This is Grace McKenzie, daughter of Brian, herself now an Australian documentary filmmaker. Her film is called Audrey of the Alps and follows a Frenchwoman, Audrey, as she herds goats in the French Alps. Two years later, Grace is back, riding a bicycle through France. Grace’s generation is inheriting a documentary practice which is shaped by decisions made far away, in the discussions about Screen Australia guidelines.
The various versions of the guidelines which Screen Australia has generated in its long discussion with the sector seem very different. But, when I interviewed CEO Graeme Mason about the details of the changes, we came quickly back to basic principles. Here, it turns out that the agency has been pretty tenacious.