B&T’s own Greg ‘Sparrow’ Graham is no stranger to the Gold Coast. But while he’s decided against Schoolies this year, he was up there not long ago for the Australian International Movie Convention (AIMC). Here’s why he’s excited for a summer with a searing hot selection of movies.
I was back at the AIMC on the Gold Coast recently, and hasn’t it come a long way. I used to attend with the legendary Alan Finney, CEO of Disney Theatrical, when I was the MD of Mindshare Melbourne. The venue was the Royal Pines Hotel, and we bused to the closest cinema to see the films. It’s now an incredibly impressive world-class event with an outstanding agenda that reflects our thriving cinema industry.
My favourite part is the thirteen distributor presentations of their upcoming slates from the big studios such as Universal, Disney, Sony, etc, to the indies Kismet, MadMan, Maslow Entertainment, etc. The Star theatre on the Gold Coast is fitted out by Hoyts Cinema Technology Group with the very best projection and superior sound, which is super impressive.
Unfortunately, the media aren’t allowed at the event; you sign a Confidentiality Agreement, the info is embargoed, and they secure your mobile phone, which is weird and also liberating.
I’m only reporting information and stats that are in the public domain—on the AIMC website, in the official program, or in the IF magazine.
Saw some excellent films such as Rental Family, The Housemaid, and Song Sung Blue. Plus I smashed so much popcorn, Pepsi, and Bulla Choc Tops, I was in a food haze for days.
This year, the global box office will hit AU$50 billion, and locally, we expect to end the year above $1 billion in Australia.
Paramount Pictures is committing to increase its output from 8 titles his year to 15 very quickly. Amazon MGM Studio is also ramping up production with some incredible films, with 14 movies next year.
The one thing I would like to see is more investment in local content.
The box office last year was only 3.8 per cent local, and the Cinema Association Australia has repeatedly called on the local industry to target 10 per cent box office share annually or around $100 million. In France, the local titles capture 44.4 per cent market share, and in Thailand, it’s 69 per cent.
We have so much incredible local talent, and we must address these challenges to create a more vibrant local film industry.
As the box office continues to stabilise, Australia’s exhibitors are investing heavily in the next evolution of the cinema experience. Hoyts Group CEO and president Damian Keogh agrees cinema-going has become more ‘occasion-led’ since the pandemic, fuelling the growth in premium formats.
Hoyts has seen Extremscreen and Lux admissions up 10 per cent year on year. D-Box continues to grow, and it’s opening two ScreenX theatres and five IMAX screens, plus it’s experimenting with Samsung Onyx LED screens at EQ and Highpoint. This is only good news for Aussie cinema goers with premium experiences taking it to the next level, and often these are the first sessions to be sold out.
It’s going to be a cracker year ahead at the local box office. Cinema remains the country’s most popular cultural event.
There is nothing better than sitting in a comfortable recliner, with a group of friends, with excellent sound, and the big screen, watching a brilliant film.
Some of the outstanding films I’m excited for are Avatar: Fire and Ash, Toy Story 5, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Minions 3, Michael, Shrek 5, SpongeBob the Movie, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Nuremberg.
Next year, there is something for everybody, no matter what genre you love, so book your cinema tickets now and immerse yourself in the magical experience on the big screen.
