Australian Feature Film Forum at AIMC 2023
The inaugural Australian Feature Film Forum has now unveiled a dynamic lineup of sessions and speakers for its virtual streaming package from Wednesday 1 Nov to Thursday 2 Nov, 2023.
The virtual streaming package offered includes access to four panels and one keynote speaker featuring leading professionals in the local and international cinema sector, each highlighting the latest data, trends, technology and predictions about the place of cinema releases in the minds of consumers. They have been live-streamed with live captions from the AIMC, recorded and available to registered participants for viewing.
Program
*please note that sessions are live-streamed in the Queensland time zone.
WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER
8.00am (AEST)
Panel 1: Australia’s Evolving Box Office: A Data-driven Discussion about Movies & Moviegoers
Moderator Matt Liebmann, Chief Product, Innovation & Marketing Officer for The Vista Group and a panel of entertainment industry insiders hold a data-driven conversation about the who, what, when and why of today’s Australia cinema-goers. Joining Matt are Stephanie Mills (Hoyts Group), Benjamin Zeccola (Palace Cinemas), Brian Pritchett (Paramount Pictures), Dean Schraftt (Google), Frank Perikleous (Comscore) & Ruari Elkington (Queensland University of Technology).
2.35pm (AEST)
Panel 2: Ask Me Anything
A panel of film producers, exhibitors and distributors ask tough questions of each other to stimulate a better understanding of each sector's decision-making process and enable insights into the complexities of finding audiences for Australian films in cinemas. Hoodlum CCO Tracey Vieira orchestrates all those “burning questions” to reveal the motivations, operational limitations and business-model drivers for each of these sectors. Joining Tracey will be Claire Gandy (Event Cinemas), Ross Entwistle (Limelight Cinemas), Marc Wooldridge (Maslow Entertainment), Joel Pearlman (Roadshow Films), Sam Jennings (Causeway Films) & Jamie Hilton (See Pictures).
THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER
8.00am (AEST)
Panel 3: Marketing - Evolving Trends, Technologies & Opportunities
Marketing is evolving. Quickly! Starting in 1999 with the frightening creativity that launched the Blair Witch campaign, The Gentleminions, Barbenheimer, Smile, The Creator or even M3gan's spooky dance are all recent examples of viral marketing driving box office to new heights. Eventising movies is here to stay, and Bec Pini from M4M agency will be joined by a panel to discuss how they are tailoring campaigns to different generations, and discussing ideas that the industry should be considering in order to enhance our engagement with evolving audiences. Panellists include Liberty Wilson (Event Cinemas), Stacey Kwijas (Village Cinemas), Felicity Drake (Universal Pictures), Richard Greenwood (Movio) and Whitney Williams (TikTok).
9.10am (AEST)
Google Keynote: Changing Consumer Behaviour & The Future Of Marketing
Focused on changing consumer behaviour, both overall trends, Dean Schrafft – Google Industry Manager (Media, Entertainment & Technology) - will reveal what Google is seeing specifically in Media and Entertainment evidencing Google data, along with some thoughts surrounding the implications on the future of marketing, addressing advances in AI and the importance of data.
2.40pm (AEST)
Panel 4: Global Cinema - The Rise of the Experience
Leading management consulting firm, McKinsey, noted recently that Gen Z will make up a quarter of the population of Asia Pacific by 2025, with this generation more likely to spend on experiences that enrich their everyday lives than millennials. The Rise Of The Experience panel brings together international experts to discuss shifting trends towards "experiences" including different seating concepts, technology innovations and F&B enhancements, and how these experiences drive box office, repeat visitation and ultimately enhance the guest experience. Joining moderator Cameron Mitchell, the executive director of NACO, will be Giovanni Dolci (IMAX), Luke Mackey (Event Cinemas), Brett Rosengarten (ICA), Edwin Ramesh (Dolby Laboratories), Brian Claypool (Christie – EVP Cinema) and Pruthu Shah (Scrabble Entertainment).
“The Australian International Movie Convention (AIMC) unites the Australian cinema industry, bringing exhibition, distribution and the creative film making community together to discuss emerging trends, share ideas, explore opportunities for collaboration and to showcase upcoming releases.”
— Cameron Mitchell Executive Director,
National Association of Cinema Operators (NACO)
