Arts Minister Rachel Nolan announced this year's Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) as an outstanding success. Ms Nolan said the 2011 Brisbane International Film Festival had seen strong growth in its 20^th year, experiencing a 25 per cent lift in box office sales from 2010 figures, and a 13 per cent increase in overall attendance.

Simon Toy’s True Love was awarded the top honour in a highly competitive field at the 2011 Village Roadshow Studios Kinetone Award for Best Overall Film at the Village Roadshow Studios Queensland New Filmmaker Awards (QNFA), held on Sunday 13 November at the State Library. 

The winner of BIFFDOCS, Australia’s richest documentary award, was named today by an eminent jury of experienced documentary practitioners.

“The judging panel’s unanimous decision was to award the top prize to the South Korean entry, Arirang,” Screen Queensland CEO Maureen Barron announced.

“Submitted by one of South Korea’s most celebrated filmmakers, Kim Ki-duk, Arirang is a disturbing autobiographical statement that has been described as the absolute and final expression of a filmmaker.

Screen Queensland’s $40,000 adaptation development initiative will embrace the legacy of one of Queensland’s formative filmmakers through a re-formatted Chauvel Award at the 2011 Brisbane International Film Festival, Screen Queensland CEO Maureen Barron announced.  

Minister for Arts Rachel Nolan today unveiled the full list of titles for Australia's richest documentary award.  Ms Nolan said the nation's newest documentary competition, part of the Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF), has attracted an impressive array of nineteen titles from across the globe, all vying for the $25,000 prize. In its first year, BIFFDOCS has attracted a remarkable collection of documentary titles from around the world, and Brisbane audiences will be the first in Australia to view them," Ms Nolan said.

The countdown is on to this year's Brisbane International Film Festival, with tickets on sale from today for the opening and closing night movies.

Arts Minister Rachel Nolan has revealed the opening night film on Thursday 3 November will be Attack the Block and the festival will close on Saturday 12 November with The Skin I Live In.

Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) and Screen Queensland will bring together the publishing and Queensland production industries in a special festival event, ‘Books to Box Office’, that could see an author’s work adapted into a film or television programme with the support of a Screen Queensland development package, worth up to $40,000.

Cine Sparks, the International Film Festival for young people, will bring new cinematic experiences to South East Queensland schools and students this year, announced Arts Minister Rachel Nolan. Ms Nolan said the event is a prelude to the Brisbane International Film Festival and provides children with the chance to experience and engage in the city's celebration of screen. 

"Cine Sparks, 10-14 October, will showcase a mix of foreign language documentaries and feature films from countries as diverse as Mexico, Indonesia, Spain, Japan, Norway, France and China," Ms Nolan said.

The 25th Village Roadshow Studios Queensland New Filmmakers Awards (QNFA) is now open for entries, Head of Screen Culture at Screen Queensland Richard Moore announced today.

 Village Roadshow Studios QNFA is Australia’s longest running industry-sponsored competition for new filmmakers, and is an initiative that has long recognised and encouraged the achievements of emerging Queensland talent. The total prize pool is worth $20,000 in cash and prizes.

Cameras roll from Monday 25 July 2011 when one of Australia's hottest directors returns to Queensland, Arts Minister Rachel Nolan announced today.

"Queenslanders welcome back PJ Hogan who is on the Gold Coast to direct Mental, his first Australian film since Muriel's Wedding, which was partly shot in Queensland," Ms Nolan said.