Screen Australia released its submission to the 2010 Review of the Australian Independent Screen Production Sector at a seminar in Sydney. The seminar was followed by drinks with the Screen Australia Board.

“For feature film, television drama and documentary the Producer Offset accompanied by Screen Australia investment is generally working well,” said Ruth Harley, Screen Australia’s Chief Executive Officer. “However, our consultation with industry and our administration of the Producer Offset reveals that the Producer Offset cannot work alone. Screen Australia plays a vital role in enabling Government to target scarce funds to meet specific objectives such as the production of quality, innovative content that resonates culturally with Australian and international audiences. For the Producer Offset to reach its potential, Screen Australia requires more direct funding to allow increased support for medium-budget films and authored documentaries.”

“There is a strong argument for the games sector to access a modified Producer Offset in order to retain intellectual property and grow sustainable Australian businesses. Furthermore, Australian content in a digital environment remains the greatest unknown and Screen Australia has a vital role in supporting compelling content,” Dr Harley said.

Ruth Harley and Fiona Cameron, Executive Director of Strategy and Operations, identified 10 key issues and their presentation also included the release of original research providing a snapshot of independent documentary and drama screen production businesses in Australia.

A webcast of the seminar will be available on the Screen Australia site mid-July.

Download:

2010 Review (Full)

2010 Review (Extract)