Producers have labelled the NSW Government's decision to proceed with $60 million worth of cuts to the state's screen funding programs, impacting the Made In NSW fund and the Post, Digital and Visual Effects Rebate, as "reckless" and "nothing short of a disaster".
ADVERTISEMENT
Global visual effects giant DNEG, which recently opened a Sydney studio, has called on the NSW Government to reconsider proposed cuts to its screen funding programs, arguing it will have a "devastating" impact on the state's ability to attract production, stymie business and job growth, and ultimately result in talent leaving the state.
The NSW Government has signalled it will make cuts to screen funding in next week's state budget, including the Made in NSW fund, the Post, Digital and Visual Effects rebate and the Digital Games Development Rebate Program.
Nearly 50 projects will benefit from $1.2 million through Screen Australia's Premium and Generate Funds, including new work from 'Class of 07' creator Kacie Anning and multi-hyphenate Leah Purcell.
Everything from classical music to the conversation around climate change will be explored in the five new documentaries to share $2.2 million of funding from Screen Australia.
No Coincidence Media and Umbrella Entertainment have put the call out for First Nations screenwriters to submit their feature ideas, offering to fund one concept with development costs of up to $40,000.
A documentary series centred on young athletes and a dramedy about two single mums living in the remote Northern Territory are among the seven online projects to receive more than $1 million from Screen Australia.