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Queensland launches indigenous and regional screen initiative

Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh announced a regional film festival will tour Queensland

Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh announced a regional film festival will tour Queensland as part of a new initiative aimed at supporting the state's regional and Indigenous screen industries.

"The Queensland Film Festival will tour regional Queensland from September in association with the In The Bin Film Festival," the Premier said.

"This is just one project funded through an Indigenous and regional screen initiative, to be managed by Screen Queensland which provides $225,000 over three years to regional and indigenous projects.

"The initiative will present six screen events in regional Queensland each year, enabling regional communities greater access to Queensland's creativity."

"Queensland Indigenous screen projects will also flourish, in turn creating employment opportunities and enabling Indigenous stories to be told through film and television."

"Indigenous practitioners will have the opportunity to travel to screen industry conferences, providing access to markets and helping to strengthen business relationships."

Screen Queensland CEO Maureen Barron said the first project to be supported through the initiative had already begun production, with Queensland company Carbon Media creating a one-hour Indigenous documentary.

"This documentary focuses on proppaNOW, a groundbreaking group of contemporary artists based in Brisbane and will premiere at this year's Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (August 20-22)," Ms Barron said.

"The relationship with north Queensland will be built further with a contextualised film festival presented in association with the Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair from next year."

"Along with the obvious financial benefits the film and television sector brings to the state, it also delivers vital cultural benefits, which will now be enjoyed by more Queenslanders thanks to this initiative."

Carbon Media Managing Director Wayne Denning said there were many talented Indigenous filmmakers in Queensland who could benefit from the new initiative.

"There are many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Queensland who have unique stories and want to share them with the world, but don't know how," Mr Denning said.

"This new initiative provides some funding, but importantly access to industry knowledge and events where up and coming filmmakers can learn about the industry and how it works."