The Australian Film Institute (AFI) was founded in 1958 as a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the
Australian film industry
The cinema of Australia had its beginnings with the 1906 production of ''The Story of the Kelly Gang'', arguably the world's first feature film. Since then, Australian crews have produced many films, a number of which have received internati ...
. It is responsible for producing Australia's premier annual film and television awards, the
AACTA Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, known as the AACTA Awards, are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). The awards recognise excellence in the film and television industr ...
(previously the AFI Awards).
["The Australian Film Institute – Celebrating 50 Years of Pride and Passion"]
Overview
The work of the institute is supported by government funding, corporate sponsors and approximately 10,000 members nationally. As Australia's foremost motion picture industry association, AFI promotes the Australian film and television industry and plays a central role in the way in which the Australian film industry is known and understood, both locally and internationally.
In the 1970s, the AFI played a prominent part in reviving the Australian film industry and in convincing the government to invest in the creation of the Experimental Film Fund, a film school, and a corporation for advancing feature film production. The year 1976 marked the first time that the AFI Awards, which had been given since 1958, were televised. Ten years later, television categories were added to the awards.
A recent focus of the organisation has been on helping to develop the careers of Australian film artists, through the AFI Fellowship and AFI Documentary Trailbrazer programs, as well as with the AFI Young Film Actor Award.
The AFI is affiliated with the
Los Angeles Australian Film & Television Association. In August 2011, AFI formed a subsidiary professional organisation, the
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is a professional organisation of film and television practitioners in Australia. The Academy's aim is "to identify, award, promote, and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements i ...
.
AFI Research Collection
Th
AFI Research Collection is a significant non-lending, specialist film and television industry resource. The collection operates under the auspices of
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
RMIT University, officially the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,, section 4(b) is a public university, public research university in Melbourne, Australia.
Founded in 1887 by Francis Ormond, RMIT began as a night school offering cla ...
's
School of Media and Communication in conjunction with the Australian Film Institute. The Collection has particular strengths in screen history and theory and in Australian cinema, and features a diverse range of books, journals, film scripts, film directories, reports and film festival catalogues.
["AFI Research Collection"]
See also
*
Cinema of Australia
The cinema of Australia had its beginnings with the 1906 production of '' The Story of the Kelly Gang'', arguably the world's first feature film. Since then, Australian crews have produced many films, a number of which have received internat ...
*
Culture of Australia
References
External links
AFI website AFI Awards 2010 coverage
@ Mediasearch
AFI History
{{Authority control
1958 establishments in Australia
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts
Film organisations in Australia
Organisations based in Melbourne
Organizations established in 1958
Television organisations in Australia