The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) has launched a year of celebrations to mark 50 years since its establishment in 1973.
The celebration began with a special presentation that brought together the inaugural class of 1973 and the incoming students of 2023 to launch a year of celebrations and creativity.
As Orientation Week began for the 2023 cohort, screen and broadcast leaders gathered in Sydney to acknowledge the School’s achievements over five decades.
Specials guests included internationally acclaimed director and 1973 alum Gillian Armstrong, the Federal Member for Macquarie and Special Envoy for the Arts, Susan Templeman, AFTRS Council Chair Russel Howcroft (pictured below), and Founding AFTRS Director, Storry Walton.
Susan Templeman (video below), a former radio journalist, spoke about how working in radio helped her in her path to politics.
She told the gathered students and guests: “AFTRS was established in 1973 to be a ‘revolutionary force’ in Australian culture. Since then, it has produced some of our finest storytellers, producers and crews.
“It has an extraordinary legacy, but the School’s mission today is just a crucial as it was in 1973, when it was formally opened by Gough Whitlam. We need creative, innovative and skilled Australians to bring our stories to our screens and airwaves now more than ever.
“I congratulate AFTRS on the magnificent contribution it has made to our culture and to our creative workforce over five decades.”
Other members of the first cohort attending were Ross Hamilton, James Ricketson, Ron Saunders, Graham Shirley and David Stocker.
Founding Chair of AFTRS, former Federal Minister Barry Jones, was part of a group of committed Australians determined to invigorate an Australian screen industry.
At the time, Mr Jones said, “The School must act as a revolutionary force. There can be no half measures. We must create one of the world’s great film schools, or we must abandon the project at once.”
Throughout 2023, the School will have a program of events and activities underscoring its role as ‘a revolutionary force’ in Australian arts.
AFTRS CEO Dr. Nell Greenwood (pictured) says “Our first 50 years have seen AFTRS become one of the world’s top screen and broadcast Schools and a ground-breaking force in Australian culture.
“Looking forward, we must continue to meet the revolutionary ambition of our founders with the same sense of urgency and passion. And for AFTRS, the next 50 years must be about access and equity.
“We want talent across Australia to know that one of the world’s leading screen and broadcast schools is on their doorstep – and it’s here to help them realise their own big, bold dreams – whatever their background, wherever they’re from.
“To hold its place at the forefront of global content-making, our growing industry needs the talent and skills of the best and brightest creators across Australia. AFTRS is that vital way in for the next Gillian Armstrong, Rachel Perkins, or David White – who might be right now daydreaming in a classroom in Darwin or Dubbo – to get started on a long, brilliant career in screen, podcasting or radio.”
AFTRS is regarded as one of the world’s leading creative schools with its alumni at the forefront of Australian and international screen and broadcast, and since 1973, has launched the careers of over five thousand film, television, radio and new media professionals.
Graduates have been nominated for and won a slew of prestigious gongs, including a haul of Academy Awards, AACTAs, BAFTAs, Golden Globes and Emmys.
Australia’s airwaves are filled with AFTRS Alumni, including Nova FM’s Tim Blackwell, from Kate, Tim and Joel; 2GB’s Greg Byrnes (Head of Content, Nine Radio); SCA’s Melanie Withnall (Head of News and Information) and Rohan Edwards (co-host of Hot Nights with Abbie Chatfield); ABC’s Michael Mason (former Head of Radio), Simon Marnie (host of Weekend Mornings, ABC Sydney), Alice Moldovan (Producer, Conversations) and Nick Findlay (Music Director, Triple J); and ARN’s Mike Byrne (Content Director, WSFM).