THE SOCIETY
The London Australian Film Society (LAFS) is curated by a group of passionate and driven Australian and British citizens, based in London, working in various fields including Film and Television, Education, Gallery Curation, and Publishing.
The society screened its first film on 20 July 1973 in the Cinema Hall of Australia House, the home of the Australian High Commission on London’s Strand, where it held regular screenings and hosted visiting filmmakers for over three decades.
Today, the society is entirely self-funded and volunteer-run, with the current team organising events at venues across central London since 2009.
THE FESTIVAL
In 2017, the society established the London Australian Film Festival (formerly OZ Film Festival), with an inaugural event staged in June 2017 at Regent Street Cinema. 21-24 September 2023 was the 5th festival.
Dedicated to promoting Australian cinema in London and across the UK, the London Australian Film Society screen a broad range of new and cult/classic features, documentaries and short films, many of which don’t otherwise gain UK theatrical exhibition or distribution.
THE ANNUAL CRIS JONES DEBUT DIRECTOR PRIZE
Taking great pride in helping to put a wide variety of Australian stories up on the big screen, where they belong, the society is particularly dedicated to supporting rising Australian talent. At each festival, the society hosts a Q&A with a debut feature film director as part of the closing night gala, in honour of the late British-Australian filmmaker Cris Jones, whose debut feature The Death and Life of Otto Bloom (2016) closed the first festival.
From 2023, the prize is named in Cris' honour as he tragically passed away only months after appearing on stage with us. We were utterly devastated and raised enough cash for seat at Regents Street Cinema to be named in his honour.
Subsequent honourees for the prize have included Priscilla Cameron (The Butterfly Tree, LAFF 2018), Imogen McCluskey (Suburban Wildlife, LAFF 2019), and Renèe Webster (How To Please A Woman, LAFF 2022) and Jub Clerc (Sweet As, LAFF 2023).
Partnerships
The Society is also the London host partner for the annual, curated short film programme
Australian Short Film Today, and frequently selects student films to screen alongside its feature presentations. Australian film schools that have had short films screened at previous festivals and events include the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Swinburne University, Sydney Film School & the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA).
The have also partnered on many indigenous events with Border Crossings, an Intercultural multi-media theatre across borders.
In July 2023 the society partnered with AFTRS to screen their 50th anniversary alumni short film programme - celebrating both their 1/2 century anniversaries together at The Garden Cinema.
Special Guests
Guests of the society and festival since 2009 have included: Terence Stamp, Sally Phillips, Adam Hills, David Wenham, Eddie Izzard, Stephan Elliott, Brendan Cowell, Sue Milliken, and many others.
Funding
The London Australian Film Society is self-funded.
Our official donations page is ko-fi.com/londonaustfilm
Any offers of financial and in-kind assistance to support the future of the society and festival are graciously received. For more information please contact info@londonaustfilm.com.
Our first festival was kindly supported by Tony Middleton, and we dedicate future screenings in his memory.
