Screen Australia Restructures Production Support

SYDNEY: Screen Australia is planning to reduce its maximum investment in film and TV projects, in addition to shrinking its staff, following cuts to its funding in the federal budget.

The agency has been asked by the federal government to cut A$25 million ($23.6 million) over the next four years. As a result, the cap for direct investment in film productions and projects will be lowered from A$2.5 million ($2.36 million) to A$2 million ($1.89 million). Funding support under A$500,000 ($472,000) will in the future come in the form of non-recoupable grants; the previous grant ceiling was A$200,000 ($189,000). Also, Screen Australia will no longer hold any copyright in productions receiving less than $500,000 (and only a 1 percent share above that).

Screen Australia is planning to reduce its staff by 10 percent. It is doing away with the marketing department as well as the state and industry programs section. The marketing department will be replaced with a new business and audience department.

"There are challenges before us, but I also see great potential," said Graeme Mason, the CEO of Screen Australia. "We will back our creative talent to capitalize on opportunities and take more Australian stories out to the world. We will grow the pie for Australian production by facilitating international collaborations, using advantages such as our talent and our world-class production reputation. We will reduce process as much as possible and step out of the way of industry, providing more funding as grants, with no copyright interest, so that producers keep more revenue from their productions. We will encourage new models of digital production and distribution that ensure our industry continues to evolve with its audiences."