How To Film in the ACT
If you are looking for a filming location in Australia that can offer you ease of movement between a variety of diverse shooting locations, then Canberra could be your answer.
Located less than a three-hour drive (and one hour flight) from Sydney, Canberra has a growing reputation as an ideal shooting location for large productions in Australia.
You have access to a modern, diverse city with a unique blend of historic, brutalist, and award-winning architecture, surrounded by sheep paddocks, snowfields, national parks, observatories, deep space stations, forests, and lakes.
UNDERSTANDING FILMING PROTOCOLS IN CANBERRA
There are two points of contact for filming permissions in Canberra.
ACT Government
Filming is considered an “event” by the local ACT Government. In most cases, you will need to contact Access Canberra for permission to film. There are a range of approvals that may be required when filming in the ACT. This will vary depending on the requirements of each individual filming project, or if you plan to close streets and obstruct traffic.
National Capital Authority Land
The National Capital Authority (NCA) manages open space event venues located on national land. These areas include:
- Commonwealth Park
- Rond Terrace
- Kings Park
- Anzac Parade
- Lake Burley Griffin
- Queen Elizabeth II Island
- Old Parliament House
- Regatta Point
- Patrick White Lawns
NCA approvals are managed on a case-by-case basis. For further information on the required process, please contact the NCA Events Team on (02) 6272 2901 or email events@nca.gov.au.
The ease of access to a variety of diverse shooting locations makes Canberra a one-stop shop for screen projects.
Screen Canberra is focused on keeping the ACT film-friendly and provides free support and advice to screen productions looking to film in the region.