Major Gov Investment in Screen Infrastructure and Grants Creates Exciting Opportunity for Productions
Tuesday, 17 August
The ACT Government will be a co-investor in a new state-of-the-art sound stage and virtual production studio in Canberra to improve the local industry capability as a location for high-quality film and TV productions.
The city has a growing reputation as an ideal setting for high calibre productions with recent works such as Secret City (2016-2019), Blacklight (in post-production) and Total Control (2019-) being filmed in the nation’s capital.
Monica Penders, CEO of Screen Canberra, says the introduction of the studio space coupled with the ACT’s location incentive will increase the appeal to large productions.
“The package of the studio space and a location incentive means that we are now even more competitive in the Australian screen landscape,” says Monica.
“Filmmakers are not just coming to Canberra for Parliament House, there is a wealth of facilities and infrastructure at your fingertips, which we have now increased with today’s announcement.
“The industry is becoming aware that Canberra is a unique location, and we have so much more to offer than just politics. You have access to a modern, diverse city with a unique blend of historic, brutalist and award-winning architecture surrounded by sheep paddocks, snow fields, national parks, observatories, deep space stations, forests and lakes. The ease of access to the variety of diverse shooting locations available makes Canberra the one-stop shop for production projects.
“We have also introduced an incentive program that offers grants to significant screen projects coming to the ACT. The Canberra Screen Attraction Fund is a pilot scheme with funding of $500,000 this financial year and will award up to 10% of a production’s expenditure, if they qualify.
“We encourage any production to enquire with us and come be part of the journey as we cement Canberra as an ideal destination for national and international productions.”
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says that these types of investments help create opportunities in new and emerging industries.
“The development of a sound stage and virtual production studio will further boost growth in our creative industries, helping to enhance Canberra’s growing reputation in the industry,” ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.
