Film and television productions put Canberra in the spotlight

By Ryan Towler

The number of film and television programs being produced in Canberra is growing with the city attracting production companies from across the country.

The peak body for the local film industry Screen ACT says one of the reasons for this growth is funding provided by the ACT Government through the ACT Screen Investment Fund.

The first feature film to receive support from this fund was the 2014 film Galore. The same year, the television series The Code, which screened on the ABC, received $200,000 from the fund. Last year, the films Me and My Mates vs. the Zombie Apocalypse and Locks of Love also received funds.

This year there are more productions being released than ever before that were produced in Canberra.

The second series of The Code, political drama series Secret City and feature film Joe Cinque’s Consolation will all be released in 2016. Another film Blue World Order will also be released this year but that was funded independently.

The Director of Screen ACT Monica Penders believes the increased number of productions of Canberra show what the city is capable of in the industry.

“We’re finally building capacity here,” said Ms Penders. “We’ve been really pushing to get crew skills up, writing skills up, facilities and also turning the ACT into a film friendly location.”

Despite all of this, the ACT Screen Investment Fund had some trouble a couple of years ago. It was not renewed in the ACT Government’s 2014-15 budget, but it was renewed for one year the following financial year with $400,000 available to support productions.

“There needs to be consistency in funding,” Ms Penders said. “Having it one year and then not the next just doesn’t work.

“There needs to be a long-term strategy for government support.”

The second series of The Code premieres later this year and Secret City premieres on June 5.