Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Drama Report 2021/22: Record $2.29 billion spent on drama production in Australia

10/11/2022

10 11 2022 - Media release Drama Report 2021/22: Record $2.29 billion spent on drama production in Australia

True Colours, Beep and Mort, Force of Nature

Screen Australia's 32nd annual Drama Report released today shows an all-time high expenditure in Australia on scripted screen production of $2.29 billion, made up of a record spend on Australian titles of $1.51 billion, plus $777 million spent on foreign productions.

Overall $2.29 billion was spent across 162 drama screen productions that commenced production or post production in Australia in 2021/22 compared to $1.94 billion spent across 163 productions in 2020/21. The increase was driven by a record spend on Australian theatrical features ($786 million up from $495 million last year), as well as a record spend on Australian subscription TV and Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) for which number of titles, hours and budgets have tripled from 2020/21. Spend on Free-to-air (FTA) TV and Broadcast Video On Demand (BVOD) drama, and children's drama across TV and VOD platforms also increased from last year, but has not returned to previous highs in either category.

Spend on foreign Post, Digital and Visual effects work (PDV) in Australia hit a new record of $335 million, and spend on foreign titles that shot in Australia dipped from its record high last year but is still well above the 5-year average.

Minister for the Arts, The Hon Tony Burke MP said, This is a great result and testament to the strength of our local screen industry. It shows the importance of the creative sector and the appetite for Australian drama. It's fantastic to see Australian stories being told here at home and to global audiences.

Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said, Hitting well over the $2 billion mark is an incredible milestone for our sector, and it's truly a bumper year for Australian scripted content - to have local productions make up 66% of this spend is extraordinary. Distinctly Australian stories continue to captivate audiences here and overseas, with Heartbreak High reaching the top 10 on international Netflix charts, and shows from Bluey to Bump taking the world by storm.

This is a unique year for feature film, with several high-budget Australian projects starting production including Dr George Miller's Furiosa which are bringing significant economic and creative benefits. However the number of Australian films that went into production has decreased. It's no secret that the content landscape across film, television and online has changed and viewing habits are continually evolving. This is most evident in the reduction in films being produced for theatrical release, the shift in drama spend from television to online platforms, and the increasing spend on premium drama.

While it's a crowded market the appetite for local content remains, and it's heartening to see increased Australian projects produced for streaming platforms in 2021/22. Screen Australia is committed to supporting a range of stories for big and small screens, from The Dry's sequel Force of Nature, to mystery series True Colours featuring Arrernte languages, to the third and final season of YouTube mega-hit Meta Runner.

We know the value and power of Australian children's stories, and it's vital for our kids and our national identity that Aussie children are able to see themselves reflected on screen. Children's content has declined from historic highs as the sector adjusts to digital disruption, new audience habits, and changed content regulations and funding support. Despite this there are still high quality projects going into production with some wonderful titles to enjoy from this year's slate including Barrumbi Kids shot in the Northern Territory, Crazy Fun Park in Victoria, Beep and Mort in South Australia, Rock Island Mysteries in Queensland and The PM's Daughter in Canberra and New South Wales.

While foreign production spend has dipped from last year's record year, it's still looking healthy against the 5-year average. Projects like Ticket to Paradise offer important opportunities for Australian creatives to cut their teeth on big international productions and we have more to look forward to next year with the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and the sequel to Godzilla Vs Kong. Australia has also made a name for itself in PDV, with projects including The Flash and The Marvels undertaking work here, and we're thrilled to see this part of the sector growing to record highs.

Our focus now is to work together with the industry to address gaps in skills and capacity that have come as a result of the production boom, to ensure we are in the best position to keep up the pace and further boost the potential of Australian stories and storytellers, Mason continued.

New South Wales set a new record of spend in the state, with over $1 billion and 45% of the national share, and Victoria also achieved a record high with $556 million (24% of the national share). Collective spend in the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Tasmania also set a new record, more than tripling from last year's $18 million to $57 million in 2021/22, or 2% of the national total.

The Drama Report uses data from industry to provide an overview of the production of local and foreign feature, television, VOD and children's drama titles, as well as PDV activity. All production expenditure is allocated to the year in which principal photography began. PDV employs a secondary method of analysis, which is outlined in the PDV section below, and in the report. Drama' refers to scripted narratives of any genre. This Drama Report uses new categories for Australian drama, providing better insights into production of general and children's drama across all platforms. All data in the report has been r
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2022/11-10-dra...
See more stories from screenaustralia

More from Screen Aus

21/03/2024

Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry

21 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry Which Way Up: Galaxy Games Screen Australia has anno...

18/03/2024

Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative

18 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative LTR Denise Eriksen, Esther Coleman Hawkins, Caroline Pitcher, K...

15/03/2024

The Creators 2024 Participants Announced

15 03 2024 - Media release The Creators 2024 Participants Announced The Creators program recipients. L-R Thomas Duncan-Watt, Vanessa Gazy, Sarah Lambert, Lea...

13/03/2024

Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan

13 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan Critical Incident: Akshay Khanna and Zoe Boe. Photo c...

28/02/2024

Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects

28 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects Willy Screen Australia has announced 23 feature fi...

27/02/2024

Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair

27 02 2024 - Media release Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair Michael Ebeid AM and Megan Brownlow The Hon. Minister for the Arts, Tony...

21/02/2024

Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce Applications Open for UNTAPPED 2024

21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...

15/02/2024

Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs

15 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs Liz Keogh Palmer (Australian Production Design Guil...

13/02/2024

Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US

22 01 2024 - Media release Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai Six Australian screen projec...

12/02/2024

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9

12 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9 Uncovering Street Dance: Australia from Skip Ahead 8. Photographed by Ry...

08/02/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two

08 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two Marta Dusseldorp as Stella in Bay of Fires ABC, Screen Austr...

22/01/2024

Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US

22 01 2024 - Media release Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai Five Australian screen proj...

17/01/2024

Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Australia and ABC's new drama series Plum

17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...

14/12/2023

Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of production funding for 11 projects

14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...

12/12/2023

Applications open for The Creators program

12 12 2023 - Media release Applications open for The Creators program The Creators program Screen Australia and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) have annou...

11/12/2023

Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023

11 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023 Enoch Mailangi, Noora Niasari, Hannah Carroll Chapman Screen Austr...

30/11/2023

Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2

30 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2 Image courtesy: Screen Warriors Screen Australia has annou...

29/11/2023

Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries

29 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries Deeper Screen Australia has announced three documentaries fun...

23/11/2023

Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects

23 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects Wishes Screen Australia has announced 18 feature f...

10/11/2023

Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin

09 11 2023 - Media release Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin Austin - Ben Miller, Michael Theo, Sally Phillips Screen Australia, ABC, ITV Stu...

10/11/2023

Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023

10 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023 Screen Australia Digital Originals Workshop. Image by ...

09/11/2023

Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series

09 11 2023 - Media release Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series Kangaroo Beach Series 3 Screen Australia and ABC are thrilled to announce that a third...

09/11/2023

Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Shaun Tan's Tales From Outer Suburbia

09 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Sh...

08/11/2023

Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program

08 11 2023 - Media release Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program Behind the scenes of Total Control 3 - Wayne Blair, Jub Clerc ...

02/11/2023

Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions

02 11 2023 - Media release Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions NCIS: Sydney, The New Boy, Ginger and the Vegesaurs. S...

01/11/2023

Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new film We Bury the Dead in Western Australia

01 11 2023 - Media release Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new fi...

31/10/2023

Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO

31 10 2023 - Media release Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO Screen Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Deirdre Brennan a...

31/10/2023

Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program

31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program Access Coordinator Training Program workshop in Sydn...

31/10/2023

Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil

31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil Writer/director/producers Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas, a...

30/10/2023

South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced

30 10 2023 - Media release South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced With or Without You stars Melina Vidler, Marta Dusseldorp and Albe...

30/10/2023

Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years

31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years L-R: Mithila Gupta (creator/writer), Nicole Reddy (writer), S...

17/10/2023

Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative

17 10 2023 - Media release Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative Screen Australia and the Australian International Documentary Confere...

09/10/2023

Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of 2023 First Nations Creator Program

09 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of...

06/10/2023

Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollywood luminaries to SXSW Sydney

06 10 2023 - Media release Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollyw...

05/10/2023

Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open

05 10 2023 - Media release Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) are delighted to anno...

03/10/2023

Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond

03 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond Neyyah: Defy Reality Entertainment Screen Australia is pleased to ...

25/09/2023

Screen Australia announces over $10 million of production funding for nine projects

25 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $10 million of produc...

14/09/2023

Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake

14 09 2023 - Media release Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake Fake stars Asher Keddie and David Wenham Screen Australia and P...

13/09/2023

Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced

13 09 2023 - Media release Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced 2023 Untapped Participants Screen Australia and Australians in Film today an...

07/09/2023

Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs

07 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs Screen Australia is pleased to announce two progra...

30/08/2023

Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series

29 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series L-R: Dylan River (Thou Shalt Not Steal), Bonnie Moir (Exposure), Nicholas...

28/08/2023

New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced

28 08 2023 - Media release New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced Mix Tape director Lucy Gaffy and writer Jo Spain BINGE, Screen Australia and Screen Ireland ...

28/08/2023

Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission

28 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission Maggie Beer s Big Mission Screen Australia, ABC and Screenwest hav...

24/08/2023

Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding

24 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding Enterprise Business funding recipients Kauthar Abdulalim (Blac...

24/08/2023

Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever

24 08 2023 - Media release Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever White Fever creator and actor Ra Chapman and actor Chris Pang. Ima...

18/08/2023

Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023

18 08 2023 - Media release Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023 Shayda Five Australian projects have been selected ...

16/08/2023

Screen Australia announces over $1.2 million of story development funding for 47 projects

16 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.2 million of story...

09/08/2023

Screen Australia and ABC announce Fresh Blood 3 teams

09 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Fresh Blood 3 teams Fresh Blood 3 teams in Sydney for the workshop on 8 August 2023 The ABC and ...

02/08/2023

Screen Australia announces over $2.2 million for five documentaries

02 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $2.2 million for five documentaries Mozart's Sister Screen Australia has announced three docum...

01/08/2023

Marc Fennell continues his global treasure hunt during Stuff The British Stole Season 2

01 08 2023 - Media release Marc Fennell continues his global treasure hunt durin...