Australia Takes Center Stage at MIPCOM

PARIS: MIPCOM’s Spotlight on Australia will open with a keynote address on October 5 from film director and screenwriter Gregor Jordan, presenting the global launch of the transmedia project Smashcut.

Smashcut is co-produced by Jordan and The Project Factory. "Smashcut.com is a brand new platform for marketing and distributing a wide variety of content in a completely unique way," commented Jordan. "It’s an interactive website where users get to create their own edits of raw footage from music videos, live concerts, short dramas, even TV commercials. Smashcut gives its registered users free access to slickly produced raw footage of well known bands and actors and allows them to create their own cuts using our totally new streaming video editing tool. They save their cuts to the site and then anyone can watch and rate all the different versions. It’s like YouTube but with an interactive element that takes it to a whole new level."

Jordan will be interviewed by the founder of The Project Factory and co-producer of Smashcut, Guy Gadney, kicking off a full day of Australina-focused events.

"I’m proud to see the work of Australia’s broadcasting and production sectors honored on the international stage at the world’s pivotal entertainment content market MIPCOM," said Virginia Judge, NSW Government Minister for Fair Trading and the Arts. "The significant presence of Australia’s creative community and impressive content line-up is testament to the innovation of the Australian production sector. The winning formula of production offsets, State body investment and Screen Australia support has allowed Australia to be at the forefront of broadcast and digital content. We look forward to sharing our industry with the international screen community at this comprehensive broadcasting market."

Marcus Gillezeau, producer and director at Firelight Productions, will chair a series of case studies on  cross-platform content and alternative revenue streams. FremantleMedia Australia’s CEO, Ian Hogg, will then talk about what makes global powerhouse formats resonate, while IPTV innovators Andrew Lambert, the general manager of content acquisition and strategic partnerships at Telstra, and  Lauren McLaughlin, the director of content and interactive partnerships at FetchTV, will spotlight at the innovative ways in which traditional media and telco players are adapting to shifts in content and carriage. 

Other highlights of the Spotlight on Australia at MIPCOM include the launch by Tourism Australia of a new broadcasting initiative and the official launch of  Australia’s new international co-production guidelines by Screen Australia, the Federal Government screen agency providing support to Australian film, television, documentary and digital media makers. Australia will also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of children’s program The Wiggles and Melbourne’s Visual Entertainment Group’s 21st anniversary at MIPCOM this year.   

Australian networking events include an "Australia Lunch," followed by a workshop and matchmaking event that will allow participants to meet key players of the Australian industry. In addition, this year’s “MIPCOM Producers’ Cocktail,” sponsored by Screen Australia, Circe Films, Iliad and Chef’s Ink, will take place with the presence of Australian chefs and wines on Tuesday evening.