Miles doing what matters: Big boost for local film industry

• Screen Queensland’s Screen Culture Fund will support 18 events to boost screen industry development across the state.
• The $263,350 first round of 2024-25 funding will support screen festivals, conferences and skills workshops until the end of 2024.
• The fund is part of the Miles Government’s 10-year Creative Together roadmap to increase creative jobs, strengthen communities and grow the cultural economy.

From the Gold Coast to the Gulf of Carpentaria, 18 screen events across Queensland will share in $263,350 through Screen Queensland’s Screen Culture Fund.

Projects supported in this first round of funding in 2024–25 include film festivals, industry conferences and skills development workshops presented between 1 July to 31 December 2024.

The Screen Culture Fund will support the Bus Stop Films’ Queensland Showcase, held 10-11 December 2024 in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which features three Queensland-made short films and shares films made by people living with a disability through the company’s award-winning 40-week Accessible Film Studies Program. 

Investment in the Ocean and Outback Film Festival in Karumba, held 14-15 September 2024, will support the screening of short films alongside a free filmmaking workshop, and the Screenscape Whichway Film Festival on 14 December 2024 will feature the work of three First Nations-led filmmaking teams from Cairns, Chillagoe and Yarrabah. 

In addition, the 2024 Mackay International Film Festival held earlier this month, Gympie’s Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival 27-29 September 2024, the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia 10-11 August 2024 and the Noosa International Surfilm Festival 8-11 August 2024, have also received funding, along with screen industry events CrewCon 2024 6-7 September 2024 the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Forum 30 October-2 November 2024. 

The fund supports events which showcase diverse screen content, foster development opportunities for industry professionals, activates creative jobs and drives tourism.

Part of the Miles Government’s 10-year Creative Together strategy, the fund builds a strong and sustainable sector, and activates our places and spaces in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Round two applications for the Screen Culture Fund are now open for events being held between 1 January and 30 June 2025, with regional councils, community groups and individuals encouraged to apply.

For more information and to apply, visit screenqueensland.com.au

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch:

“Screen Queensland’s Screen Culture Fund supports a year-round calendar of diverse and vibrant events across the state, engaging local screen communities and wider audiences, providing jobs and boosting our economy,” Minister Enoch said.

"Film festivals and events bring the world to the most remote parts of Queensland, connecting communities, attracting visitors and inspiring people to share our stories, and celebrate our storytellers.

“The Miles Government continues to provide opportunities for emerging practitioners to showcase their films, grow networks and connect with potential investors.”

Quotes attributable to Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney:

"Queensland is home to a thriving community of creative talent and our Screen Culture Fund is instrumental in ensuring that audiences have access to a broad range of storytelling, while being entertained and connecting with our local screen industry,” Ms Feeney said.

“We are passionate about investing in festivals and events that truly reflect the diversity of our state, including providing support for regional and remote screen festivals across Queensland.

“Last year, approximately 90,000 people attended Screen Queensland-supported events, demonstrating a strong appetite for industry engagement and demand for Queensland-made content.”

Explainer/fast fact and or further information: 

Screen Culture round one funding of $263,350 supports:

• the Bus Stop Films’ Queensland Showcase, featuring three Queensland-made short films made as part of the 40-week Accessible Film Studies Program (10-11 December 2024 in Brisbane and the Gold Coast)
• the Ocean and Outback Film Festival, screening short films alongside a free filmmaking workshop (14-15 September 2024 in Karumba)
• the Screenscape Whichway Festival, featuring the work of three First Nations-led filmmaking teams from Cairns, Chillagoe and Yarrabah (14 December 2024 in Cairns).
• the 2024 Mackay International Film Festival (held from 27 July-4 August 2024)
• Gympie’s Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival (27-29 September 2024)
• the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia (10-11 August 2024, Event Cinemas, Brisbane CBD)

• the Noosa International Surfilm Festival (8-11 August 2024)

• CrewCon (6 to 7 September 2024 at satellite events at locations across Australia and an online conference)
• the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Forum (30 October-2 November 2024 on the Gold Coast).   
• Australian Independent Film Festival (25-27 October).
• Understory Film Festival (4 October 2024 at Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns)
• Sunshine Coast Film Festival (8-30 October).
• Sydney Travelling Film Festival 2024 Queensland Tour to Bundaberg (11-13 October 2024), Cairns (1-5 November 2024) and in Townsville, Toowoomba and Mackay (1-3 November 2024).
• Port Shorts Film Festival & Masterclass Series in Port Douglas (18-19 October 2024).
• Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival, held in Gympie (27-29 September 2024).
• The Brisbane 48 Hour Film Project, a competition where teams create a short film in just 48 hours (12-14 July 2024). Awards ceremony taking place on 11 August 2024.  
• Backyard Film Festival: Brisbane 2024 held in October 2024.
• The Australian International Movie Convention (28 October -1 November on the Gold Coast.
• MIFF 37 South – as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival (8-11 August 2024 in Melbourne).

About Screen Queensland

Screen Queensland is the state government-owned agency investing in locally made films, series, and games, and attracting international and interstate production and post-production. The agency runs career-building initiatives for practitioners around the state and supports film festivals and industry events such as Screen Forever, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the AACTA Awards and Festival. Screen Queensland also operates Screen Queensland Studios in Brisbane and Cairns. 

For more information visit screenqueensland.com.au. 

ENDS

Media contact – Kim Sweetman 0457 600 237