Australian Screen Industry Increases International Reach with G’Day USA

SYDNEY, November 7, 2011 -

The Australian screen industry is extending its reach into the USA, following a new International Engagement Program announced by Australia’s screen excellence body, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA).

As part of the Program, AACTA has announced a new collaboration with G’Day USA.  G’Day USA is a partnership between the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade, Tourism Australia, Qantas and state governments which seeks to strengthen trade, investment, business, innovation and cultural relations between Australia and the United States.

One of G’Day USA’s most recognised events is the G’Day USA LA Black Tie Gala, which attracts extensive media attention and draws a prestigious audience of American and Australian celebrities and business and government leaders to Hollywood to recognise Australian achievement within entertainment.

The Gala provides the perfect opportunity to promote the AACTA Awards and, as part of its new collaboration with G’Day USA, AACTA will name the first nominees for its newly established AACTA International Awards at the LA Gala.  The AACTA International Awards will see juries of eminent Australian screen practitioners recognise international excellence within the categories of Best Film, Acting, Writing and Direction.

Damian Trewhella, CEO of the Australian Film Institute | AACTA, said:

“AACTA’s International Engagement Program aims to increase the profile of Australia’s screen performers, practitioners and productions internationally, and we believe that our new collaboration with G’Day USA is the perfect platform for this.

“Australia’s film and television industries play an important role in forming our cultural identity, in influencing tourism and in contributing to our export market, and we look forward to working alongside G’Day USA to raise the profile of our screen industry internationally.”    

The inaugural Samsung AACTA Awards season - comprising two major Awards events - will be held in January 2012, seeing Australia’s Awards the first to be announced within the international screen awards season ahead of the UK’s BAFTA Awards and US Oscars (12 and 26 February respectively).

The Samsung AACTA Awards Luncheon presented by Digital Pictures will be held on 15 January 2012, timed to incorporate cross-feeds to the G’Day USA LA Black Tie Gala.

AACTA’s inaugural Awards season will culminate with the Samsung AACTA Awards Ceremony, which will be held at the Sydney Opera House on 31 January 2012.

The recipients of the AACTA International Awards will be announced at the Samsung AACTA Awards Ceremony.

For further information, please see the new AACTA website: www.aacta.org

CONTACT:
The Lantern Group
Susan Hoerlein
+61-2-9383-4029
susan@lanterngroup.com.au

Victoria Buchan
+61-2-9383-4033
victoria@lanterngroup.com.au

AFI | AACTA
Brooke Daly
+61-(0)-4499-00466
bdaly@afi.org.au

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