Adelaide Goes International with New Youth Film Festival

Adelaide goes international with new Youth Film Festival where young people are the jurors

More than 100 films for young people by film makers from across the globe will feature in the new Adelaide International Youth Film Festival when it lights up the West End from September 27 to October 1, with the inaugural program to be released tomorrow.

Built around this year's theme of "Uplift", the inaugural AIYFF will see thousands of young people, including special student delegations from China, America and Italy, converge on Adelaide for five days of immersive film screenings, talks, workshops and more, with a focus on enabling youth and encouraging their points of view.

Aiming to become the premiere youth film festival of the Asia Pacific region, the AIYFF will also forge new cultural ties with Chinese youth, announcing major Chinese-based funding group YOLO China Investment Group, a member unit of the Council of China Central Fund of News Documentary Film, as its principal partner.

Held at the GU Film House on Hindley Street, the AIYFF will present a jam-packed program of short and feature films made by established, independent and emerging film makers from all over the world, with young participants acting as both audience and jury, discussing and debating the films before voting for their favourites to win great prizes.

Originally the Adelaide Kids Film Festival, the AIYFF is the brainchild of Artistic Director Chloe Gardner, winner of the 2016 South Australian Art Winnovation Award. Due to popular international success and demand, the small local Adelaide festival has now been transformed into a major international event.

"The global response to the AIYFF has been overwhelming, with over 500 films from across the globe submitted for selection, and we are so excited to launch our very first festival program," Ms Gardner said.

The AIYFF will also continue the relationship established by the Adelaide Kids Film Festival with Italy's prestigious Giffoni Film Festival, the world's foremost children's film festival which attracts thousands of young people from more than 39 countries and an army of high profile directors, producers and movie stars every year, with this year's event featuring Julianne Moore, Bryan Cranston and Amy Adams.

Four young South Australians are currently at Giffoni as representatives of the AIYFF, and in turn AIYFF is supported and endorsed by Giffoni with a special delegation of students from Italy set to visit the inaugural event in Adelaide.

YOLO China Investment Group, which also supports the Beijing International Micro Film Festival and the Europe China Image Film Festival, is the principal partner of the AIYFF through its newly formed China-Australia Cultural Fund which is co-managed by YOLO China Culture Media ecosystem brand and Sydney-based finance company Goldmate Group in cooperation with Adelaide film production house AMPCO Studios, with additional support from the Adelaide City Council.

Emmy Award winning film producer, AIYFF Chair and Executive Director of AMPCO Mario Andreacchio said AIYFF and YOLO would work together to cement a firm strategic partnership, laying a solid foundation for cultural exchange and further collaboration between China and Australia at future festivals.

"My film Production Company AMPCO Studios has always had a special focus on films for young people, and we are proud to be supporting Chloe and the establishment of what promises to be an exciting festival that is unique in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

Secretary General of YOLO Entertainment Mr Ba Teer said: "We are delighted that Mario and Chloe invited us to participate in this festival. We consider this to be a very important step in the cultural understanding and exchange between Chinese and Australian young people. After all, the future is in their hands."

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said: "Adelaide is well-known globally for its arts and culture, and this festival provides an opportunity for our young people to be an active voice in this cultural exchange. The City of Adelaide is very pleased to support this significant new event that will continue to strengthen our relationship with China."

Minister for the Arts the Hon Jack Snelling said: "The launch of this exciting new film festival in response to international demand shows what a strong reputation for arts and culture South Australia has on the world stage. I am proud to support the Adelaide International Youth Film Festival in presenting its inaugural program, and look forward to welcoming young people and film makers from all over the globe to Adelaide to share their ideas, inspiration and art."

Minister for Investment and Trade the Hon Martin Hamilton-Smith said: "It's wonderful to see the emergence of this great initiative coming out of South Australia's relationships with China. It truly shows how you can be both local and global. The South Australian Government looks forward to working with AIYFF to help build this film festival into a significant event on the cultural calendar."

Trade Commissioner at Austrade Shanghai Ms Susan Corbisiero said: "We've been proudly assisting Mario in his China ventures for many years now. It is pleasing to see how long term planning and multi-level engagement with China is now beginning to pay dividends. This festival is not just about culture and business, but also about establishing with young people the long term relationships and understanding necessary for Australia and China to expand their engagement into the future."

The Adelaide International Youth Film Festival will release its full program tomorrow (Wednesday, July 26) at 11am ACST at GU Film House, 128 Hindley Street, Adelaide and online at www.aiyff.com.au. The festival will run from September 27 to October 1.

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