Press release from the Office of the Premier of NSW
The NSW Government will deliver a $5 million boost to the screen industry in this year’s State Budget attracting $70 million in production expenditure and creating up to 1300 new jobs.
Premier and Minister for the Arts Nathan Rees said the $5 million will go to the State’s film funding body, the NSW Film and Television Office (soon to be trading as Screen NSW).
“This represents a doubling of Screen NSW’s Production Investment Fund which invests in the production of NSW films, television and digital media,” Mr Rees said.
“I am determined to do everything we can to cement NSW as Australia’s premier destination for film and screen production.
“A strong local industry – and skilled staff – attract international productions to NSW, bringing millions of dollars of investment and creating hundreds of jobs.”
The Premier also announced that a nine-part documentary series with SBS TV will be supported through this fund.
“The series, Secrets and Lives, will explore social issues such as addiction and homelessness and will be screened later this year and in 2010,” Mr Rees said.
“Supporting local screen production is a top priority for the Government and the recent success of the NSW supported production Samson and Delilah both at Cannes and at the local box office show that we want to see our own stories on screen – and so does the rest of the world.
“It is gratifying to see our local films and screen production specialists doing so well around the world but it is equally important that their skills are not lost to us.
Mr Rees said the NSW Government recently introduced an industry attraction package and a “film-friendly” protocol to encourage filming in NSW.
“The is already paying off, with producers of the big budget film, The Green Lantern, choosing to film in NSW.
“The 56th Sydney Film Festival, which closed on Sunday (June 14) included 35 Australian productions – nine of which were directly supported by the NSW Government.”