Australia boosts federal filming incentive support

“This represents a positive policy change ensuring that Australia continues to attract high-quality, large-budget feature films which will grow our talent and creative industries,” said Julie Bishop, Australia’s minister for foreign affairs. “It will also promote Australia as a dynamic, innovative economy and tourist destination.”

Steven Ciobo, Australia’s minister for trade, tourism and investment, said that the fund would bring more international productions to Australia, with Queensland likely to be among the main beneficiaries.

Queensland is one of the top filming locations in Australia for big-budget Hollywood films, partly on the strength of its high-end production facility Village Roadshow Studios, as well as state filming incentive support that complements the federal Location Offset.

Village Roadshow Studios has recently hosted Taika Waititi's superhero movie Thor: Ragnarok (pictured) and the Warner Bros/DC film Aquaman.

State authorities in Queensland applauded the federal government for putting “their money where their mouth is” and finally committing to additional incentive funding.

“The major studios have told us they want to make movies here,” said Ciobo. “This funding makes Australia more competitive and will help secure more major productions that will create and support local jobs.”

The incentive boost is likely to help Australia compete with global production hubs like Canada, the UK, Eastern Europe and parts of the US.

See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in Australia.

Main page image: FreeImages.com/Berkeley Robinson. Article image: Disney/Marvel Studios