World Movies

Last updated

World Movies
World Movies logo.svg
Launched October 1995
Closed 31 January 2018
Owned by Special Broadcasting Service
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Country Australia
Language English
various
Broadcast area National
Website http://worldmovies.com.au
Availability
Satellite
Foxtel Channel 430 (SD/HD)
Channel 1430 (SD)
Cable
Foxtel Channel 430 (SD/HD)
Channel 1430 (SD)
Optus TV Channel 430
Streaming media
Foxtel Go Channel 430

World Movies was an Australian subscription television channel showing international movies. The channel features foreign language films, documentaries, independent and mainstream cinema and interviews with international movie stars. It is available on Pay TV service, Foxtel and SVOD service, Stan.

World cinema film genre

World cinema is not the sum-total of all films made around the world. Its use is analogous to the use of the term "world literature". Goethe used the concept of Weltliteratur in several of his essays in the early decades of the nineteenth century to describe the international circulation and reception of literary works in Europe, including works of non-Western origin. An interest in "world cinema" suggests an awareness of high-quality films made outside the Hollywood studio system which dominates international viewership. However, some people use the term to refer to the film and film industries of non-English-speaking countries in English-speaking countries. Equating the dominant form of cinema with the dominant language (English) can be inherently problematic.There are many countries such as Canada, England, South Africa and even Asian countries like India, where films are made in English but they are part of "world cinema" due to their marginal status in terms of access or viewership. It can be argued that an understanding of "world cinema" centering around Hollywood cinema suggests an Eurocentric view. "World cinema" is often used interchangeably with the term foreign film. "Foreign" is also a relative term, suggesting a Western viewpoint. One person's national cinema can be another person's foreign film. In fact, American independent cinema may be considered part of "world cinema" as it does not have adequate access.

Foxtel Australian pay television company

Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between News Corporation (FOX) and Telstra (TEL). With Fox being the 65% and Telstra the 35% shareholders. It shares many features with the Sky service in the United Kingdom, including iQ, the electronic program guide, a similar remote control, and Red Button Active.

Contents

The channel began broadcasting in October 1995, coinciding with the launch of Foxtel. It launched on Optus TV in May 1998. [1] World Movies was created by its founding CEO Laurie Patton on behalf of a syndicate that included the private company of Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes, the Australian Radio Network (ARN) and public broadcaster SBS. SBS provided access to its inventory of English language subtitles and the other shareholders funded the setup costs. In October 2009, SBS announced its intention to buy out the other shareholders, giving it full ownership of the channel. [2]

Seven Network Australian broadcast television network

The Seven Network is a major Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by Seven West Media Limited, and is one of five main free-to-air television networks in Australia. Channel Seven head office is based in Sydney.

Kerry Matthew Stokes, is an Australian businessman. He holds business interests in a diverse range of industries including electronic and print media, property, mining, and construction equipment. He is most widely known as the chairman of the Seven Network, one of the largest broadcast repeating corporations in Australia. He was invested as a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) in recognition of his contributions to Australian business.

The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio, online and television network. SBS operates four TV channels and eight radio networks.

World Movies is now owned and operated by SBS Subscription TV, a subsidiary of SBS. The two have a close working relationship, with films premiering on World Movies 12 months before becoming available on the SBS free-to-air channels.

In August 2011, World Movies launched a new look, new logo and tagline, Be Moved. It also introduced monthly themes, making it easier for viewers to find their genres of choice.

On 3 November 2014, World Movies launched a HD simulcast on Foxtel. [3]

On 31 January 2018, World Movies ceased broadcasting on Foxtel but movies can be seen On Demand in a section called "World Movies".

Programming

World Movies broadcasts foreign films spoken in over 200 languages and covers all genres of film, including action, adult, horror, vintage foreign film, as well as independent cinema.

The channel also broadcasts documentaries and interviews with high-profile members of the foreign film community. Past interviews have included German Director Wim Wenders, Spanish actress Paz Vega, and French star Clotilde Hesme.

25 Films You Must See Before You Die

In 2005, World Movies and SBS ran their program 25 Films You Must See Before You Die, which showcased one film per week from 1 March to 16 August 2005. [4]

The films chosen were:

  1. Seven Samurai (1954)
  2. The Rules of the Game (1939)
  3. Metropolis (1927)
  4. Dersu Uzala (1975)
  5. Blowup (1966)
  6. The Seventh Seal (1957)
  7. The Battleship Potemkin (1925)
  8. 8½ (1963)
  9. Un Chien Andalou (1928)
  10. Kes (1969)
  11. Breathless (1960)
  12. Mon Oncle (1958)
  13. Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
  14. Modern Times (1936)
  15. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
  16. Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932)
  17. Solaris (1972)
  18. City of God (2002)
  19. Breaking the Waves (1996)
  20. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
  21. Nosferatu, a Symphony of Terror (1922)
  22. Umberto D. (1952)
  23. Three Colours: Blue (1993)
  24. The Battle of Algiers (1965)
  25. Les Enfants du Paradis (1945)

25 Docs You Must See Before You Die

From 3 April to 18 September 2007, the World Movies channel showed 25 Docs You Must See Before You Die. [5]

  1. Triumph of the Will (1935)
  2. Grey Gardens (1975)
  3. To Be and to Have (2002)
  4. Dont Look Back [sic] (1967)
  5. I Was a Fireman (1943)
  6. In the Year of the Pig (1968)
  7. The Thin Blue Line (1988)
  8. The Last Waltz (1978)
  9. Brother's Keeper (1992)
  10. Hoop Dreams (1994)
  11. The Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
  12. For All Mankind (1988)
  13. The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
  14. Häxan (1922)
  15. Spellbound (2002)
  16. The Gleaners and I (2000)
  17. Murder on a Sunday Morning (2001)
  18. When We Were Kings (1996)
  19. Fast, Cheap & Out of Control (1997)
  20. Best Boy (1979)
  21. The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)
  22. The Sorrow and the Pity (1969)
  23. Silverlake Life: The View from Here (1993)
  24. My Flesh and Blood (2003)
  25. Hearts and Minds (1974)

Community Involvement

World Movies aims to promote the importance of foreign film in Australia through partnerships and events. The channel works closely with local foreign film festivals, including the Italian Film Festival, French Film Festival and German Film Festival.

In September 2011, World Movies launched a free foreign marathon event at Palace Verona Cinema in Sydney. The event invited guests to attend a marathon of free foreign films at the cinema including the French comedy Amelie.

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References

  1. ↑ "Optus undercuts rival in Australia pay TV". Reuters News. 30 April 1998.
  2. ↑ Knox, David (19 October 2009). "SBS more than a flash in PAN TV" . Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Knox, David (3 November 2014). "BoxSets, Discovery Kids launch on Foxtel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "25 Films You Must See Before You Die". World Movies. Archived from the original on 5 November 2005.
  5. ↑ World Movies' 25 Docs You Must See Before You Die microsite
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