6 Oct 2023
Australians In Film + Screen Australia Bring Hollywood Luminaries to SXSW Sydney® 2023
Australians in Film (AiF), the Los Angeles based artist development organization, and their new presenting partner, Screen Australia, today announced they are adding two stand out conference sessions to the Festival line-up for SXSW Sydney 2023.
A SPOTLIGHT ON BLOSSOM FILMS, on Thursday 19th October, takes us inside the award-winning production company Blossom Films (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing, Love and Death, and the upcoming Expats) with Australian screen icon and longtime supporter of AiF Nicole Kidman and her producing partner Per Saari.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD on Monday 16th October, brings together four of Australia’s greatest exports, the critically acclaimed actor Jason Clarke (Oppenheimer, Mudbound, Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty and Zero Dark Thirty) and legendary director Phillip Noyce (Salt, The Quiet American, Revenge, The Resident) with Hollywood trailblazer, actor Charmaine Bingwa (The Good Fight), who sits on the AiF Advisory Board and Hollywood breakout screenwriter Amy Wang (Crazy Rich Asians 2), who will share their insights into working in Hollywood, their trajectory to get there, and how that success can be returned to Australia.
These unmissable sessions are profiling some of the leading voices of the global screen industry as SXSW Sydney shines as a leading city for nurturing creative talent. Previously announced featured speakers in the screen industry have included; Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, Australian screen legend Leah Purcell and Hollywood Producer Bruna Papandrea, alongside innovators in other forward-looking industries including Chance The Rapper, AI expert Amy Webb and Slack Co-Founder Cal Henderson.
Emma Cooper, Chair of Australians in Film said today; “Over the past 20 years, AiF has created a unique and supportive community of Australian screen talent in Los Angeles, from emerging actors and filmmakers through to our most revered screen icons. We are excited to have this opportunity to bring the spirit and energy of AiF and our Hollywood community to SXSW Sydney, together with our partner Screen Australia.”
Graeme Mason, CEO of Screen Australia said; "As SXSW Sydney approaches, we're thrilled to unveil two exciting Headline Speaker Sessions in partnership with AiF. These new sessions bring an incredibly unique opportunity for attendees to hear from leading international screen talent – up close and personal, and support our industry professionals to achieve their goals. Afterall, this is what SXSW is all about, and we’re delighted that we can play a role in this internationally renowned event.
Colin Daniels, Managing Director of SXSW Sydney said; “From the team at SXSW Sydney, I’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Australians in Film and Screen Australia for their ongoing support. We appreciate the time everyone is taking to travel and join us in our first year – our story will be about these visionaries, and about the diverse and compelling voices emerging alongside them.”
AiF + Screen Australia Sessions
Spotlight on Blossom Films: an industry showcase with award-winning producers and founders Nicole Kidman and Per Saari, presented by Australians in Film and Screen Australia.
From their debut project, John Cameron Mitchell’s Rabbit Hole in 2010 to the Emmy award winning Big Little Lies, directed by the late Jean Marc Vallée, to the upcoming Lulu Wang series Expats, Blossom Films’ founders have always passionately championed cutting-edge filmmakers. In this exclusive conversation, Kidman and Saari discuss their approach to working with some of the world’s best visionary filmmakers, what they look for in creative partners, their future slate of Australian projects including the adaptation of Liane Moriarty's The Last Anniversary and the process of getting their most recent limited series Love and Death (HBO 2023) to the screen.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: with Charmaine Bingwa, Jason Clarke, Phillip Noyce and Amy Wang.
An inside look at Hollywood with Australians starring in front of and behind the camera. Our panelists will share their Hollywood insights and what they have learned, their trajectory to get there, and how that success and knowledge can be brought back to Australia.
With actor Jason Clarke (Oppenheimer, Mudbound, Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty and Zero Dark Thirty) and legendary director Phillip Noyce (Salt, The Quiet American, Revenge, The Resident) alongside Hollywood trailblazer, actor Charmaine Bingwa (The Good Fight) and Hollywood breakout screenwriter Amy Wang (Crazy Rich Asians 2).
Accessing SXSW Sydney 2023 – Badges and Wristbands: Badges are your master key for SXSW Sydney – they open the doors to a stacked program over 1,000 events across the week-long event, from its Conference and Tech & Innovation Expo to its Music, Screen and Games Festivals.
Wristbands give access to SXSW Sydney’s Music, Screen or Games festivals, for performances, screenings and showcases.
As they are conference sessions, it is only possible to see the Spotlight on Blossom Films and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood sessions with a SXSW Sydney 2023 badge.
Badges and Wristbands are now available at sxswsydney.com.
In collaboration with the NSW Government Via Destination NSW, TEG & SXSW®
About SXSW®
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film and television, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music, and comedy showcases, film and television screenings, exhibitions, professional development, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2024 will take place March 8-16 in Austin. Learn more at sxsw.com.
About SXSW Sydney®
Futurist conference and festival, South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney, will see the Asia-Pacific’s pre-eminent creative industries come together in the heart of Sydney Harbour. The event is a week-long program stacked with more than 1,000 ground-breaking events and networking sessions across pillars of Tech and Innovation, Games, Music, Screen and Culture.
Informed by a multicultural landscape and an enduring preservation of past, present and future Indigenous cultural heritage, Sydney offers a rich and exciting arts and culture scene with beautiful galleries, acclaimed theatres and burgeoning performance spaces.
About Destination NSW
Destination NSW is the lead agency, champion and voice for the visitor economy within the NSW Government. Spearheading a whole-of-government approach to visitor economy growth, Destination NSW is responsible for leading the delivery of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 in partnership with government and industry. Destination NSW influences and shapes the visitor economy through strategic research, policy and thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and consultation, commercial partnerships and investment in visitor experiences, business support, marketing and events. Destination NSW is also the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) for the purpose of securing more international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and expos for Sydney and regional NSW.
About TEG
TEG is a global leader in Live Entertainment, Ticketing and Technology. Every day TEG connects fans to experiences and customers with brands. We are proud partners of some of the world’s largest and most iconic venues as well as leading event promoters globally. TEG operates worldwide out of seven country offices and includes Ticketek, Ticketek Marketplace, Ticketek UK, Ticketek New Zealand, Ticketek Malaysia, Ticketek Philippines, Eventopia, Softix, TEG Live, TEG Dainty, TEG Sport, TEG Van Egmond, Laneway Festival, Handsome Tours, SXSW Sydney, TEG Theatrical, MJR Presents, TEG Lifelike Touring, TEG TES Live, Brickman, TEG Rockefeller, Rugby Live, TEG Europe, Propaganda, TEG USA, Qudos Bank Arena, FAN+, VIP NOW and Ovation.