Million dollar investment in Victorian screen industry
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26 February 2009
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The Victorian Government has announced a $1 million strategy to help Victorian film makers reach larger local and international audiences through enhanced scriptwriting.
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Victorian Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said the new focus on long-term support by Film Victoria would create more employment opportunities and stimulate the production of world-class market-ready scripts.
“The Victorian Government is taking action to support the State’s screen industry which delivers significant cultural and economic benefits and generated $262 million in production activity last year,” Mr Jennings said.
The new Film Victoria strategy will involve intensive workshops and labs, one-on-one consultation and unique fellowships and should result in more scripts progressing successfully through the scriptwriting cycle to final production stage.
The $1 million in funding will include the provision of six $50,000 Writers Fellowships over two years to recognise and reward the success and creative talent of experienced writers and to allow them to focus on one project over a significant period of time.
“These initiatives are the first of many strategic responses to an independent review of the state’s screen industry, commissioned by the Victorian Government and released in 2008,” Mr Jennings said.
“The Review found that Victoria’s screen industry has significant strengths but needs to refine its focus in order to maximise its contribution to the state.
“A key recommendation was for more scriptwriting investment and support to create world-class content capable of attracting larger local and overseas audiences,” Mr Jennings said.
The Victorian Government is now using the review to develop a Victorian Screen Industry Strategy which will be launched later this year, aimed at enhancing Victoria's competitive advantage as a screen production hub and enabling the local industry to have a greater impact on the global screen industry. |
