Australians need to look no further to find their favorite Aussie and Outback films online. With a marketing campaign launching on Australia day, a new online movie streaming service appropriately called OzFliz provides only Australian movies.
Although no exact date has been given, co-founder Ron Brown is confident that OzFlix will begin streaming in the first half of 2016.
Brown says that the idea for OzFlix came to him as early as 2006 when he pitched an all-Australian movie cable TV channel to Foxtel. However, the idea was shot down due to the slump in the Australian film industry at the time.
"I don't think every Australian film is a great film, but every Australian film deserves to find whatever audience it can," Brown said.
According to reports, OzFlix will not be exclusive to Australian residents - the whole world will be able to access hundreds of Australian made and produced films. Familiar Hollywood blockbusters such as "Mad Max: Fury Road," will be included in the online collection, as well less-familiar films produced Down Under that may spike the interest of non-Australian audiences.
OzFlix aims to have every single Aussie movie ever produced within its database within the next three years.
Australian actors, directors, and producers have already voiced their support for the project. Stephen Elliott, who directed "Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert" and George Miller, director and creator of the "Mad Max" film franchise, along with other big name Aussie celebrities have filmed promotional videos to spread the word about OzFlix.
This sounds like a novel and promising concept, but reports indicate that nothing has been finalized yet. Many, however, remain hopeful that OzFlix will get off the ground as planned.
"It will give people a greater overview of our industry. It will fill a hunger among up-and-coming filmmakers. We have a very proud and substantial and creatively valuable industry in this country, though a lot of people don't realize that," said Alan Finney, Brown's partner in the venture and the current chair of the Australian Film Institute.
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