Australian film distributors not happy with studio release schedules

This week, Australian distributors were given three-hour sessions to hawk their wares to the country's cinema owners and managers, promotional partners and media - reports The Australian.

The presentations are also intended for each other, which makes for some interesting competitive sniping.

That sniping intensified with 20th Century Fox's decision to move the release of Baz Luhrmann's Australia back two weeks to November 26.

That clashes with Sony Pictures' new James Bond film, Quantum Of Solace.

Many cinema owners are annoyed, and Sony's Stephen Basil-Jones half-jokingly referred to the change as "mindless", "arrogant" and "just not cricket". There will be scheduling problems aplenty at Australian cinemas on the last weekend in November.

Discuss this news here...