Gold Coast productions get rolling

• Queensland remains a production powerhouse for the big and small screen.
• More than $2 billion in benefits generated off the back of 59 approved Queensland productions, creating 20,000 jobs for cast and crew.

Screen Queensland productions are set for lights, camera, action following the recent writer and actor strikes.

The Palaszczuk Government is a strong supporter of the screen industry and invests in attracting large-scale productions to the state.

Queensland’s screen industry has made significant contributions to the state, creatively and economically.

Since 2015, the Production Attraction Strategy has secured 59 local, interstate and international productions to Queensland.

These have contributed more than $2 billion to the local economy and created more than 20,000 jobs for Queensland cast and crew.

$28 million has been allocated this financial year alone to attract more large-scale productions – meaning more cast, crew and supporting industries will have ongoing work in the sector.

Screen Australia’s latest national Drama Report reveals that almost 30 per cent of all scripted feature films and series across broadcast, streaming and online platforms were made in Queensland in the past financial year.

This places the sunshine state second only to New South Wales in terms of the volume and value of productions filmed locally, reflecting a growth of 26.5 per cent since the previous record-breaking period in 2020–21.

The government is also investing in the rapidly expanding digital games sector, with $5 million committed to help the state harness economic, industry and employment benefits.

The $5 million is invested in Screen Queensland’s Digital Games Incentive (DGI), Games Grants and Games Residency program.

Last year the state achieved an 11 per cent increase in the number of full-time games jobs following the introduction of the government’s DGI and Games Grants.

In an industry worth more than $284 million in Australia, this equated to more than 300 new local positions — almost half of all games development jobs created nationally.

As well as long-running major events like Brisbane International Film Festival and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Forum, the Queensland Government has also worked with Screen Queensland to secure Screen Forever for another three years, and from 2024, the AACTA Awards.

Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“Queensland has so much to offer, and the world has recognised this.

“We have attracted more productions to our shores on the back of our strong response to COVID-19, which has seen thousands of local jobs for cast and crew created right here.

“The Gold Coast is at the heart of our screen success, but this is also flowing into the regions.

“Soon, Screen Queensland Studios, Cairns will be complete meaning we can offer large studio space to productions on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef.

“I look forward to seeing cast, crew and supporting industries get back to work to keep our creative industries in the spotlight.”

Quotes attributable to Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney:

“We look forward to local production resuming on Apples Never Fall and Mortal Kombat 2 which were supported by our Production Attraction Strategy.

“Along with Australian feature How to Make Gravy, which currently is filming on the Gold Coast, the resolution of the strike means that more than 900 local crew, creatives and cast members will be active in the industry. 

“Screen Queensland has been working throughout the strike on supporting a raft of local and international projects to start production here in 2024 and beyond to build on the record $700 million in production expenditure last financial year. 

“With the $12.6 million Screen Queensland Studios, Cairns development also opening in the new year, the future of Queensland’s screen sector has never been brighter.”

Productions attracted to Queensland include: