Ausfilm Week 2010
Ausfilm and representatives of the Australian film industry were in Los Angeles between 25-29 October, 2010 for Ausfilm Week 2010. Ausfilm Week aims to build relationships to encourage international film and television production in Australia.
Ausfilm Week featured a series of events including breakfast seminars, development lunches, a formal dinner, a film screening and cocktail events where Australian filmmakers and industry professionals discussed filming in Australia with their US colleagues encouraging them to access Australia’s Screen Production Incentives. With continuing downward pressure on production budgets, it is vital that the Australian film industry continues to present the range of incentive options available to American producers along with the depth and breadth of Australia’s filmmaking talent.
Of particular interest right now is the 40% Producer Offset, which is available to films that pass the Significant Australian Content (SAC) test which is administered by Screen Australia. The SAC test takes into consideration a range of factors including subject matter, location of filming, nationalities of key creatives and cast, source material and where the development has taken place. Films utilising the Producer Offset recently have included Knowing and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, with Killer Elite expected to follow suit. Targeted one on one meetings between leading Australian filmmakers, studio development executives, production companies and packaging agents took place during Ausfilm Week 2010 to discuss collaboration for the development of Producer Offset projects.
Australia’s other incentives include the 15% Location Offset and the 15% Post, Digital and Visual Effects Offset. The Emmy-Award winning television mini-series, The Pacific, took advantage of the 15% Location Offset by shooting in locations across the states of Queensland and Victoria. It was recently announced that the producers of The Pacific are returning to Australia to film the TV series Terra Nova, also in Queensland.
For more information on Ausfilm Week please contact Vivien Flitton at Vivien.flitton@ausfilm.com.au