Date:19/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/19/stories/2005101912200200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

South Australian film festival from today

Staff Reporter

It is part of a promotion campaign and will feature some all-time great films produced in South Australia

BANGALORE: Bangalore will host "Against the Odds/The triumph of the human spirit", a three-day festival of South Australian films, from Wednesday. The festival is being organised by the Government of South Australia and the Bangalore-based Suchitra Film Society.

South Australian Director for Trade and Investment in India A.K. Tareen provides more information on the event: "This film festival in Bangalore will feature some of the all-time great movies produced in South Australia, such as Rabbit Proof Fence, Breaker Morrant, The Storm Boy, Tracker, Australian Rules and Black & White."

And, the objective of the festival is: "It is organised as part of the promotion campaign to raise awareness on South Australia in India — particularly its culture and capability in film-making."

Building a strong relationship with Karnataka at all levels, including business, culture and sports is, of course, the larger goal of the South Australian Government. "A business delegation from South Australia, led by Minister for Industry and Trade, Paul Holloway, called on government and business leaders last week and discussed matters of mutual benefit," he said.

The delegation also discussed various business opportunities with the members of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce, at a networking session organised by the chamber.

Mr. Tareen says that South Australia offers a wide variety of locations to Indian film producers, "anything from parched deserts to green rolling hills, intensely wooded forests to intact period urban locations, beautiful beaches to lovely wine yards, red sand dunes, white salt lakes, some of the most ancient mountains on the face of the earth — all within a short distance from Adelaide."

For the record, South Australia has had good experience working in the post-production areas for films such as the James Bond series and the Lord of the Rings. Adds Mr. Tareen: "We are currently discussing the possibility of a joint film production with Kannada producers and directors."