G’Day USA 2010 kicks off for another year on January 9, 2010.
The ‘celebration’ of Australian culture has become somewhat of an institution since its inception in 2004. It is now arguably the largest foreign country promotion held annually in the US, showcasing all things Australian – from investment, to food and wine, the arts, and tourism. The program is designed to promote Australia as a place to work and play.
The event is the brainchild of the Australian Consulate in LA, Austrade LA, Qantas and Tourism Australia.
The annual ball is renowned for being the meeting place for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, and past honourees include Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Baz Luhrmann, Mel Gibson, Olivia Newton-John, Hugh Jackman, INXS, Naomi Watts, Russel Crowe and Kylie Minogue.
Every year, a contingent of Australian film industry professionals travel to the US to meet with major studios, independent production companies, lawyers, directors, producers and agents to pitch the Australian film incentive system, our considerable artistic talent, our world-class production facilities and diverse natural locations. The event also provides a valuable forum for up-and-coming Australian filmmakers to demonstrate their work.
The highlights of G’Day USA 2010 for the Australian and US entertainment industry will include:
- The Palm Springs International Film Festival – in 2010 the focus will be on Australian cinema with a series of new Australian releases constituting part of the 2 week showcase. January 9 will be “Australian Film Day” featuring screenings of each of the Australian films in the festival, as well as a high-profile gala reception.
- On January 11 there will be a unique Australian film experience in LA (as yet undisclosed).
- On January 16 the Black Tie Dinner will take place at the Renaissance Hotel, LA and is expected to attract heavy media exposure as usual. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck will be preparing an Australian-style dinner, along with Australian celebrity chefs Curtis Stone and Pete Evans. Many prominent US and Australian actors and industry heavyweights are expected to attend.
- On January 20-21 leading Australian fashion designers will showcase their designs to high-end retailers and the media in one of the world’s leading fashion capitals – New York.
In addition to LA, Palm Springs and NY, there will be other events taking place in San Diego and San Francisco.
G’Day USA 2009 media coverage generated 600 million global audience impressions. Some of the major media organisations present last year included the New York Times, the LA Times, the Hollywood Reporter, the Austereo Network, and Encore Magazine.
For more information, see www.australia-week.com
I will be attending the event and will be writing a full recap for www.entertainmentagentblog.com, so stay tuned.
Gene is a talent agent and lawyer. He has a law degree with honors, and a business degree. He is a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Gene represents actors, writers and producers. He also has a keen interest in film financing and packaging.
Please contact Gene (please refer to my profile in the ‘About’ section of this site) if you would like any more information about G’day USA 2010, or would like to meet with Gene when he is in the US.