Media Resource Centre


The Media Resource Centre is a not-for-profit film and television training organisation based in the Lion Arts Centre on the corner of Morphett Street and North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, which aims to give screening opportunities to emerging South Australian film, video and digital media artists. It also manages the not-for-profit Mercury Cinema, which shows films by subscription to the Adelaide Cinémathèque film society, screening classic or notable films and hosts film festivals and other events.

History

The Media Resource Centre was created in 1974 and is one of the earliest members of the Screen Development Australia national network. It moved from its first location at 1 Union Street to a larger location in Pirie Street in the 1980s, where it provided a venue to screen local filmmakers' works as well as other independent, community or hard-to-find international films; it also provided equipment space for filmmakers to work on their projects and network with others.
In 1992 the MRC moved to the purpose-built Lion Arts Centre, located in a refurbished factory in the West End of Adelaide and housing numerous arts organisations, including galleries and theatres. It merged with Commedia, a community media organisation, at the same time. The Mercury and Iris cinemas were created next door and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992.
the MRC director is Gail Kovatseff.

Description

The MRC is a not-for-profit incorporated association which provides facilities for career development in the film industry, from entry-level to early career, providing access to equipment, advice and a subsidy programme. It offers production support, professional development and industry and community partnerships. The offices are located in the Lion Arts Centre on the corner of Morphett Street and North Terrace, Adelaide.

Mercury Cinema

The Mercury Cinema building includes its main 186-seat cinema as well as the 36-seat Iris Cinema, situated adjacent to the Lion Arts Centre, facing Morphett Street. As a not-for-profit organisation, there is a film society, Adelaide Cinémathèque, members of which can attend regularly scheduled films. The Iris is available for hire as a venue, and is used for Adelaide Fringe performances as well as for many other uses. The Cinema also runs a series of programmes on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, such as Sunday Sessions and Seniors on Screen, and a school holiday programme.
The Cinema also hosts film festivals, some one-off and some annual occurrences. In the latter group are a programme of the best films from the Flickerfest, films from the Adelaide Festival Centre's OzAsia Festival, selected films for the Adelaide Film Festival, and the Iranian Film Festival Australia.

Screen Makers Conference

The Screen Makers Conference is an annual national conference hosted by the MRC since 2014, and aims to " together Australia’s writers, directors, producers and other screen creatives to share knowledge, connect with the industry, and pitch projects to the national marketplace". It is regarded as one of two major annual conferences for filmmakers, the other being the Australian International Documentary Conference.
In 2018 the Conference attracted over 200 delegates, including Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason and Kingston Anderson from the Australian Directors' Guild, independent filmmaker and educator Cathy Henkel, Rowan Woods, currently head of directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, senior managers from several major national TV companies as well as the government-owned broadcasters, the ABC and SBS.
In 2019 it expanded to three days, partnered with television production company Screentime and also included video games in its remit.

South Australian Screen Awards

The Media Resource Centre has run the South Australian Screen Awards since establishing them in 1999, to "exhibit, celebrate and promote the best screen works of the South Australian film industry". These are awarded in conjunction with the Screenmakers' Conference, and in 2019 awarded of prizes, including two new awards: best costume, and best hair & makeup.
AwardWinner
Best FilmRobert McFarlane: The Still Point
Best DramaThe Big Nothing
Best ComedyLucy & DiC
Best AnimationBlue Cherry
Best DocumentaryRobert McFarlane: The Still Point
Best Music VideoI'll Accept by Juno
Best Web SeriesGoons Inc.
Best ScreenplayElspeth Trautwein
Best DirectingSara West
Best CinematographyMaxx Corkindale
Best EditingNick Eades
Best Female PerformanceJordan Cowan
Best Male PerformanceOscar Redding
Best Production DesignLauren Murray
Best Sound DesignJosiah Allen & Indianna Bell
Best Music CompositionCezary Konarski
Mercury AwardErnie Clark ACS
Young Filmmaker AwardJordan Cowan
Emerging ProducerJodie Kirkbride

Project funding: PIP and Springboard

The Media Resource Centre supports developing South Australian filmmakers via its Production Initiative Program, which funds several projects each year. Selected projects are often then developed in the MRC's career development program, Springboard.
YearTitleFormatProducerDirector
2018#DogsofAdelaideWeb SeriesErin PatersonLeela Varghese
2018Dead CentreWeb SeriesKurt RobertsBenno Thiel
2018FadingWeb SeriesJodie KirkbrideStephanie Jaclyn
2018Ice BoxShortBrendan Skinner & Simon WilliamsNathaniel Schmidt
2018ThirstShortJodie Kirkbride & Kate BonneyKiara Milera
2017AquaphobeShortGilbert Kemp-AttrillMelanie Easton
2017ChloeShortKate JarrettNick Cowan
2017GoodShortAshleigh KnottLuke Wissel
2017Small Town P.D.ShortIndianna Bell & Paul ForzaIndianna Bell & Josiah Allen
2017Spider in the GardenShortLouise PascaleNina Pearce
2017White LilliesShortKate JarrettLucy Gale
2016FreemalesWeb SeriesJodie KirkbrideStephanie Jaclyn
2016Get PreppedWeb SeriesSally Hardy, Nathan March, Stuart Sturgess & Annalouise SortiniNathan March, Stuart Sturgess & Annalouise Sortini
2016Perfect TimingShortEmily McAllanEmily McAllan
2016The Big NothingWeb SeriesClaire Bishop, Peter Ninos, Lucy Campbell & Sophie MorganPeter Ninos & Lucy Campbell
2016Space SushiShortDebra LiangMakoto Koji
2016The Tiny HomeShortCate Elliot & Sophie MorganSophie Morgan