shorts.  There is an amazing array of films from both sections which are all vying for 'Best Film' with a cash prize of $1,000 each, the Greek Communities of Melbourne and New South Wales have provided for these.  I need to thank our sponsors, PWK Accounting Group and Icon Insurance Advisers who have both generously supported this event and of course Delphi Bank who support the overall Greek Film Festival.

 Greek Australian Short Film Festival

 As an audience we are thrown into incredible journey as perceived by the filmmakers in the creation of their films. This is such a buzz for us all.  This year the Greek Community as part of the Greek Film Festival and the Greek Australian Short Film Festival is hosting a Free Public Forum at Palace Cinemas, Como, South Yarra, the 25th of October at 2 pm with a group of eclectic individual who are all involved in the process of filmmaking from start to finish.  

 The free tickets can be booked through Event Brite. 

 filmmakingpaneldiscussion.eventbrite.com.au

Funding will be covered by Alan Crabbe, Co Founder and Director of Pozible.  Crowd Funding has become an important point of financial reference for filmmakers and Alan will cover the philosophy behind crowd funding, it's ability to help filmmakers get projects off the ground and the appropriate marketing needed to make this happen.

 -Alan Crabbe, Co Founder and Director, Pozible
Tony Ianiro, Founding Director  Backlot Studios

There will be some input on this front from Tony Ianiro, who is one of the founding directors of Backlot Studios, a distribution and Post Production Services company in Melbourne and more recently in Perth.  Tony will also provide some information on distribution and the importance of this in accessing public funding.  

Jason Raftopoulos is a writer, director, producer and IF Award winner for his film From Dope to Dalai Lama; this won the  2010 IF Award for Best Short Documentary and is currently being developed into a narrative feature.  Jason will cover income sources for filmmaking, festivals and inspiration for stories.

 -Jason Raftopoulos, Director/writer/producer.


Blake Borcich, director/Producer, Laroda Films, Write-Me Australia

Blake Borcich is a director, producer who has won over 31 awards for his films.  Resistance has been phenomenally successful.  He heads Laroda Films and has created a new initiative for Australian writers, called Write-Me Australia.  Blake will be discussing Festival circuits, Funding and his new initiative for writers. 
https://vimeo.com/106078491

In creating films the support of the community is imperative.  I am proud to be associated with the Greek Community of Melbourne and Sydney who have been true visionaries in supporting established and emerging filmmakers.  The Greek Australian Short Film Festival, and the public forum on filmmaking are all an attestation to this.  Join me on Saturday the 25th of October at Palace Cinema, Como, South Yarra at 2pm.  A very big thank you to Katerina Kotsonis and Jim Koutsoukos whose co curatorship kudos has been well embraced.



Stella Dimadis
October, 2014.

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