The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.
Delivering a World Class Film Industry
The Australian Government will deliver $88 million from 2004-05 to 2007-08 in the implementation of its 2004 election commitment, A World Class Australian Film Industry.
The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, said the measure included around $80 million to be provided in new funding to the film industry over the period 2004-05 to
2007-08.
“The Australian Government has responded to industry concerns and is committed to strengthening the Australian film industry and ensuring it has a solid foundation for years to come,” Senator Kemp said.
“This package takes a strategic, whole-of-industry approach and recognises that the local sector has faced one of its most difficult periods on record. It will provide direct support to film agencies and, together with the Film Licensed Investment Company (FLIC) and tax changes, will make the industry more attractive to private investors.”
Some of the increases are immediate, with the Australian Film Commission (AFC) already receiving its first tranche of $2.5 million to develop better quality scripts and help local short film-makers to graduate to feature production. This will increase to $5 million per year for three years from 2005-06.
The Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC), which also received a funding increase of $5 million in 2004-05 to support the production of commercially competitive feature films, will receive an additional $10 million per year for three years from 2005-06.
Announcements made in the context of the implementation of the 2004 election commitment will be in addition to 2004-05 funding of $136 million for the AFC, Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Film Australia Limited (FAL), FFC and Ausfilm.
Film Australia – Australian Stories
Film Australia will receive an additional $7.5 million over three years to produce a 10-part series of high quality documentaries on Australia’s history.
There is a growing audience for high-end documentaries of an international standard.
Production will begin in 2005-06 with a series of biographies and epic stories featuring significant people and major events that have made a lasting impression on the Australian character and the nation.
Film Licensed Investment Company Scheme - extension
Subject to the passage of legislation, a single FLIC licence will be issued to raise up to $10 million in concessional capital in each of the 2005-06 and 2006-07 financial years, to be invested in the production of qualifying Australian film and television.
Screen Culture
The AFC will receive additional funding of $6.9 million over three years to improve its educational and exhibition activities and increase access to, and understanding of, Australian audiovisual culture.
- The expanded program will have three components:
- increased access, including online access, for education providers to Australia’s audiovisual materials at the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA);
- greater access to screen activities, including an expanded Big Screen program; and
- an expanded Embassy Roadshow and support for the creation of Australian film festivals and events internationally.
The Big Screen program tours new and iconic Australian films to regional and rural Australia and outer urban areas. In many circumstances it provides the only opportunity for people living in those areas to see Australian films. It also gives small regional theatre operators the opportunity to partner with the Australian Government and local business.
The Embassy Roadshow program promotes our screen culture internationally and is often oversubscribed. These embassy-hosted film events often coincide with events to promote other sectors, from our food and wine industries to local tourism.
The NFSA plays a central role in promoting our screen culture. Its functions were integrated with the AFC in July 2003. Ensuring an appropriate level of access to the Archive's collection is a focus for the integrated organisation. This can in part be achieved by increased access for educational providers to Australia’s audiovisual materials, including online access.
Australian Film, Television and Radio School – multi-platform courses and a Screen Business Skills Centre
The AFTRS will receive additional funding of $9 million over three years from 2005-06 to ensure its graduates and other industry practitioners are able to operate across a number of emerging delivery platforms and pitch to an international market.
Students will benefit from dedicated interactive and multiplatform production courses.
To help graduates and industry practitioners, a national Screen Business Skills Centre will be established. The Centre will deliver advanced business skills to current and emerging film and broadcasting industry practitioners.
Ausfilm – continuation of funding
Ausfilm funding will be extended at a cost of $4.1 million over three years to help it market Australia as the world’s best destination for film and television production, and complement the extension of the Australian Government’s highly successful film tax offset to high-budget television series.
The extension of Ausfilm’s funding recognises the importance of large budget, offshore productions to the Australian economy and industry.
10 May 2005
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Christo 0409 040 276