Qld’s film industry takes hit, dropping to third in national rankings

Screen Australia has revealed Queensland’s screen industry has plummeted with a staggering loss of 57 per cent, but insiders are confident the state can regain its “production powerhouse” title.

Queensland’s once record-breaking screen industry expenditure has taken a significant hit, with Screen Australia’s newly released 2023-2024 Drama Report revealing a sharp drop in the state’s share of national screen production spending.

In the 2023–24 financial year, Queensland’s screen expenditure fell to $300 million — a 57 per cent decline from the previous year’s record $700 million.

The state now accounts for just 18 per cent of national spending, down from nearly 30 per cent last year and below its five-year average.

Queensland made films and television series of 2023-2024.

This steep decline mirrors a 29 per cent drop in Australia’s overall film and television expenditure, which fell to $1.7 billion from $2.4 billion in 2022–23.

The downturn has been attributed to global economic pressures, US industrial action, and uncertainty surrounding federal Location Offset legislation, which disrupted high-budget international productions.

Massive strikes across the industry have had a big impact. Pic: Getty Images

Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan described the national spend as a “solid result” given the circumstances but highlighted key challenges, including reduced high-budget productions, pressure on children’s content, and increased competition for funding.

“Expenditure of $1.7 billion on 169 Australian and international drama productions represents a solid result after a three-year peak driven by Australia’s status as a Covid-safe filming destination, streaming growth, and several high-budget theatrical features,” Brennan said. “Despite these challenges, we’re optimistic about the future and confident there will be an uplift in production in the year ahead.”

Combat Wombat Back 2 back poster.

Queensland dropped from second place in 2022–23 to third this year in state expenditure both expenditure and production activity rankings, trailing New South Wales (47 per cent of national expenditure) and Victoria (19 per cent).

After a pandemic-driven boom, the state’s screen sector struggled in 2023–24, lacking blockbuster productions like Elvis that previously attracted global attention.

Although Queensland maintained a strong foothold in Australian feature films with projects such as Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back and Dangerous Animals, its share of the international market declined.

Despite this, the state still attracted several high-profile international productions, including director Ron Howard’s Eden, featuring Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney, and Ana de Armas, and The Bluff, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban.

Still from Ron Howard's feature film Eden, which was filmed on the Gold Coast in early 2024. Photo: Supplied.

Meanwhile, other states have capitalised on increased production activity.

Western Australia saw its expenditure triple, and a record-breaking $105 million was spent collectively in Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the ACT, driven by a mix of domestic and international projects.

Despite the setback, industry leaders maintain that Queensland remains a cornerstone of Australia’s film and television landscape, bolstered by its strong production infrastructure and upcoming projects.

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence in the state’s enduring appeal.

“We know producers across Australia and the world love to work in Queensland, thanks to our supportive state government, world-renowned crews, stunning locations, and first-class facilities,” Ms. Feeney said.

“Our State is a screen production powerhouse, and we have a strong pipeline of projects secured for the coming years.”

A Bluey movie has been confirmed.

The Drama Report also highlighted areas of growth for Queensland, including a 79 per cent surge in post-production, digital, and visual effects (PDV) work, bolstered by the Queensland Government’s PDV Incentive.

Additionally, the state continued to play a key role in Australian feature film production, hosting a slate of local projects that further showcased Queensland’s versatility and expertise.

Looking ahead, Ms Feeney pointed to significant projects on the horizon, including the highly anticipated Bluey movie and the upcoming blockbuster Voltron, starring Henry Cavill, expected to rejuvenate the state’s screen industry.

Ms Brennan echoed optimism for the future, underscoring the industry’s resilience.

“Screen Australia will continue to collaborate with industry to identify growth opportunities and ensure Australian screen stories thrive,” she said.

QUEENSLAND PRODUCTIONS 2023–24

Here’s a selection of notable titles that helped shape Queensland’s screen scene this year:

Domestic Features (32 per cent made in Queensland):

A Vintage Christmas – Jaggi Entertainment

Christmas Keepsake – Jaggi Entertainment

Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back – Like A Photon Creative

Dangerous Animals – Brouhaha Entertainment

Dusk – Kopleri Outback Filmmaking (not Screen Queensland funded)

He Loves Me Not – Fraser Coast Films

Homeward – Homeward Motion Picture (not Screen Queensland funded)

The Lost Tiger – Like A Photon Creative

Pout-Pout Fish: The Movie – Like A Photon Creative

A Royal Proposal: A Royal in Paradise II – Jaggi Entertainment

Spit – Tracking Films

International Features (28.5 per cent made in Queensland):

The Bluff – Amazon MGM Studios/AGBO

Eden – Imagine Entertainment and AGC Studios

Australian Series for Subscription/SVOD (20 per cent including PDV):

Black Snow S2 – Goalpost Pictures

Darby and Joan S2 – CJZ Pty Ltd

Good Cop/Bad Cop – Jungle Entertainment and Future Shack Entertainment

Last King of the Cross S2 (PDV only)

Thou Shalt Not Steal (PDV only)

International TV and VOD Drama (PDV only):

Pixel Zoo (5 titles)

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