Australian film schools and universities with a screen and media focus have converged on Adelaide this week (Wed 15- Fri 17 July) for the Flinders University-hosted ASPERA Conference.

Guests including South Australian Film Corporation Chief Executive Annabelle Sheehan; Walkley Award-winning film maker Chantal Abouchar; the Australian Film, Television and Radio School’s Sarah Stollman; and even the globally renowned palaeontologist, Professor John Long, have been discussing everything from the latest R&D, to how to raise public profile and funding for projects.

Ms Abouchar, a cinematographer, director, and producer, talked about the need for ‘accelerators’ in the Australian screen and media industries as she presents a paper investigating two media and entertainment (M&E) accelerators (media-tech accelerators) run separately by Turner and Warner, part of Time Warner Corporation in the United States, and considered whether a variation could work in Australia.

This evening, John Cumming’s book The Films of John Hughes: A history of independent screen production in Australia will be launched. In it, Mr Cummings tells the ongoing story of Australian film maker Hughes’ work, illustrating the delicate balance of individual, collective and corporate agendas that many contemporary artists need to negotiate.

World-famous palaeontologist, Professor John Long, from Flinders University, gave a keynote speech about how to build reputation and attract investors. Professor Long, who made global headlines recently for his discovery of the origins of sex, has a distinguished track record in doing exactly that for his own work, and showed how this experience can be transferred to the Australian screen and media context.

The ASPERA schools produce some of the finest filmmakers in Australia. Internationally recognised Flinders University alumni and graduates from the University’s Screen and Media Department include Matt Bate, Bryan Mason and Bec Summerton, from Closer Productions;and Craig Behenna, Nick Matthews and David Ngo, who received international awards this year for their movie, One Eyed Girl.