Aussie News - Issue 24 - March 2007 

Australian Film Festival in Mauritius and Seychelles

Film writer and director
Cate Shortland

In February, Australian films were the flavour of the month in Mauritius and Seychelles following the inaugural Australian Film Festival in Seychelles and our fourth such festival in Mauritius. Between the two countries, more that 2000 people watched 9 Australian feature films and seven short films.

In Mauritius the Vice-President and two cabinet ministers enjoyed the opening function which preceded the screening of the widely acclaimed Somersault. This was introduced by our feature guest, the film’s writer and director Cate Shortland. The visit of Ms Shortland, which we organised through generous local sponsorship, included interviews with local television, radio and print media and also the conducting of two workshops with local film and television industry representatives. One of the main successes of the Mauritian leg was the tremendous response from over 700 school students in Mauritius, who were invited to three special school screenings of Hildegard (screened twice) and The Magic Pudding. These sessions were shown in collaboration with our primary local sponsor IDP Education.

Australia Week promotion in
Seychelles

In Seychelles, the film festival became the main feature of our inaugural Australia Week promotion. The launch of the promotion took place a local hotel in the presence of four ministers, a sizable Australian ex-pat community and local dignitaries and business leaders. With sponsorship from Edith Cowan University and local Australian businesses, the event served as the official launch of the film festival. It also provided a valuable opportunity for HOM to promote the launch of two Australian built passenger catamarans, which will service the routes between the islands in Seychelles. The catamarans, which are worth almost AUD 8 million, will replace other Australian built vessels operating in Seychelles since 1998.

The final feature of Australia Week was an education promotion organised by Austrade and featured Australian university participation.