South Australian Film-Makers’ Perspectives on Policies: State and Federal Film Policies and the Representation of Cultural Diversity in Australian Films

Abstract

This thesis examines the extent to which the federal and state government cultural and film funding policies have impacted on South Australian film-makers’ capacity to seek funds to produce films that depict cultural diversity. It considers how these policies influence the types of Australian films that received funding. The South Australian and federal government’s film policies have changed greatly over the past 40 years and a consideration of the outcomes and effects of these changes on the South Australian film-makers and their films form the basis of this research. This thesis examines the impact of government policy on South Australian filmmakers’ creative projects using document analysis of government film policies and interviews with six South Australian film-makers to understand their perspectives on producing films representing cultural diversity. The research is concerned mostly with the ways film-makers deal with the policy changes over the years to simultaneously gain funding and produce culturally diverse films, and whether the policies affect the types of films being made at the time. The thesis is theoretically framed within the creative and cultural industries and positioned in the field of film studies with particular focus on the South Australian film industry. It includes a brief examination of crowdfunding as an alternative to public funding as a means to increase depictions of cultural diversity in Australian films. The thesis develops an analysis of the policy-driven changing priorities over four decades of film funding policies, assessing the balances achieved between cultural and commercial outcomes. Interviewed film-makers reveal the challenges of achieving the balance of creativity and commercial success for films depicting cultural diversity. The thesis concludes that more diverse means of funding films and a focus on culturally diverse story telling in film policies are necessary to encourage culturally diverse film-makers to produce and exhibit their films nationally and internationally.