Australian Consulate-General
Chennai, India

Media release

02 June 2015                                                                                                                                                                                  PA-CN/06/01

Launch of Australian film showcase in Chennai

The Australian Consulate-General in Chennai announced the launch of the ‘Australian Film Showcase’ initiative in South India, starting with the city of Chennai on 12 June 2015. The announcement was made today by Mr Sean Kelly, the Australian Consul-General to South India, at the Australian Consulate-General in Chennai. Veteran actor Ms Suhasini Maniratnam and renowned producer Mr Ramkumar Ganesan were also present at the announcement and expressed their heartfelt support for the initiative.

The Australian Film Showcase initiative aims to introduce Australian feature films to a wide audience in South India and to build links between the Australian and South Indian film industries. After this initial Showcase in Chennai, further Showcases are planned for Hyderabad and Bangalore.

“I am very pleased to be launching the Australian Film Showcase in Chennai,” said Mr Kelly, Australian Consul-General to South India. “Films act as an important bridge between countries and cultures. I hope that this initiative will highlight the strengths and capacities of the Australian film industry and help build the ties between the film industries in Australia and South India.”

The eleven Australian films featured as part of the Showcase are a mix of classic Australian films featuring Australian actors who later became famous in Hollywood, such as Hugh Jackman and Cate Blanchett, and more recent releases. The films will be screened at Escape (SPI Cinemas) at Express Avenue, Chennai. Passes will be available free of cost to the general public on a limited basis. More information on the films, screening times and passes are available at the website of the Australian Consulate-General in Chennai.

The Australian Film Showcase in Chennai is sponsored by Tourism Australia - the Australian government organisation tasked with promoting Australia as an international tourist destination - and SAE Institute – a leading global media educator based out of Australia.

For more information visit: http://chennai.consulate.gov.au/cnai/Ausfilmshowcase.html or contact Sukanya Ramanujan at + 91 80562 33804 or email [email protected]