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SPECIAL REPORT: AIMC Recap<br />
0*&<br />
overage of the Australian<br />
International Movie Conven-<br />
t vSk tion occasioned this reportei s<br />
first-ever excursion to<br />
Australia, where it was<br />
ascertained that, contrary to<br />
^^L^^B comedian George Carlin's<br />
^^Hr W theory.Downl nderdenizens<br />
do not call the United States<br />
"Up Over," and the Croc Dundee hats<br />
with the reptile teeth in the band are<br />
strictly for the tourists—but just about<br />
everyone really does say "G'day," is<br />
friendly as can be and likes to have fun<br />
(the AIMC is the only show BOXOFFICE<br />
has attended that advertises "boozy<br />
Philip Noyce accepts the Excellence in Filr<br />
"Dishing with Rosebud<br />
Cinemas' Pam Ashdown<br />
karaoke" on its<br />
printed materials).<br />
The AIMC featured<br />
two screenings<br />
per day of<br />
upcoming product,<br />
as well as a<br />
surprise sneak peek<br />
at 25 minutes of<br />
"Lord of the<br />
Rings" footage —<br />
an extraordinary<br />
privilege requiring<br />
equally extraodinary security, involving<br />
metal detectors and the relinquishing of<br />
bags, purses and cell phones.<br />
108 BOXOFFICE<br />
TOTALLY AUSOMf.<br />
Golden Moments From the<br />
Gold COaSt by Christine James<br />
In addition to the screenings<br />
were awards ceremonies<br />
with celebrity appearances<br />
(including International Star<br />
of the Year Geoffrey Rush)<br />
and "Moulin Rouge" video<br />
reenactments, poolside parties<br />
complete with hula girls and a<br />
Beach Boys cover band, and<br />
the aforementioned boozy<br />
karaoke—not to mention several<br />
seminars on topics salient<br />
STARS OF THE "SHOW"<br />
AIMC Honors Homegrown Heroes<br />
"Australia On Show" was the appropriate<br />
title of the 56th annual Australian<br />
International Movie Convention's kickoff<br />
event, which celebrated some of the<br />
country's top exhibitors, filmmakers and<br />
stars. Kodak's marketing awards for<br />
Australian feature films were presented<br />
to third-place winner Glenbrook<br />
Cinema for its promotion of "The<br />
Magic Pudding," the second-place<br />
Birch, Carroll & Coyle Australia Fair for<br />
"Moulin Rouge" and first-place honoree<br />
Reading Belmont Perth, also for<br />
"Moulin Rouge."<br />
James C. Sourris, whose family has<br />
been in exhibition for 80 years, and Ken<br />
Kirkley, a Hoyts veteran since 1950,<br />
were named lifetime honorary members<br />
of the Motion Picture Exhibitors<br />
Association of Queensland (MPEAQ).<br />
Australian Star of the Year Eric<br />
Bana, a comedian who made his breakthrough<br />
performance in the biopic<br />
"Chopper," was unable to accept his<br />
award in person as he was on the set of<br />
his next film. "The Nugget," though he<br />
did send a filmed message of appreciation<br />
for the honor.<br />
Local celebrity film critic David Stratton<br />
was on hand to interview, live before the<br />
audience of AIMC conventioneers.<br />
Award for Excellence of Filmmaking<br />
recipient Philip Noyce, whose directing<br />
credits include "The Bone Collector,"<br />
"The Saint," "Patriot Games" and the<br />
upcoming "Rabbit-Proof Fence." about<br />
the "stolen generations" of Australia's<br />
Aboriginal children.<br />
to the Australian exhibition<br />
View from the Gold Coast's Royal Pines Resort, host hotel of the AIMC.<br />
industry. For those who were<br />
too caught up in the former to<br />
CODE OF HONOR<br />
glean all they could from the latter, following<br />
is a precis of the topics addressed Conduct Code Strives to Maintain<br />
at the 2001 AIMC.<br />
Open Dialogues, Self-Regulation<br />
Australia's Film Code of Conduct,<br />
which has just marked its third anniversary,<br />
has recently been amended to facilitate<br />
early intervention into disputes<br />
between exhibitors and distributors.<br />
John Dickie, chairman of the Film<br />
Exhibition and Distribution Code<br />
Administration Committee (FEDCAC),<br />
and Ross Jones, Commissioner of the<br />
Australian Competition and Consumer<br />
Commission ( ACCC). expressed concern<br />
at the Australian International Movie<br />
Convention that they and their colleagues<br />
have been learning of complaints<br />
through avenues other than the Code of<br />
Conduct channels, and assured delegates<br />
that the changes made to the Code<br />
should alleviate the apprehensions — particularly<br />
the fear of retribution from distributors—that<br />
have kept many independent<br />
operators from reporting disputes.<br />
The Code's aim, said Jones, is to provide<br />
a "fair and equitable framework"<br />
with regard to the exhibition and distribution<br />
industries' commercial objectives,<br />
and a "non-legalistic, cost-effective way<br />
of settling disputes." At present, the<br />
Code is voluntary, but the government<br />
has discussed making it mandatory. "The<br />
industry has been around a long time<br />
and should have the capacity to self-regulate<br />
civilly—rather than being dragged<br />
kicking and screaming through federal<br />
court," Dickie cautioned.<br />
To promote internal resolutions.<br />
Dickie said the FEDCAC's revision of<br />
the Code has made it more user-friendly,<br />
with complaints being handled more<br />
expediently and distributors' retaliatory<br />
behavior (withholding product) "roundly<br />
condemned" and investigated as a<br />
breach o\' the Trade Practices Act.
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