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RedCarpet Night launches its third short film program for 2003 on Sunday, July 27 at 7.15pm at the Valhalla Cinemas on Glebe Point Road, Glebe.
"We are really proud to partner for the first time with Amnesty International. Given that this is the first time that RedCarpet Night has a specific theme, the theme of 'Freedom', we have received a really good response from filmmakers. We also aim for yet another sell-out screening and continue our great record of audience support," said Founding Director, Betty King.
"In this political climate, both Betty and I thought it was important to choose a charity we could benefit that was immediately relevant to many people's concerns and a charity that is making a positive difference. It is a very happy coincidence that we chose our theme, 'freedom', which works fabulously with the Amnesty campaign 'Use Your Freedom'. Frankly, we couldn't have said it better - use your freedom to make films that make a difference" said Co-Director, Sarah Runcie.
"We have a fantastic programme of short films that deal with a variety of aspects of freedom - from satire to drama to documentary, from stories from refugees in Australia to the experience of political repression in other countries. Again, the program is eclectic and showcases a wide variety of experience and ideas - from the beginner to the established filmmaker. That diversity is our method and thematic meaning - freedom," said Sarah Runcie.
The July screening will include Anna Tow's outstanding animation Pending, Annie Slater's St Kilda entrant, The Ball, Elissa Down's delightful comedy The Bathers and a host of excellent films from up and coming filmmakers.
All profits of the 'Freedom' screening will go to Amnesty International Australia, a charity tackling worldwide human rights violations and encouraging the development of a 'civil society' through education, intervention and activism. Each filmmaker goes into the draw for a fantastic prize.
To book your tickets, call Amnesty International Australia on 02 9217 7670. All tickets are $13. To submit your short film, email: redcarpetnight@hotmail.com or phone: 0425 757 468.
For Media Queries: Sarah Runcie 0402 107 043 s.runcie@afc.gov.au
PROGRAM
Red Carpet Night
Red Carpet Night is a short film screening event, held bi-monthly at the Valhalla Cinemas in Glebe. Conceived as a means of showing short films by local filmmakers that do not normally get shown on the festival circuit, Red Carpet Night is also a charity event that has raised thousands of dollars for community causes.
Philosophy
Fundamentally, Red Carpet Night is about community ethic. It provides a 'big cinema' experience for filmmakers, often beginners, that would not normally have that opportunity. It supports, through its profits, community organisations and their aims of social justice.
As an event, we are neither government funded nor cash sponsored. As a cultural event, our audience is our barometer of relevance. Our aim is to remain, through successful box office alone, financially independent.
Red Carpet Night is non-competitive. We enthusiastically encourage all our audience to be supportive of every filmmaker's effort. At each screening we have a prize for the local filmmakers that is drawn by random raffle as opposed to a judged festival award.
Finally, Red Carpet Night is about engaging new audiences with new ideas.
A Brief History In Brief
Betty King founded Red Carpet Night in 2002 in order to meet what she perceived to be a need for beginner filmmakers to see their work in the cinema context outside the competitive festival circuit.
The first Red Carpet Night was held in September of last year to a sell-out crowd. Our second screening, in March of this year, also sold-out. Our aim is to continue our record of success.
This year, we are registered, for the first time, with the Lexus IF Awards. Our industry supporters are supported by ASDA, WIFT, MetroScreen, Channel 31 and IF Magazine.
Programming Methodology
There is
no strict qualitative, format , genre nor production value selection criteria
for films. As consistent with our ethos, Red Carpet Night is open to any
film (subject to the decision making of the Co-Directors). There is no
entry fee. All we do, however, ask each filmmaker is to sell a minimum
of ten tickets to their screening. This strategy guarantees basic costs
of the screening are covered, that we have our filmmakers in attendance
and that the audience is enthusiastic and supportive.) The challenge then
is to put together a coherent program of short films. By approaching films
in terms of the ideas that the filmmakers are trying to express as opposed
to flashy production values, we are hoping to engage audiences on a different
level to the usual 'festival competition' programming.
· Main program: films by local filmmakers. They can be any standard
- from beginner to professional
· Exhibition films: outstanding films by non-local filmmakers.
They can be films from interstate or overseas that work within the context
of the program. Exhibition films and their filmmakers are not in the draw
for the Red Carpet Prize.
· Themed screenings: our first themed screening will be held in
July for Amnesty International.
Business Structure
Red Carpet Night is owned by the Northern Beaches Interchange, which is a registered charity providing respite care for disabled children and young adults. The Northern Beaches Interchange license other charities to use of the branding and event concept of Red Carpet Night for a nominal fee. The Directors, volunteers and patrons for Red Carpet Night are, therefore, covered by the public liability insurance of the charity that is benefiting from the night.
Publicity
Went to Red Carpet… The place was buzzing. It was great! It's great to see strangers, friends and families of the filmmakers etc all being so supportive of the filmmakers, and just cheering them on. If you missed out on this one, be sure to catch the next one…
www.chaosgeneration.com
Red Carpet Night does not have a promotion budget but rather relies on word of mouth and free media exposure on the internet and email, in local, street and main stream press and local radio. (see attachments for press releases and media articles)
Directors
Betty King is the Founding Director of Red Carpet Night. She is a member of The National Institute of Accountants, Australian Institute of Management and recently joined the Women in Film & Television finance committee. In 2002, Betty founded the Big Issue International Film Festival which was held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, London and Manchester. She was the festival director for the Australian festivals and co-ordinated the screening of Australian films in the UK. For its inaugural year, the Big Issue International Film Festival had almost 70 Australian submissions, screened to over 1,000 people nation-wide and made profits of approximately $7,000.
Betty is also an ex-professional clown who is a seasoned philanthropist. She has been a volunteer events co-ordinator, committee member, entertainer and fundraiser for numerous charities in the last decade. Charities have included the NSW Spastic Centre, Northern Beaches Interchange (NSW), Northern Interchange (Vic.), Big Issue Australia, Oxfam (Aust.), Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School to name a few.
Sarah Runcie is the Co-Director and Publicist of Red Carpet Night. Sarah has had nearly seven years experience in managing events for community and industry organisations in Australia and in the US. She was Assistant to the Executive Director of Women in Film & Video, (Wash. DC, US), a member of the Steering Committee of the Immigration Rights Task Force (Wash. DC, US), President of Women in Film & Television (NSW) and, most recently, Co-Chair of the Mardi Gras Fundraising Committee.
Sarah has been involved with volunteering in many different capacities for a number of film festivals in both Sydney and Washington DC, including Reel Affirmations, the Sydney Film Festival and the WOW International Film Festival. Sarah joined Red Carpet Night as Co-Director, in January of this year.
Filmmakers
As a first time filmmaker, it was great to see the months of hard work finally up on the big screen. The response and support from the sell out crowd was truly amazing, and an inspiration to go on and produce more short films.
Shane Coomber, Writer/Director The Little Red ManThere was a whole lotta luv between the cast and crew when we had not just brought the film to completion but were able to experience it in all it's glory on the big screen.
Theo Kaviaris, Writer/Director The Family Jewels
Given that the programming methodology of Red Carpet Night is to program films from all levels of skill and experience, the films that have been screened so far represent an eclectic variety of current short film.
Amongst the titles shown at Red Carpet Night are Gary Doust's Murbah Swamp Beer, (runner-up in last year's Tropfest), Keiran Galvin's Contact, (winner of this year's Panasonic Prize at the Mardi Gras Film Festival). In our up-coming May screening we will be show two Tropfest Finalists, Effective Towel Flicking and The Thing, as well as a St Kilda film, The Other.
Thousands use their freedom to defend human rights
Thousands of Amnesty International members and supporters from around Australia are using their freedom and the Amnesty International Australia website to defend people jailed for expressing their views on the internet.
Amnesty International recently presented an e-petition containing more than 3000 signatures to the Vietnamese embassy seeking the release of prisoner of conscience, Le Chi Quang.
Amnesty International Australian President, Russell Thirgood said Le Chi was jailed for doing what many Australians would take for granted - expressing his views on the internet.
"We're asking Australians to use their freedom by using the internet to push for his release," Mr Thirgood said.
Le, a law graduate and computer teacher was jailed for publishing documents critical of the government on the Internet. He suffers from kidney disease and has been denied medical treatment. Grave fears are held for his safety.
Mr Thirgood said that increasing numbers of people were imprisoned last year in countries like China and Vietnam for expressing their views on the internet or downloading information critical of the government.
"The internet is a new frontier for human rights. Repressive governments are cracking down on dissidents using it, but it's also a powerful tool in pushing for their release," he said.
Mr Thirgood said Amnesty International's top priority throughout 2003 was defending human rights in the Asia Pacific region.
"The tragic events in Aceh are showing us daily that human rights abuses are happening right now to people like us in places close to home."
"There are more political prisoners in the Asia Pacific region then in any other part of the world," he said.
"An Asia Pacific nation - China - executes more people than any other country in the world and another one - Singapore - is believed to execute the largest number of people per capita in the world," Mr Thirgood said.
"All around our region last year governments stepped up the repression of their political opponents in the name of combating terrorism.
"We're urging Australians to take a stand on these issues by joining our campaign, supporting people like Le Chi and others and defending human rights in our region," he said.
Amnesty International Australia's Use Your Freedom campaign will continue for the next year. People can find out more information and participate online at www.amnesty.org.au.
Media
contacts: Gary Highland on 0422 869 439 or 0422 869 439
About CG | Editor: Kirsten Lowe | PO Box 559, Broadway 2007, Sydney, Australia
Ph: 0410 310 238 | Fax: +61 2 9555 1752 | Email: kirsten@chaosgeneration.com