Shining a light: 50 years of the Australian film institute

This book traces the progress of the film and television industries as well as screen culture within Australia over the past half century, through the lens of one organisation, the Australian Film Institute. Since its establishment in 1958, the AFI has played a central role in nurturing and supporting both screen culture and production, from small beginnings to an internationally recognised billion dollar industry. 'Shining a Light' maps out the history of the AFI and the wider industry over the past 50 years and explores the relationship of screen culture to a successful production industry. The book offers a timely and significant contribution to scholarship on Australian cinema, published at a critical time in Australian film history. The authors have interviewed key players on the local scene, undertaken 27 interviews, and sifted through volumes of documentary evidence in chronicling the history of the AFI, its successes and role in Australian screen culture past, present and future.