By Liam McNally
A new home for emerging film-makers has officially opened in the heart of Footscray.
Footscray MP Katie Hall came together with Cinespace Multicultural Screen Residencies Studio staff and resident filmmakers to launch the purpose-built community digital arts facility on Wednesday, September 28.
Cinespace would offer four free film project residencies per year, giving local artists access to high quality production facilities so they can turn their film projects into reality through the use of a professional editing suite, professional film-making kits and a production office.
The project was aimed at film-makers in multicultural communities and Cinespace has estimated 160 creators would be able to use their facility each year.
Cinespace president Steve Pereira said having the project finally come into fruition was “amazing”.
“[Footscray] is creatively growing and dynamic, and it’s now reaching the creative point with migrants where previously people didn’t have the time or the luxury to engage in art,” he said.
The Victorian Government contributed $350,000 dollars to the new permanent arts facility through the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund program, the Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund and Creative Victoria.
Ms Hall said Cinespace would support the growing arts space of Footscray.
“There are so many great stories that come out of Footscray, and to have a space that supports young multicultural filmmakers is incredibly valuable for our community,” she said.
Cinespace has their first project lined up, including ‘Pairing’, a short film by Diane Vu and Matthew Burns, ‘Salma’s Season’, a web series by Kauthar Abdulalim and Sher-Li Tan and Lady Priest, a comedy by Natalia Bornay and Emily Davis.
Writer Diane Vu said the Cinespace residency would be “psychologically amazing” for emerging writers who would otherwise have expenses come from their own pockets.
“This residency is sort of allowing us to not make it a trade-off between surviving and creative output,” she said.
Details: www.cinespace.org.au
