Press Release from NSW Government
Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, Virginia Judge has announced a further $2.4 million investment in the New South Wales screen industry.
The latest round of the Screen NSW Production Investment Fund will support 12 new screen projects expected to generate nearly $18 million in direct production expenditure in the state.
“The New South Wales screen industry is a thriving part of the state’s economy and an engine for growing jobs,” Ms Judge said.
“In Sydney, and around regional New South Wales, our film and television industries are back on the map and the Government is very proud to be supporting our talented screen industry workers.”
Feature films supported through the Government’s Production Investment Fund include:
• Griff The Invisible by first-time director Leon Ford and Cedar Boys line-producer Nicole O’Donohue;
• The Reef featuring Underbelly’s Damian Walshe-Howling; and
• The Tree, a French/Australian co-production by acclaimed director Julie Bertucelli.
“The Rees Government is committed to ensuring a bright future for the local screen industry, through targeted investments, and a broad range of programs both to support production and grow audience,” Ms Judge said.
“As well as these new production investments, the Government will provide $628,000 to fund 34 projects designed to support the broader screen industry through ScreenNSW’s Industry and Audience Development program.
“The allocations from the Industry and Audience Development Program provide many opportunities for audiences in regional NSW and western Sydney, as well as those closer to the city, to enjoy film festivals and other film-related events.
“The funding also provides for professional skills development in the screen industries which has been identified by the Government as a driver of innovation.”
Ms Judge said more than a third of the funding will go to regional NSW with another 10 per cent to be spent specifically in western Sydney.
“This latest announcement comes just after the NSW Government secured two key screen industry events for Sydney, the national Screen Producers Association of Australia annual conference and the internationally-renowned cutting edge digital media event, XMedia Lab,” she said.
“These two events will bring hundreds of screen professionals from Australia and internationally to NSW.”
*A full list of projects being funded by the Screen NSW Production Investment Fund is attached.
Background on projects supported through the Screen NSW Production Investment Fund:
The 12 screen productions to receive production funding are:
• The Reef (Feature Film) – Investment $225,000
• Accentuate the Positive (Factual – Single) – Investment $50,000
• Storm Surfers 2 (Factual – Cross platform) – Investment $50,000
• Sales, Seduction and Sex (Factual Series) – Investment $175,000
• Sleeping Beauty (Feature Film) – Investment $375,000
• Oranges and Sunshine (Feature Film) – Investment $135,000
• Love in Time of Economy (Factual) – Investment $40,000
• Wrong Side of the Bus (Factual) – Investment $21,300
• Sleek Geeks 2 (Factual – Series) – Investment $110,000
• Making Australia Happy (Factual – Series) – Investment $150,000
• Griff The Invisible (Feature Film) – Investment $350,000
• The Tree (Feature Film) – Investment $110,000