Huge cutbacks in funding for documentaries under the Howard government have left the independent film industry on its knees, according to film maker David Bradbury.
Bradbury claims that last year's federal government budget cuts, which he described as a form of "censorship by neglect", have left a new generation of film makers with no industry to support them.
The film maker, twice nominated for an Academy Award, will go public with his concerns at the launch of the Frontline Film Foundation at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema on November 7.
The foundation will introduce an exciting new concept in documentary film financing and production with the support of many high profile Australians, including screen celebrities Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis, Bryan Brown, Max Gillies and David Williamson.
Other patrons of the foundation include writers Thomas Keneally, Thea Astley, Faith Bandler; musicians Robyn Archer, Paul Kelly; broadcasters Phillip Adams, Tim Bowden and Sandy McCutcheon; Justice Marcus Einfeld; Magistrate Pat O'Shane; historians Humphrey McQueen and Dr Henry Reynolds; Father Frank Brennan; cartoonist Bruce Petty; Tom Uren and Ted Wheelwright.
Bradbury claims that the greatest threat to the independence of film makers is the government cuts, a form of "cheque book censorship".
"It would take only one word from communications minister Richard Alston in the ear of just one person, and all hope of obtaining funding for a film through the Australian Film Commission, the Film Finance Corporation, Film Australia or the ABC would evaporate", he said.
"If this type of leverage was applied at the sponsorship and pre-sale stage of a film, it would devastate the film industry, which has played a pivotal role in developing our society's view of itself, and that includes our innate sense of fair play."
Film makers are also concerned that issues which are reported on daily and criticised internationally could not attract public funding for a documentary — such as Wik and the native title debate, Pauline Hanson's views on immigration, East Timor, greenhouse gas emissions, the Jabiluka uranium mine and other key environmental issues.
"We don't see documentaries about these issues on our TV screens", said Bradbury, pointing out that the Australian Film Commission's entire documentary budget for this financial year was a mere $700,000. On current costs, this is enough to fund two and a half average-budgeted films.
"That means funding opportunities which allowed me to realise my potential in my first film Frontline no longer exist for emerging young film makers.
"Where can they turn when the already small funding pie continues to shrink, whilst the number of potential award-winning film makers graduating from our film schools and tertiary colleges is growing exponentially?
"If everyone is telling us that we should be the smart country and export information because there's a quid in it, then where will these young people get the chance to cut their teeth?", Bradbury asked.
Dramatic funding cuts to the Film Finance Corporation, the ABC and Film Australia have left many film makers without a regular income.
"Are cutbacks to culture and dissenting points of view the only answer the Howard government has to the expansion in the information superhighway?", Bradbury asked.
The Frontline Film Foundation launch will feature excerpts from Bradbury's earlier films as well as cuts from his most recently completed documentary Jabiluka (which has been privately financed). Musicians Kev Carmody and Ed Kuepper will entertain, and several patrons will give short keynote speeches between the film excerpts.