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The Melbourne International Film Festival’s MIFF 37ºSouth Market, the southern hemisphere’s influential meet-and-greet platforms for producers headed by Mark Woods, has secured funding for a four more years by the Australian state government of Victoria.
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The 37ºSouth Market’s renewal is part of a $5.1 million state government support package for MIFF, which includes enhanced festival organizational funding, digital projection support and money for regional initiatives.
“MIFF is very grateful for the Victorian State Government’s generous support of the festival which gives certainty for the screening program and its associated events from 2014 through to 2017,” said MIFF chair Claire Dobbin.
Added 37ºSouth market director Woods said: “The renewal of MIFF 37ºSouth Market through to 2017 is excellent news for producers across Australia/NZ and reinforces Melbourne’s position as a screen business hub.”
Woods and Dobbin are at the Cannes market pressing the flesh with wannabe attendees and previous invitees.
Victorian state minister for innovation, tourism, employment & trade Louise Asher said MIFF has established itself as “a major cultural attraction in Melbourne’s event calendar, shining an international spotlight on Melbourne and drawing significant crowds into the city precinct.”
Asher said the funding package “will ensure MIFF remains the most prestigious and leading film event in the southern hemisphere.”
Held during the opening days of MIFF, Australia’s oldest and largest film festival, MIFF 37ºSouth Market is Australia/NZ’s only film co-financing market at a film festival.
37ºSouth, which holds its seventh edition from July 25 to 28 and is the exclusive Australia/NZ partner of London’s Production Finance Market (PFM).
At 37ºSouth, around 45 invited sales agents/distributors meet with up to 100 pre-selected Australia/NZ producers who have script stage projects that are seeking distributor and/or sales company attachment and co-financing.
Previous guest companies have include Studio Canal, Wild Bunch, Paramount, BBC Films, HanWay, Independent, Miramax, Visit, Bankside, The Works, eOne, Cargo, West End, Aver, Level K.
37ºSouth also includes market screenings of completed films seeking distributors or sales companies, a books-to-film pitching market and speed-dating for screenwriters to meet producers.
Films advancing their finance at 37ºSouth have included Balibo, My Year Without Sex, Patrick, Beautiful Kate, My Mistress and The Turning.
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