The support is there

Richard Sowada, head of film programs at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, has written about Screen Australia’s support for Australian delegates at last week’s Cannes film festival.

I understand there’s a robust discussion going on in Australia about the representation Screen Australia provides to filmmakers on the ground here in Cannes, sparked by David Gould’s piece in Encore.

Whilst David’s piece makes some good personal observations, what it actually does is open a wider discussion about people’s expectations of Cannes, how it works and how to make the most of it.

David seems to be getting it right under his own power which is great – and that’s what it takes to do the deals. However, I don’t think all of the observations are accurate in relation the context of Cannes and how Screen Australia or filmmakers can or should operate here (or anywhere).