'An essential story of late 20th century Australia; the rise, fall and afterlife of the Filmmakers’ Co-operative movement in Australia is an untold story linking social movements of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s with an ‘underground’ cinema that fostered alternative filmmaking enterprise in production, distribution and exhibition. An extraordinary diversity of creative ambition converged with a ground swell of social change, as the Co-ops became a forum and a vehicle for ‘minority’ voices denied expression in mainstream media. The Co-ops themselves changed radically during their lifetimes, charting transitions from 1960s avant-garde film, through militant opposition to authoritarianism, capitalism and patriarchy, to engagement and critical collaboration with a market driven film industry. Australia’s best-known, and lesser-known filmmakers passed through the excitements, disasters and ordeals of the Filmmakers Co-ops. The project contributes to a broad appreciation of engaged filmmaking in Australian cultural history; in particular the work celebrates the commitment of concerned and active citizens, engaged with independent film work, both production and distribution, in campaigns for social equity, human rights and intellectual freedom. The project also explores the constraints and conflicts generated by agencies of government aligned more often with markets than audiences, and with prestige rather than social and cultural impact. ' (Source: Documentary Australia Foundation website)
