Keynote Announcement: Screen Culture, Identity and Diversity in the Media

Keynote Panel:  “Screen Culture, Identity and Diversity in the Media”

Rousing audiences to a standing ovation, Miranda Tapsell accepted her 2016 Logie Award with the words, ‘Put more beautiful people of colour on TV and connect viewers in ways that transcend race and unite us.’ This is just one sign among many that the zeitgeist has changed and diversity is on the agenda – Screen Australia has funded a $5 million ‘Gender Matters’ initiative and is working on a research project into the representation of cultural diversity, and disability and LGBTQI representation in Australian television. On our screens, SBS series The Family Law went viral with a 90 per cent Asian–Australian cast, Jessica Mauboy is soon to star in Channel 7’s The Secret Daughter, and online delivery has connected web series such as Starting From… Now with millions of viewers globally.

Putting diversity firmly on the agenda, this panel will ask the following questions: What are the barriers, and the constructive solutions, to achieving diversity? Will policy initiatives be sustainable? What positive opportunities are being created through new technologies and modes of delivery? Are our audiovisual industries too risk-averse? What impact are diverse voices having on Australian screens? What leadership is required to ensure the diversification of screen industries?

• Lisa French – Moderator
  Lisa French is Deputy Dean (Media) of the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University. She is also co-author of the book Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute and editor of the anthology Womenvision: Women and the Moving Image in Australia. She is the former director of the St Kilda Film Festival and non-executive director of the Australian Film Institute
• Julie Kalceff is a writer, director and producer who has worked in film and television for over fifteen years. Julie is the creator of the international hit multi-platform drama Starting From… Now.
• Rosie Lourde is one of Australia’s most exciting emerging actor/producers. Her most recent project, the multi-platform drama Starting From… Now, has had over 23 million views online and has been shown on SBS TV.
• Sue Maslin is an award-winning screen producer and Adjunct Professor of the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University. Her feature-film credits include The Dressmaker (Jocelyn Moorhouse, 2015), winner of the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Australian Film at the 2015 AACTA Awards.
• Rebecca Mostyn is Manager of Research at Screen Australia. She oversees the publication of an annual program of information and resources, ranging from business and financing data to audience trends.
• David Vadiveloo is an Australian human rights lawyer, facilitator, screen producer and educator. He received the 2005 community award (individual) at the Human Rights Awards and was the youngest person to be highly commended for the Human Rights Medal, recognising lifelong commitment to, and achievements in, human rights.