One of the most celebrated figures in world cinema, Oscar-winning producer Lord David Puttnam CBE, will deliver a lecture on the shifting screen industry at Griffith Film School this week.
Lord Puttnam, whose career as an independent producer includes classic films such as Midnight Express, The Killing Fields and Chariots of Fire will look at the challenges of producing films in a rapidly evolving industry.
The lecture will include insights into the industry through the lens of his career as a producer, politician and environmentalist.
Lord Puttnam will also discuss his return to the industry after many years as a film educator and a member of the House of Lords. He is set to produce his first film in 30 years,Arctic30, a drama about the real-life detention of Greenpeace activists.
Lord Puttnam has a long-standing relationship with Griffith Film School, delivering a series of live interactive seminars from his home in Ireland over the past five years that cover everything from movies and money, the use of sound and music and the evolving role of the author and producer.
He nominates classics including Breaker Morant and The Castle as his favourite Australian films and argues that the big end of town should be giving back to film education in this country — creating scholarships and grants for emerging filmmakers.
“There is a lack of faith and investment on behalf of the big corporations and studios — they should be putting money into film education to ensure that new talent comes through the pipeline.”
Griffith Film School has just launched the inaugural Lord David Puttnam Scholarship for Producers, which offers support to an outstanding student to undertake the Masters of Screen Production at Griffith Film School.
The scholarship will also allow the recipient to travel to South by South West and the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner next year.
Lord Putnam’s films have won 10 Academy Awards, 25 BAFTAs and the Palme d’Or at Cannes.