Films screened
Screening films proved to be popular from the beginning. Initially films came from the Dutch embassy in Canberra and also from the Victorian State Film Centre (now part of ACMI). Around 1975 a number of embassies started to pool their film resources and it became difficult to book a film, as a borrowed film may not be returned on time (this is also a difficulty with borrowing from the current National film and sound archives of Australia - NFSA). Confirmation of availability was only made on short notice making planning impossible. These films were shown in the Shell or National Mutual Theatrette or sometimes in the Dutch Club Abel Tasman
Later on the Dutch embassy had their own supply of Dutch films again which could be borrowed. This stopped around 2017 as no further DVDs were added and the embassy gave the remaining DVDs to us in 2019.
In 2002 we started an association with the ACMI (Australian for the Moving Image) by organising the showing of a Dutch film in Cinema 2, which holds 168 seats. Tickets were usually sold by the ACMI, we paid them the venue hire and we collected ticket proceeds (GST free as our turnover is below the GST threshold). The first was "De Ontdekking van de Hemel (The Discovery of Heaven)", based on the book by Harry Mulish in January 2003. This was followed by “The old man who read love stories” in July 2003 and “Innocence” in August 2004. The latter two also had a Q&A session after the screening with the directors of these films (Rolf de Heer and Paul Cox respectively). Another similar event was at the Elsternwick Classic Cinema with the film "Dokter Pulder Zaait Papavers" in October 2006 featuring a Q&A with Kees Brusse.
The film showings at the ACMI were a new chapter for EF as the ACMI on Federation Square is a beautiful cinema right in the centre of Melbourne. We give Loes Westerbeek full credit for her initiatives. The Dutch Consulate General has also been very helpful with organising these films and supporting us financially throughout the time they had an office in Melbourne (until December 1999).
From 2012 - 2022 we had an annual Dutch Film Day in the ACMI with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. The 2022 Film Day was the last one organised by us. Generally we managed to have a sell out of all 168 seats. We selected films based on those screened at the yearly Netherlands Film Festival held in Utrecht at the end of September but also took note of recommendations by the Dutch Eye Film Institute who were our link with the Dutch film world. See list of films screened
In March 2008 a partnership was established with the ACMI to show Dutch films from time to time. EF would only advertise a film to its members and the ACMI would organise the film showing. The first film shown was "Black Book". However, as far as known only this film was ever shown then. In late 2022 we re-energised such an agreement for future screenings from 2023. We will recommend films to the ACMI and publicise them to our members and the wider Dutch community. The ACMI will screen the film as part of their Matinee program.
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