AFI to establish ‘Academy’ and align with awards season
The Australian Film Institute (AFI) has today proposed the establishment of an ‘Australian Academy’ akin to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science (AMPAS) and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). The institute will also shift the AFI Awards from December 2011 to January 2012.
In preparation, the AFI has announced a period of consultation, available from Wednesday 1 June until Thursday 30 June.
AFI CEO Damian Trewhella said the aim of the consultation was to discuss “how we can do our activities better- the pursuit of excellence and how we best acknowledge achievements in the screen community.”
Bad idea. January and February are too busy with international events; AFIs will be lost among Golden Globes, Oscar noms, Sundance, Berlin and others.
Late November/early December is a good way to finish the year, so why change it!?
More window dressing?
Sincerely hope the rejigged AFI Awards don’t get lumbered with “Australian Academy Awards” or “AFTA’s”.
Or something equally cringeworthy…
“….repositioning the awards closer to international industry buzz around the Golden Globes, Academy Awards and BAFTA Award”. Huh!
Q: Is it 1st June or 1st April??
Well this year the Golden Globes were Jan 16, the Baftas 13 Feb and Oscars 27 Feb so moving the AFIs from December to January will move them closer.
Methinks the AFI might over-rate its own importance and the importance of the Awards. This is really a “The emperor has got no clothes scenario”. The awards are irrelevant to the consumer (check ratings) and broadcasters don’t care unless the show is subsidised by Government (check past history). The results are out-of-date by announcement and barely assist increases in ancilliary sales. Sure the gong is good for the practictioner, but does that warrant the millions being spent on this. (Say, how many of George Miller’s films have been entered in the AFI Awards anyway??) It is rather ironic that Film Victoria gets bashed up for their farewell for Sdraulig (and rightly so), but no-one seems to give too hoots about the massively subsidised piss-up called the AFI Awards. But, hey — maybe changing the AFI Awards to January will enhance their international broadcast audience. Events NSW can ensure that the show is broadcast live to an international audience of 300 millions. Oh yeh.