City of Gold Coast has announced the formation of a Gold Coast Film Commission, while increasing screen funding by more than 300 per cent to support a greater number of international, national and local productions.
The Gold Coast Film Commission will be part of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), a global non-profit organisation that provides advocacy, connectivity and education for film commissions and screen businesses.
City of Gold Coast is the first Australian local government body that provides incentives for the screen industry through the Screen Attraction Program, to become involved with the AFCI.
“The City is pleased to join the prestigious Association of Film Commissioners International to further enhance our reputation as a filming and production destination of choice,” Mayor Tom Tate said.
“With the Gold Coast screen industry becoming such a success and contributing over half a billion dollars to the local economy last year, we have chosen to increase the overall amount of funding available to attract even more filmmakers to the city.”
The announcement comes as the Yatala screen studio development project that was endorsed by City of Gold Coast in October last year moves forward.
Comprising 85-hectares, the parcel of land at 396 Stanmore Road was identified as the best commercial land between the coast and Brisbane to enhance the local screen industry.
The City of Gold Coast has now shortlisted two studio operators for the development of the site through a long-term lease after meeting with 76 national and international film studio developers and operators from Australia, the US, Canada and the UK as part of an expression of interest process.
The applicants were asked how they would establish initiatives and operations within the facility to develop, grow and collaborate with the domestic screen industry.
“It’s great to see we have made progress on the screen industry project at Yatala with two respondents endorsed for invitation to tender,” Mayor Tate said.
“A tender process to determine the most suitable candidate is now underway and a decision is expected to be made early in 2024.”