Analysis: Are Australian Documentary Films Achieving World Standard?

This essay examines whether Australian documentary films meet world standards, considering the impact of technological advancements, distribution procedures, the influence of screen professionals, government support, and cultural themes. It highlights the evolution of documentary filmmaking in Australia, referencing examples like Mountain (2017) and Hacksaw Ridge (2016) to demonstrate the integration of technology. The essay also discusses the role of film festivals and social media in distribution, the significance of influential figures in the Australian screen industry, and the government's financial support through incentive programs. Ultimately, it argues that Australian documentaries have evolved to compete globally by embracing innovative concepts and resources, citing examples such as Gayby Baby (2015) and Sherpa (2016) as evidence of their global impact.

Running head: ARE AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY FILMS OF A WORLD STANDARD?
ARE AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY FILMS OF A WORLD STANDARD
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1ARE AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY FILMS OF A WORLD STANDARD?
For many years, documentary films were presumed to be only about issues that affect
society and about ideas that are only to bring change in the society by motivating people.
However, documentary films are much more than that (Marcus et al., 2018). Also, with the
changes in every aspects of society including modernization, digitalization and growth in
technology there have been significant changes in the documentary films as well. These changes
are inclusive of changing technologies, distribution procedures, the influence of a screen
professional on the industry, government support for the screen industry and cultural themes in
Australian screen production. The paper aims to discuss if the Australian documentary films are
of a word standard considering the changes occurring across the globe in the field of
documentary films.
Considering the changing technology in the documentary films over the past few year, it
can be stated that it certainly have gone through vast changes that have made Australian
documentary films of a world standards. Technology has always been one of the prime factors
that have constantly impacted filmmaking in the last two decades. Although it was only a tool to
display a story, it has now become one of the vital tool that is used to influence the story and
enhance it. The early CGI-effects in Tron and the CGI in Jurassic Park and the CGI in the Lord
of the Rings trilogy represents the way computer has changed everything that one may possibly
know about movies. As the market place for documentary films have grown and continue to
grow, the booming technology has contributed equally to help the filmmakers to tell the story the
way they want (De Largy Healy, 2014). Australia have not been any different lesser as the
country is producing some the best documentary as well that clearly represents the importance of
technology such as Mountain (2017), Hacksaw Ridge (2016) and Jasper Jones (2017). It is
important to look at the various technologies that are used for editing system and the way

2ARE AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY FILMS OF A WORLD STANDARD?
director puts it in his films. The most significant platform for editing has constantly been the avid
system which is same for the Australian filmmakers as well.
Distribution procedures and documentary films is a hard part of the entire process. Film
distribution is a major part of making the movie reachable to the audiences. For commercial
films the process is easier as the film become openly promoted by the filmmakers, cast and the
producers. However for Australian documentary, like any other world standards, the platforms
have been film festivals, award shows, broadcast television, theater release and the most popular,
social media (McKenzie & Rossiter, 2018). Sydney Film Festival, Adelaide film festival,
Melbourne international film festival and many other are some of the major films festivals that
work towards distribution procedures. These film festivals are way of getting exposure as it is
attended by well-known film industry associated personalities (Hughes, 2016).
The influence of a screen professional on the industry has always been significant. It is
one of the interesting aspects of Australian documentary films to notice the person telling the
story in the film, the person whose story is being told and the people who are representing the
key creative roles and positions of influence in the Australian screen industry (Kerrigan et al.,
2015). Marius Sestier, johns Pilger, Martha Ansara are some the well recognized personality who
have constantly given to the world of documentary in Australia.
Government support for the screen industry: Recently, there will be 140 million dollar
location incentive program over four years from now till 2020 in order to attract large budget
international products. The Australian government’s new location incentive program manifests
the support that it has towards the film industry of the nation. The program will ensure
Australia’s screen industry to grow and become vibrant as well as competitive. It is well aware

3ARE AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY FILMS OF A WORLD STANDARD?
factor by the government that it is certainly an area that promotes the culture of the nation and it
requires promotion and motivation. In order to survive in the competitive film market and stand
with their competition it is important the field is pushed and supported by the other bodies of the
nation. The program not only supports the produced outcome but also provides jobs for
Australian cast and supports the services around 6,000 Australian businesses each year. Also, the
investment is the way of government will complement its existing location offset component of
the Australian screen production incentive tax rebate (Department of Communications, 2018).
Australian is growing in the same way it is growing across the globe and the position of a strong
competitor and contributor.
Cultural themes in Australian screen production have been through revolution over the
years. As documentaries across the globe are evolving with more wider, intersing, innovative and
informative concepts and resources, Australia is doing the same. character driven, feature-length
documentaries which are focused on real people, true events and global issues are some of the
areas Australian documentaries have contributed. Taking example from the past Gayby Baby
(2015), Sherpa (2016), That Sugar Film (2015) and many more are some of the greatest example
which has proved the Australian society as one of the best film making country worldwide.
As discussed above, along with the changes in all aspects of society including
modernization, digitalization and growth in technology there have been significant changes in
the documentary films too. These changes are inclusive of changing technologies, distribution
procedures, the influence of a screen professional on the industry, government support for the
screen industry and cultural themes in Australian screen production. Documentaries have always
been part of Australian film history since the inception. It is the most significant part that have
made possible Australian documentary films of a world stands.

4ARE AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY FILMS OF A WORLD STANDARD?

5ARE AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY FILMS OF A WORLD STANDARD?
References:
Marcus, A. S., Metzger, S. A., Paxton, R. J., & Stoddard, J. D. (2018). Teaching history with
film: Strategies for secondary social studies. Routledge.
Kerrigan, S., Berkeley, L., Maher, S., Sergi, M., & Wotherspoon, A. (2015). Screen production
enquiry: A study of five Australian doctorates. Studies in Australasian Cinema, 9(2), 93-
109.
Hughes, J. (2016). New life for old bones: moving image collections at the National Archives of
Australia. Studies in Documentary Film, 10(3), 252-272.
McKenzie, J., & Rossiter, C. (2018). Film Funding in Australia: Recent History and Empirical
Analysis. In Handbook of State Aid for Film (pp. 227-249). Springer, Cham.
De Largy Healy, J. (2014). Remediating sacred imagery on screens: Yolngu experiments with
new media technology. Les actes de colloques du musée du quai Branly Jacques Chirac.
Department of Communications. (2018, May 04). $140 million boost for Australian screen
industry jobs. Retrieved from https://www.arts.gov.au/departmental-news/140-million-
boost-australian-screen-industry-jobs