“The school must act as a revolutionary force… There can be no half-measures. We must create one of the world’s great schools or we must abandon the project at once. We cannot be a hothouse for mediocrity.”

That was Barry Jones’ vision for what would go on to become the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

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The Australian Film Television and Radio school is celebrating its 50th anniversary!

Luminaries that the school has produced include  Jane Campion, Phillip Noyce, Cate Shortland, Warwick Thornton, as well as Gillian Armstrong and Robert Connolly – who discussed their time there and its influence on their subsequent movie-making with Philip Clark.

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The Australian film landscape looks very different now than it did 50 years ago.

In fact, in 1973 it would have been difficult to define exactly what the Australian film industry was. Founding chair of AFTRS, Barry Jones, among others, committed to find a solution to this problem, at the time saying ‘The School must act as a revolutionary force. There can be no half measures. We must create one of the world’s great film schools, or we must abandon the project at once.”

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It started out as AFTS back in 1973. The R wasn’t shoehorned in between the T and the S until 1986.

Success has many fathers but no artistic endeavour as audacious as a world class film and television school from a then considered “culturally cringing” country like Australia would come to fruition without political will and funding.

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As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, AFTRS will screen a series of acclaimed feature films directed by AFTRS alumni, beginning with Dead Calm, by director Phillip Noyce, on March 28 at 6.30pm.

The screening will also feature a special video introduction from Phillip Noyce.

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The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) has launched a year of celebrations to mark 50 years since its establishment in 1973.

The celebration began with a special presentation that brought together the inaugural class of 1973 and the incoming students of 2023 to launch a year of celebrations and creativity.

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Famous Aussie filmmaker Gillian Armstrong has weighed in on why she thinks Baz Luhrmann always gets snubbed at the big awards.

Chatting to Deb about AFTRS and its 50-year anniversary, Ms Armstrong said it is one the best training grounds for aspiring filmmakers and broadcasters, not only in Australia but the world.

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In 1973, the Australian Film and Television School (later, the Australian Film Television and Radio School) accepted its first intake of students, with a vision to create a new generation of skilled Australian storytellers.

50 years on, the school boasts a long list of Oscar, BAFTA and AACTA award-winning graduates. In 2023, AFTRS continues to adapt to a rapidly changing Arts and media landscape.

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As part of its 50^th anniversary celebrations, AFTRS will screen a series of acclaimed feature films directed by AFTRS alumni, beginning with Dead Calm, by director Phillip Noyce, on March 28 at 6.30pm. The screening will also feature a special video introduction from Phillip Noyce.

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The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) is marking its 50^th anniversary in style, with screen and broadcast leaders gathering in Sydney to acknowledge the school’s achievements over five decades.

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The Class of ’73 met the incoming students of 2023 at an event to kick off 50 years for the Australian Film Television and Radio School.

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As part of its 50^th anniversary celebrations, AFTRS will screen a series of acclaimed feature films directed by AFTRS alumni, beginning with Phillip Noyce’s Dead Calm at 6.30pm on March 28. The screening will also feature a special video introduction from Noyce.

READ MORE