American Indy films come with a laugh, a nod to the past and a blow to the throat

The American Essentials festival doing the rounds through May is curated by Richard Sowada, as a challenge and a temptation to Australian filmmakers.
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Image: Detour, written and directed by Christopher Smith.

‘It is not about budget – American indie cinema is not about cast and budget. It is about script and ideas and quality. But it is really about understanding the language of cinema in a way that Australians – with all due respect – don’t necessarily do.’

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David Tiley was the Editor of Screenhub from 2005 until he became Content Lead for Film in 2021 with a special interest in policy. He is a writer in screen media with a long career in educational programs, documentary, and government funding, with a side order in script editing. He values curiosity, humour and objectivity in support of Australian visions and the art of storytelling.