The Territory Labor Government’s $9 million investment over four years into the NT’s film and screen sector is starting to pay dividends with a host of local productions proving a hit with national and international audiences.
Top End Wedding, Sweet Country and Robbie Hood are just some of the Territory projects garnering international attention, alongside Maya Newell’s, In My Blood It Runs, which screened at the United Nations last week.
Screen Territory continues to drive screen investment in the Territory with its latest initiative, joining ReelScout. The film-office business platform is a one-stop solution for crew, facilities and location needs in the NT.
ReelScout stores images of locations from screen agencies around the world, and provides a contact database for film producers, so anyone considering filming in the Territory has everything they need to know about Territory locations, facilities and the workforce at their fingertips.
Joining ReelScout is a direct action under the Territory Labor Government’s Northern Territory Screen Industry Development Plan 2018-2020 to develop a ‘film-friendly’ strategy to increase film production, employment and investment in the Territory.
As part of the strategy, Screen Territory has also joined Ausfilm, which promotes Australia's screen incentives, talent and facilities to the international market.
This membership enables Screen Territory to capitalise on the Australian Government’s Location Incentive, which aims to attract international investment and sustain Australian jobs in film production and related industries.
Since July 2018, international screen productions have contributed approximately $670 million towards the Australian economy.
Screen Territory is also building the capacity and sustainability of the local screen sector through its inaugural Generate Enterprise Grants. Six local screen industry businesses and practitioners received a share of $480,000.
In 2018/19, the Territory Labor Government invested a record $1.6 million in grant funding across the NT screen sector to stimulate development and production.
Screen Territory has also partnered with SBS Food to film Delicious Darwin, featuring renowned local restaurateur and chef, Jimmy Shu, and produced by local producers, Naina Sen and Sally Ingleton.
Quotes from Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, Lauren Moss:
“The Territory Labor Government is investing $9 million into our film and screen sector over four years, recognising its importance in sharing the Territory’s story with the world and its economic potential to the Territory.”
“Joining ReelScout will allow us to support jobs and investment in the Territory’s screen industry by showcasing what the Territory offers in terms of locations for filming and by promoting Territorian screen practitioners to be employed on screen productions.
“If film producers can see the incredible range of landscapes we have, and the dedicated NT professionals who work in the industry here, they are more likely to choose the Territory as a filming location. This means jobs for Territorians and more money being injected into our economy.
“On top of the direct injection of production expenditure, estimates suggest 230,000 tourists visit or extend their stay in Australia each year as a result of viewing Australian film and TV content, generating around $725 million in visitor expenditure.
“With our diverse landscapes and guaranteed weather during the dry season, we can offer a range of backdrops, from the desert to the coast, from a capital city to remote stations, from red dirt to rainforest. Now those locations can be easily scouted online from anywhere in the world.”
Quotes from Rosemary Blight, Producer, Top End Wedding:
“Filming in the Territory was a rewarding experience, with so many incredible filming locations to choose from.
“The weather is pretty much guaranteed most of the time, which helped us with planning, and there are plenty of creative people up there who work in the industry.
“We spent around $1.6 million in the Territory while filming Top End Wedding.”
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Contact:
Lisa Sennett 0436 929 858 lisaj.sennett@nt.gov.au