Independents reach $169m at the box office

The Australian Independent Distributors Association (AIDA) celebrated $169m at the box office during the Australian International Movie Convention.

The amount includes the earnings of Hoyts Distribution’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Eclipse, and Hopscotch Films’ Mao’s Last Dancer.

During the ADA dinner, Hopscotch Films received the Australian Box Office Achievement Award for more than $10m, for its work with Mao’s Last Dancer (partnered with Roadshow Films, with a result of more than $16m in 2009). Managing Director Troy Lum said Mao’s Last Dancer had been “one of the most rewarding experiences” of his career.