Films and Casting TEMPLE Pty Ltd is an Australian-based international film consultancy and casting company based in Fox Studios Australia (Sydney). The company was founded in 2000 by film director Anupam Sharma and specialises in the Indian cinema and Bollywood genres. The company is recognized for pioneering film links between India and Australia.
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History
Films and Casting TEMPLE first opened its doors on August 30, 2000.
As part of its initiative to promote film related professional exchange between India and Australia, Films and Casting TEMPLE's managing director started an Australian film initiative that held its inaugural event, called the Australian Film Festival of India in December 2011. The festival received strong support from film professionals in India as well as Australia, with some well-known people such as Baz Luhrmann, Bill Bennett, John Winter and Hugh Jackman. In 2012, renowned Australian director Bill Bennett announced that his next thriller would be shot in India as a collaborative project. The festival is now in its third year of production and making.
In 2012, Films and Casting TEMPLE was the Australian-based production company for Pramod's Films feature film From Sydney with Love, the debut feature by Prateek Chakravorty. The film features iconic Australian landmarks, and is the first mainstream Bollywood film to name an Australian capital in its title, making it a landmark production for Indian cinema.
On 5 December 2013, a group of businessmen of Indian origin established the Australia India Film Fund (AIFF) and signed Films and Casting TEMPLE as the production company to produce their screen content (minimum one feature film and one documentary/television series every 18 months). The fund was established to strengthen the film ties between India and Australia, triggering multimillion-dollar productions and utilizing the Australian 40% producer offset. It is the first private film fund to produce India-centric Australian stories. The fund aims to maintain a local crew of at least 90% Australians and a minimum of 80% local cast. General manager of Films and Casting TEMPLE and filmmaker Anupam Sharma was appointed as the AIFF head of films.
Owner
The managing director of Films and Casting TEMPLE is the well-known Indian filmmaker, Anupam Sharma. Anupam opened Films and Casting TEMPLE on August 30, 2000.
Sharma secured a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and has written a number of research papers about media and films, along with a thesis—with distinction—on Indian cinema.
Appointed as one of the ambassadors for Australia Day 2013, and nominated as one of the 50 most influential professionals in the Australian film industry by Encore magazine, Anupam is a filmmaker, an author and an international consultant on Indian cinema.
In 2012, he was the chief judge and advisor for the first ethnic reality series in Australia, Bollywood Star, along with professional photographer/talent spotter Raj Suri and professional dancer Dipti Patil.
In 2011, Sharma launched An Australian Film Initiative to assist in the marketing and promotion of Australian screen culture in non-traditional markets. The initiative began with the first annual Australian Film Festival of India. Annually, the festival exhibits Australian cinema to Indian audiences and has screened in Dehradun, Delhi and Mumbai. Each year, industry professionals support the festival; past supporters include Baz Luhrmann, Hugh Jackman and John Winter.
Partnerships
Films and Casting TEMPLE is part of an incentive to promote film relationships between India and Australia. As a result, the company is associated with Global Indian Talent, An Australian Film Initiative and the website Bollywood In Australia, all of which aim to promote the professional relationships between Indian and Australian in the cinematic realm.