Australia launches Gold Coast Film Commission with 300% boost in screen funding

Two major developments for the Queensland's screen industry will see an increase to funding through the Screen Attraction Program and further progress on the Yatala screen project.

The two projects announced by the mayor of the Gold Coast, Tom Tate are as follows:

Gold Coast Film Commission 

A newly created Gold Coast Film Commission and a 300% boost in screen funding to more than $1m a year will support a greater number of international, national and local productions filmed on the coast.

“The City is pleased to join the prestigious Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) to further enhance our reputation as a filming and production destination of choice,” said mayor Tate.

“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 Gold Coast is the only local government in Australia that provides incentives to attract film and television productions to the city through the Screen Attraction Program and the only local government area to be involved in the AFCI.

Gold Coast Film Commission will be part of the AFCI, a global non-profit organisation that provides advocacy, connectivity and education for film commissions and screen businesses.

The Yatala screen industry project 

With more productions expected to be attracted to the Gold Coast in the coming years the Yatala screen studio development project was endorsed by council in October 2022 and has quickly progressed.

The 85-hectare council-owned site will be home to a state-of-the-art studio for filming and production.

City of Gold Coast has now shortlisted two studio operators for the development of the site through a long-term lease.

“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.”

The portion of land located at 396 Stanmore Road Yatala on the northern Gold Coast was identified as the "best commercial land" between the coast and Brisbane to enhance the local screen industry.

City reps met with 76 national and international film studio developers and operators recently from Australia, the US, Canada and the UK as part of the Expression of Interest process.