Australia Spotlighted at MIPCOM 2010

PARIS, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Award winning Australian film director ("Ned Kelly") and screenwriter, Gregor Jordan, will open MIPCOM's Spotlight on Australia with a keynote address on Tuesday 5 October. The keynote will feature the global launch of transmedia project "Smashcut," co-produced by Gregor Jordan and transmedia specialists, The Project Factory.

"Smashcut.com is a brand new platform for marketing and distributing a wide variety of content in a completely unique way," comments Gregor Jordan. "It's an interactive website where users get to create their own edits of raw footage from music videos, live concerts, short dramas, even TV commercials. 'Smashcut' gives its registered users free access to slickly produced raw footage of well known bands and actors and allows them to create their own cuts using our totally new streaming video editing tool. They save their cuts to the site and then anyone can watch and rate all the different versions. It's like YouTube but with an interactive element that takes it to a whole new level."

Interviewed by the founder of The Project Factory, and co-producer of Smashcut, Guy Gadney, Jordan will kick-off the Spotlight on Australia, a full day of Australian-focused creativity and innovation, matchmaking events and celebrations, featuring leaders from Australia's broadcasting and cross media sectors.

"I'm proud to see the work of Australia's broadcasting and production sectors honoured on the international stage at the world's pivotal entertainment content market MIPCOM," says Virginia Judge, NSW Government Minister for Fair Trading and the Arts. "The significant presence of Australia's creative community and impressive content line-up is testament to the innovation of the Australian production sector. The winning formula of production offsets, State body investment and Screen Australia support has allowed Australia to be at the forefront of broadcast and digital content. We look forward to sharing our industry with the international screen community at this comprehensive broadcasting market."

Marcus Gillezeau, Producer/Director, Firelight Productions, will chair a series of case studies on cross-platform content and alternative revenue streams. Speakers will include Mike Conway, Managing Director, The Wiggles, Ross Crowley, Director of Programming, Foxtel, Jarod Green, Creator of "Beached Whale" and Director of "Radical Love" and Guy Gadney, founder of The Project Factory, and co-producer of Smashcut.

FremantleMedia Australia's CEO, Ian Hogg, will then talk about what makes global powerhouse formats such as the "X Factor" resonate, while IPTV innovators Andrew Lambert, General Manager Content Acquisition & Strategic Partnerships, Telstra and Lauren McLaughlin, Director of Content & Interactive Partnerships, FetchTV, will have a look at the innovative ways in which traditional media and telco players are adapting to shifts in content and carriage.

Other highlights of the Spotlight on Australia at MIPCOM include the launch by Tourism Australia of a new broadcasting initiative and the official launch of Australia's new international co-production guidelines by Screen Australia, the Federal Government screen agency providing support to Australian film, television, documentary and digital media makers. Screen Australia's presence at MIPCOM is enhanced this year with the attendance of their Executive Director of Strategy and Operations, Fiona Cameron.

Australia will also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of children entertainers' programme "The Wiggles" and Melbourne's Visual Entertainment Group's 21st anniversary at MIPCOM this year.

Australian networking events on Tuesday 5 October include an "Australia Lunch" (CBeach, Cannes), followed by a workshop and matchmaking event that will allow participants to meet key players of the Australian industry. In addition, this year's "MIPCOM Producers' Cocktail," sponsored by Screen Australia, Circe Films, Iliad and Chef's Ink, will take place with the presence of Australian chefs and wines on Tuesday evening (Vega Luna Beach Restaurant).

Over 250 Australian industry professionals are set to attend MIPCOM. This year the Australian delegation includes companies such as 9, 10, 7, SBS, ABC, Foxtel, ACTF, Southern Star Entertainment and Beyond. Key screen agencies such as Film Victoria, ScreenWest and Screen NSW are also in attendance and taking part in the matchmaking sessions.

Note to editors:

ABOUT REED MIDEM

Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is a leading organiser of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, and MIPJUNIOR for the television and digital content industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia, MIPIM HORIZONS and MAPIC for the property and retail real estate sectors.

Reed MIDEM is a division of Reed Exhibitions, the world's leading events organiser Reed organises a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 500 events serves 47 industry sectors. In 2007 Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organised by 39 fully staffed offices.

For further information about Reed MIDEM visit www.reedmidem.com.

SOURCE Reed MIDEM