MEDIA RELEASE

Parramatta On Screen

Released 17 March 2008

Information and Cultural Exchange
PO Box 4033 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia
T: +61(2) 9897 5744 / F: +61(2) 9897 5766

Eight young filmmakers will launch six sharp new short films made in Parramatta this Wednesday 19 March at Riverside Theatres.

Springboard: 6 Short Films
6.30pm, Wednesday 19 March 2008
Riverside Theatres Parramatta

The films were produced in Springboard, a digital film intensive for first-time young filmmakers run by Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE). The Switch Multimedia and Digital Arts Access Centre, managed by ICE in partnership with Parramatta City Council, was the centre of training and production.

Mays Hill resident Jimmy Khouri had been trying to make a film for his HSC, but couldn’t quite get his project off the ground because without resources or support. His short film, 134A was shot around Mays Hill and in Parramatta Park. “Springboard gave me a chance to really get my hands into it, and do it properly,” he said. “Working through each stage of the process was really important. The trainers were great, and we got a lot of support,” he said.

Erryn Akpinar, of Westmead, wanted to make his story for a long time. In his film, Madeline’s Last Eye Test, a young girl experiences something unexpected at the optometrist. “It was fantastic being given the resources and opportunity to make the film,” he said. “There’s nowhere else you can really go in this part of Sydney to get this support.”

Beyond the launch of Springboard, Erryn will be presenting about his experience and the challenges of first-time filmmakers in Western Sydney, at Oz-Made Films, a seminar presented by ICE later this month exploring opportunities for filmmaking in Western Sydney.

Springboard is the first project of Parramatta Screening, a program supported by Parramatta City Council and the NSW Film and Television Office which will see a whole host of initiatives to support the emergence of new skills and talent in film in the Parramatta area and Western Sydney more generally. ICE also receives support from Arts NSW and the Australia Council for the Arts.

“Parramatta Screening is about a three year boost to our local film talent, and Springboard is only the beginning,” said Lena Nahlous, Director of ICE and Switch. We’re really proud and amazed at the quality of films made by first-time filmmakers, and the dedication of these artists to their craft. We are seeing great connections too, with many of the film soundtracks featuring local young musicians who produced their first recordings at Switch,” said Lena.

A FREE event. RSVP to Kirstie on 9897 5744 or kirstie.boerst@ice.org.au

For more information please download the launch invitation.