by FilmInk Staff
A growing dispute over the governance and financial management of the Australian Film Institute (AFI), the organisation behind the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), has intensified ahead of its annual general meeting on December 16.
In a letter dated October 12, lawyers representing filmmaker George Miller, producer Doug Mitchell and former board member Jo Smith have given the AFI until October 16 to confirm that proposed changes to its board will be put to members at the AGM. The letter, issued by law firm MinterEllison, warns that court proceedings could follow if the demands are not met.
The latest intervention follows months of disagreement between prominent industry figures and the AFI board over governance, financial transparency and the organisation’s direction. The dispute was previously reported by TV Tonight and IF Magazine.
More than 300 members have reportedly supported resolutions proposing the removal of several directors and the appointment of replacements. The group argues that members have not been given the opportunity to vote on the proposals, despite a formal request for an extraordinary general meeting earlier this year.
The October letter also challenges the board’s decision to exclude Jo Smith, arguing that her purported removal was invalid. The directors’ position and the circumstances surrounding Smith’s departure remain disputed.
Financial management is another central issue. MinterEllison’s letter points to four consecutive years of operating deficits, with the AFI’s net assets falling to $243,804 by the end of the 2024-25 financial year. It also raises questions about unbudgeted expenditure associated with a major restructure and the availability of audited accounts.
The AFI board has previously defended its management, saying it has undertaken a review of costs, contractual obligations and cash flow, with changes intended to improve the organisation’s financial sustainability. The board has also rejected calls for an extraordinary general meeting, maintaining that the AGM would proceed as scheduled.
The controversy has implications beyond the organisation itself. The AACTA Awards are a major national screen-industry event, held on the Gold Coast with significant government and industry support. AACTA’s awards overview identifies Screen Queensland among its event partners, while the Queensland Government and Experience Gold Coast have supported the event’s continued presence in the region.
That public-sector involvement makes the organisation’s governance and financial transparency particularly relevant to the wider screen industry and its stakeholders.
The dispute has also played out publicly over the AACTA Awards. In August, filmmaker George Miller criticised the removal of the Byron Kennedy Award from the awards program, describing the decision in comments reported by The Age. The AFI board said the decision not to present the discretionary award followed a review of the program. The award is continuing under the Tropfest banner.
The wider conflict has also involved former chief executive Damian Trewhella, who has filed a general protections claim against the AFI, as reported by IF Magazine.
At stake is more than the composition of a board. The AFI has played a significant role in recognising Australian screen talent since 1958, with AACTA now a major fixture on the industry’s calendar.
As the deadline for a response approaches, the challenge for the organisation will be to resolve its internal differences while maintaining confidence among members, industry partners and the broader Australian screen community.
