Download Page as PDF Printer Friendly Page
INDUSTRY PROFILES > Film

Film production and digital media


  • In 2005-2006, film production expenditure in NSW totalled A$120 million, 33% of total expenditure in Australia
  • on average NSW has accounted for about half of Australia’s total production spend over the past 10 years
  • in 2003-2004, about 15,000 people in NSW worked in film production.  Some 50% of employment within the Australian film industry is based in NSW
  • in 2005-2006, the value of Australia production initiated by NSW based production companies totalled A$219 million. This was 64% of the total budgets raised for Australian production.

NSW dominates the Australian film and TV production industry, accounting for more than 50% of more than 2,170 businesses in Australia. International film producers choose Sydney for its exciting locations, excellent infrastructure, strong skills base and enviable lifestyle.

The NSW film and television industry produces feature films, documentaries, telemovies, mini-series, TV series, commercials and corporate and music videos. Business activity also includes visual special effects, animation and post-production such as audio, dubbing, subtitling and editing.

Sydney is the home to the largest film studio complex in the Southern Hemisphere, Fox Studios, and its construction in 1996 sealed Sydney's reputation as an international film capital.

Located at the former Sydney Showground, the facility is Twentieth Century Fox's first major studio development outside North America, and includes eight world-class sound stages.

Major productions filmed at Fox Studios include The Matrix, Star Wars II and III, Mask 2, Moulin Rouge, Mission Impossible 2, Stealth, Superman Returns, and Happy Feet.

"I had a terrifically wonderful time in Sydney with the incredible crews. They're talented, hard-working people and I'm grateful to have been able to make two movies here" - George Lucas, film producer.

NSW has forged a world reputation as a leader in post-production, supported by its talented, skilled people and technology and innovation in digital audio, visual special effects and animation.

Oscar winner, Animal Logic, recently completed work on Happy Feet, which grossed more than A$100 million in the first two weeks of opening in North America. FUEL International also completed extensive digital special effects work on Charlotte's Web.

The NSW Government actively supports and encourages film production in the State, principally through the NSW Film and Television Office (FTO) and the Department of State and Regional Development.

The NSW FTO offers subsidised traineeships in digital media and the Film and Television Industry Attraction Fund administered by the FTO aims to attract additional international and footloose Australian film and TV productions to NSW.

Applications are considered case by case, depending on the economic benefits to the NSW economy. Guidelines for the program can be downloaded from the NSW Film and Television Office website.

TAFE NSW continues to seek out opportunities to expand its range of creative courses in digital media. NSW TAFE colleges in Enmore, Ultimo and North Sydney have recently developed courses in 3D animation and visual special effects, and games artistry. The University of Technology Sydney, has introduced a Master of Animation program.

Sydney - Australia's digital media hotspot

Sydney is an ideal location for digital media projects, offering a wealth of creative talent and leadership in the convergence of the information and communications technology, creative and entertainment industries. It is home to:

  • head offices of Australia's free-to-air and pay television networks
  • more than 50% of Australia's film and TV production companies including Australia's largest film studios and leading visual special effects and animation companies.

Sydney is the centre for advertising and publishing including music publishing in Australia, as well as for finance and legal services.

In addition digital media in NSW is underpinned by Sydney's strength as the home of Australia's largest ICT industry, worth A$31 billion a year and with a skilled workforce of 100,000.

For more information

Industry Division | +61 2 9338 6780 | industry@business.nsw.gov.au

Testimonial

"The cost differential [by filming at Fox Studios Australia] is probably 35 to 38 per cent less than what it would cost us to make it in the US and probably about 25 per cent less than what we’d make it for in London."

Rick McCallum,
Producer of Star Wars