[tof] FFC Guidelines comment and clarification.

[tof at lists.culture2.org]

Dear Toflisters - please find the update that I wrote in the ASDA 
E-news last week regarding the FFC guidelines, which may make it 
clear up for non-ASDA members where things currently stand as we see 
them.

regards

Richard Harris

"The biggest area of contention about the guidelines has been in 
regards to documentary financing. Due to the ongoing lack of funds 
for the documentary sector the squeeze on money has been getting 
tighter and tighter,and there is an increasing tension between 
filmmakers making one-off productions largely for local audiences and 
those engaged in series production. What is the most effective and 
equitable split between these sectors.

At the AIDC there was general agreement that if the FFC was to break 
down the old accord/non-Accord division (something that had general 
support), that the new breakdown should continue the split between 
international projects and domestic projects at 50/50. The SADC 
subsequently agreed to this position, and to the FFC's proposed new 
set of doors which suggested this but allowed for some flexibility by 
allowing each door to take up to 60% in any round.

However, at the last minute, a number of documentary filmmakers 
independently proposed to the FFC that the split should be 60/40 in 
favour of international projects, because of the costs of these 
projects, and the increasing competition among documentary producers 
for this pie. Reacting to this the FFC then came back to ASDA and 
SPAA for their views. SPAA supported the 60/40 while ASDA argued that 
the 50/50 split should remain. ASDA made the point that the majority 
of filmmakers would support this position, and that there was enough 
flexibility to allow a 60% allocation for international projects if 
required.

As a result the FFC has reverted to its originally proposed 50/50 
guidelines in regards to documentary financing. ASDA is of the view 
that this a good outcome.

This is an issue that ASDA documentary members need to be aware of in 
the future, because unless there is an injection of funds into the 
sector in the near future, the pressure will only intensify. There 
are arguments for both sides, particularly in relation to the bigger 
questions that have been asked about the future of the documentary 
sector. How does it escape the broadcasting clench-hold? How does it 
become more 'sustainable'? What is the right balance between local 
and international?

ASDA has been lobbying for more money for the FFC in the next budget, 
in the hope that the FFC allocation for doco can increase. Once the 
budget comes down, it may be that the doco sector will have to come 
together to thrash out the views on all sides about the best split of 
the money available, and other options that might be available for 
the future. Rather than waiting for the next FFC guideline review to 
roll around.

At a time when audiences are screaming out for documentary 
programming, there seems to be no better time for this discussion to 
take place."
-- 
Richard Harris
Executive Director
Australian Screen Directors Association

PH: 612 9555 7045 FAX: 612 9555 7086
WEB: www.asdafilm.org.au