About Us

The London Australian Film Society & Festival Team 
New & Cult Australian Films in the Heart of Central London - since 1973
ABOUT US

About Us - The London Australian Film Society & Festival Team

THE SOCIETY

The London Australian Film Society (LAFS) is curated by a group of passionate and driven Australian and British citizens, based in London, working in various fields including Film and Television, Education, Gallery Curation, and Publishing.


The society screened its first film on 20 July 1973 in the Cinema Hall of Australia House, the home of the Australian High Commission on London’s Strand, where it held regular screenings and hosted visiting filmmakers for over three decades.


Today, the society is entirely self-funded and volunteer-run, with the current team organising events at venues across central London since 2009. 


THE FESTIVAL

In 2017, the society established the London Australian Film Festival (formerly OZ Film Festival), with an inaugural event staged in June 2017 at Regent Street Cinema. 21-24 September 2023 was the 5th festival.


Dedicated to promoting Australian cinema in London and across the UK, the London Australian Film Society screen a broad range of new and cult/classic features, documentaries and short films, many of which don’t otherwise gain UK theatrical exhibition or distribution. 


THE ANNUAL CRIS JONES DEBUT DIRECTOR PRIZE

Taking great pride in helping to put a wide variety of Australian stories up on the big screen, where they belong, the society is particularly dedicated to supporting rising Australian talent. At each festival, the society hosts a Q&A with a debut feature film director as part of the closing night gala, in honour of the late British-Australian filmmaker Cris Jones, whose debut feature The Death and Life of Otto Bloom (2016) closed the first festival. 


From 2023, the prize is named in Cris' honour as he tragically passed away only months after appearing on stage with us. We were utterly devastated and raised enough cash for seat at Regents Street Cinema to be named in his honour.


Subsequent honourees for the prize have included Priscilla Cameron (The Butterfly Tree, LAFF 2018), Imogen McCluskey (Suburban Wildlife, LAFF 2019), and Renèe Webster (How To Please A Woman, LAFF 2022) and Jub Clerc (Sweet As, LAFF 2023).

Cris Jones
PARTNERSHIPS, GUESTS AND FUNDING

Partnerships, Guests and Funding

Partnerships


The Society is also the London host partner for the annual, curated short film programme Australian Short Film Today, and frequently selects student films to screen alongside its feature presentations. Australian film schools that have had short films screened at previous festivals and events include the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Swinburne University, Sydney Film School & the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). 


The have also partnered on many indigenous events with Border Crossings, an Intercultural multi-media theatre across borders.


In July 2023 the society partnered with AFTRS to screen their 50th anniversary alumni short film programme - celebrating both their 1/2 century anniversaries together at The Garden Cinema.


Special Guests


Guests of the society and festival since 2009 have included: Terence Stamp, Sally Phillips, Adam Hills, David Wenham, Eddie Izzard, Stephan Elliott, Brendan Cowell, Sue Milliken, and many others.


Funding


The London Australian Film Society is self-funded.


Our official donations page is ko-fi.com/londonaustfilm   


Any offers of financial and in-kind assistance to support the future of the society and festival are graciously received. For more information please contact info@londonaustfilm.com.


ORGANISERS

Organisers

Laila Dickson
Laila Dickson
Director

Having grown up in the theatre world and worked in book event management for years, Laila moved to London from Melbourne in 2005 and began running the London Australian Film Society (LAFS) from 2011, initially with the help of Moria McVean, programmer of Barbican’s Australian Film Festival, which had ended its 17 year run the previous year.
She works in books during the day, for the largest children's publisher in the world. She pinches herself often, she can't quite believe life has led to this reality.

I’ve always had a passion for film and had spent years organising events for bestselling authors in Australia. So, when Australia House contacted me to take over the running of LAFS, I jumped at the chance. It felt like my whole life had been preparing me for this opportunity”.

FAVOURITE CLASSIC: WAKE IN FRIGHT
LAILA DICKSON
Director
Having grown up in the theatre world and worked in book event management for years, Laila moved to London from Melbourne in 2005 and began running the London Australian Film Society (LAFS) from 2011, initially with the help of Moria McVean, programmer of Barbican’s Australian Film Festival, which had ended its 17 year run the previous year.
She works in books during the day, for the largest children's publisher in the world. She pinches herself often, she can't believe life has led to this moment.

“I’ve always had a passion for film and had spent years organising events for bestselling authors in Australia. So, when Australia House contacted me to take over the running of LAFS, I jumped at the chance. It felt like my whole life had been preparing me for this opportunity”.

FAVOURITE CLASSIC: WAKE IN FRIGHT
Dr Stephen Morgan
Stephen Morgan 
Co Programmer

Stephen is an academic and film historian, currently based at the University of Bristol, whose research focuses on the cinemas of Britain and its former settler colonies, with a particular focus on Australian cinema. His first book, Ealing Abroad: Post-War British Cinema, Settler Colonialism and Ealing Studios in Australia, will be published by BFI/Bloomsbury in 2023. 

"I'm a firm believer that Australian stories deserve the big screen treatment, so it really is wonderful to be part of a festival that celebrates Australian cinema in London."

FAVOURITE CLASSIC: THE OVERLANDERS

OUR SUPPORT TEAM
A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers who donate their time, expertise, creativity and enthusiasm in supporting the Festival. And special thanks to all our friends and families, without whom none of this would be possible. 
DR STEPHEN MORGAN 
Co Programmer

A Doctor of Philosophy in Film Studies Stephen Morgan is an academic and film historian who specialises in Australian cinema and the cultural relationship between Australia and Britain. He is also editor of 'The Far Paradise', a website dedicated to Australian cinema in the UK. 

"I'm a firm believer that Australian stories deserve the big screen treatment, so it really is wonderful to be part of a festival that celebrates Australian cinema in London."

FAVOURITE CLASSIC: THE OVERLANDERS

Keep an eye out for updates to  STEPHEN"S Watch List  for more Australian stories on the big screen. 
OUR SUPPORT TEAM
A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers who donated their time, expertise, creativity and enthusiasm in supporting the Festival. And special thanks to all our friends and families, without whom none of this would be possible. 
Corin Rossouw - Website
Moira McVean - Festival Programme 2017AFTRS Shorts Programmer 2023
Kate Woodburn - Finance/Snacks 2017/19
Lucy Fen - Marketing/Design (LAFF 2022)
Mike Richards - Festival Trailers (2017-19)
Liam Drane - Festival Graphics (2017-19) 
Bleddyn Sion - (Festival Flyers 2023) 
Corin Rossouw - Website
Moira McVean - Festival Programmer 2017
- Shorts Programmer 2023
Kate Woodburn - Finance & Snacks 2017-19 
Lucy Fen - Marketing/Design (LAFF 2022)
Mike Richards - Festival Trailers (2017-19)
Liam Drane - Festival Graph
ics (2017-19) 
Bleddyn Sion (Festival Flyers 2023) 

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