ADELAIDE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES MAJOR ART AND THE MOVING IMAGE COMMISSION WITH NEW PARTNERSHIPS

Three major art institutions are collaborating with the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) to commission a moving image artwork from a leading Australian artist.

It was announced today the AFF will join with Carriageworks (NSW), the Samstag Museum, University of SA and the University of Western Australia Cultural Precinct to present the newly commissioned work.

The new work will premiere during the AFF in October 2015 at Samstag Museum, and will then be presented in Sydney and Perth in 2016.

The project is a natural evolution from the outstanding success of the partnership between the Samstag Museum and AFF which commissioned and presented the world premieres of work by Lynette Walworth, Warwick Thornton and Daniel Crooks at the last three festivals [2009, 2011 and 2013].

Applications for the 2015 commission open on April 30, alongside the 2015 Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund.

The selected artist will be awarded $50,000 to develop their work – and will be announced later this year.

AFF CEO and Festival Director Amanda Duthie said today: “The Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund seeks out ambitious work for all screens – for big screens, small screens and for galleries. This is such an exciting new area for screen commissioning and Adelaide Film Festival looks forward to working on this national initiative with three organisations who represent distinctive curatorial and presentation experience, collectively delivering a national tour of a new work from an Australian artist."

Samstag Director, Erica Green, said: “Samstag has an astounding history of commissioning partnerships that have produced wonderful and innovative works. We're thrilled to now be involved in this four-way partnership which will create a far larger national audience and ensure greater public recognition for the artists themselves.”

Professor Ted Snell, Director, Cultural Precinct at University of WA said: "Opportunities for Australian artists to undertake major projects are few and far between.  Ambition, vision and aspiration are the key components that will enable the successful artists to move their own practice up a gear when meeting this challenge".

Carriageworks Director, Lisa Havilah, said: ‘”Carriageworks is excited by the opportunity to collaborate on this major commissioning project.  The Adelaide Film Festival is known for its high level of ambition and support for the development of Australian art.  Carriageworks as Australia’s most significant contemporary multi arts institution is thrilled to be part of this national initiative that will be delivered through partnership and collaboration.

Full details of the commission and application details can be found here.