Sharmill Films began in 1967 with Luis Bunuel's The Exterminating Angel. In buying a small number of foreign language , arthouse and commercial films of quality, Sharmill's longevity has outstripped the majority of her independent competitors. Her distribution successes have included The Edge of Heaven, The Closet, Moolaade, Osama, Tais-Toi, The Valet, Innocence, The Tree of Wooden Clogs, An Angel at My Table, The Dinner Game, Love Is The Devil, Repulsion. In 1984, Natalie (with partners) fulfilled another of her ambitions by becoming an independent exhibitor when she took over the Longford Cinema in South Yarra, where she coined the idea of ‘boutique cinema’ by providing personalised, quality service. In 1993, as a co-director, Natalie expanded her interests in as an exhibitor with the establishment of the Cinema Nova in Carlton, Melbourne, which opened screens in Adelaide in 1996 (now Palace Nova Eastend). |
 |
At the Cinema Nova, Natalie and her management team are also known for their innovative and risk-taking programming. Their initiatives include the Cry Baby sessions for parents with young children; Script Alive sessions, performances and discussions of unproduced screenplays in development by local filmmakers; Meet the Filmmaker events, extensive short film programs and their renowned Q&A sessions with local and international feature filmmakers; Novadose, a regular film event, such as Q& A sessions, short film screenings, and festivals, that celebrates the diversity of local filmmaking.
