New Streaming Platform Connects China with Top Australian Screen Content, Marking A World-First for Australian Academy

21 October

Australia’s best short films, web series and industry interviews will now be showcased in China thanks to ‘Access Australia’ – a new streaming platform exclusively created for the China market.

Access Australia was developed by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), marking the world’s first screen entertainment academy to develop a streaming platform specifically curated for an international market.

The platform delivers on AACTA’s objectives of developing new international audiences for Australian screen content, and sparking industry connections and collaborations for Australia in key markets.

Access Australia includes Oscar-winning shorts The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan and Harvie Krumpet by Adam Elliot, and early works by David Michôd (Animal Kingdom), Wayne Blair (The Sapphires) and Cate Shortland (Black Widow).

The platform also showcases next-gen Australian talent via AACTA nominated and awarded web series, including the entertaining Robbie Hood by Dylan River, and the Canneseries award-winning comedy Over and Out by Adele Vuko and Christiaan Van Vuuren.

Promoting Australia’s international reputation for excellence in VFX, Access Australia showcases ‘before and after’ sequences by Australian studios on global blockbusters including Captain Marvel, The Great Gatsby, X-Men and Ironman, and on Chinese film Shadow by director Zhang Yimou.

Access Australia is part of AACTA’s International Engagement Programs, extending AACTA’s events into the world’s top three markets – the US, China and India – over the last nine years.

With the support of AACTA’s foundation partner Destination NSW, and a new partnership with the Australian Embassy of China, Access Australia also promotes Australian tourism, leveraging Chinese screen fans’ interest in Australian culture.

Quote attributable to AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella: “Access Australia provides outstanding new content for China, and promotes Australia’s screen industry in one of the world’s biggest screen markets. With China also being one of Australia’s biggest visitation markets, Access Australia also promotes Australian culture and visitor experiences, using the power of screen to spark business, education and visitation for Australia and Sydney, home of the AACTA Awards, for the future.”

Quote attributable to New South Wales Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres: “There is no doubt that New South Wales is Australia’s premier state for film and television production, so we are delighted by the opportunity to showcase our local productions and talent to new audiences in China. While it’s been an incredibly challenging year, particularly for those in the tourism and creative industries, this initiative provides a new platform through which we can put New South Wales front of mind by promoting and celebrating the unique experiences our state has to offer.”

Access Australia is now available for free in China on the bilibili platform.

The AACTA Awards are supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

ACCESS AUSTRALIA – FAST FACTS

Access Australia currently hosts over 30 short films, three web series and over 60 interviews with film and television celebrities from Australia, Hollywood and China, with more content to be added regularly
Access Australia also includes recordings of events held by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) in China, including co-production forums and masterclasses
Oscar-award winning performers Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett (AACTA Ambassador) are included in the many interviews recorded at AACTA events around the world
Access Australia showcases ‘before and after’ examples of Australian visual effects (VFX), with Australia producing some of the world’s best (VFX) and post-production, including on the Harry Potter films, The Avengers, X-Men, Game of Thrones, Captain America, The Hunger Games, Ted and The LEGO® Movies
Australia is discovering a new generation of content-making talent via web series, including the series Content, featured on Access Australia. Content went viral in 2019, marking the world’s first ‘vertical video comedy series’, shown from the point of view of a smartphone
For actors wondering how to make their break at home and internationally, Access Australia features a panel discussion with top Asian-Australian actors sharing their insights, including Remy Hii (Spider-Man: Far From Home) and Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians)
In addition to Australian screen content, Access Australia also features clips showcasing tourism highlights, such as climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

AACTA IN CHINA – FAST FACTS

AACTA has been active in China since 2017 when it launched the AACTA Asia International Engagement Program and the AACTA Award for Best Asian Film presented by Eureka International Group (EIG)
The AACTA Award for Best Asian Film is determined by a jury of world-leading screen practitioners and performers, led by Jury President, Oscar award-winning actor Russell Crowe
AACTA holds regular events in China, including AACTA Awards events, Australian film launches, and panel events sharing insights from Australian filmmakers who have worked on Chinese productions, and Chinese filmmakers and actors who have worked in Australia
AACTA also holds an Asia | Australia Film Forum in Sydney each year linked with the AACTA Awards, providing an opportunity to spark connections and business opportunities between the Australian and Asian screen industries.

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MEDIA ENQUIRIES

black & white publicity | Kelly Black | P: 0422 991 600 | E: kelly@blackandwhitepublicity.com.au

AACTA | Jayne-Louise O’Connell | P: 0403 513 115 | E: joconnell@afi.org.au

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New Streaming Platform Connects China with Top Australian Screen Content, Marking A World-First for Australian Academy

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