CANBERRA CAN OFFER YOUR NEXT PRODUCTION UNPARALLELED EASE OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN A TRULY UNIQUE RANGE OF INTERESTING AND ORIGINAL LOCATIONS AND ARCHITECTURE, WITH WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES. PLUS, THE AMBITIOUS CITY HAS NUMEROUS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND A CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY OF SKILLED PROFESSIONALS.

Canberra boasts an extensive range of captivating and unique architecture and locations, with well-known iconic institutions including Australian Parliament House and the National Gallery of Australia, making up only a small portion of what Australia’s capital city really has to offer.

A true haven for production accessibility and productivity. Due to its high altitude, Canberra and its surrounding regions offer unpolluted light, uninterrupted views and four distinct seasons. The city also lends itself well to outdoor shoots, with an exceptional average number of sunny days per year and no billboards or outdoor advertising to interfere with your shot.

The modern international airport is just a 10-minute drive from the CBD and only 15 minutes from wide, rolling hills and sheep paddocks, meaning there’s minimal travel time required to get your crew from the airport onto the set. Plus, being privately-owned, the airport is also available to productions as another shoot location.

Canberra’s city centre offers a range of architectural styles and can easily sub for cities such as Boston, Washington D.C. and New York. Its light rail system and diversity of locations also make it an easy stand-in for modern European cities.

As the closest Australian city to the New South Wales snowfields, Canberra is also perfect for productions that require winter or snow scenes, with the fields just a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. Heading two hours in the other direction, you will find yourself in front of the picturesque beachfront of the New South Wales South Coast.

A Community of Screen Professionals

The talent within Canberra certainly lives up to its name. As a maturing creative hub, Canberra’s screen industry is comprised of local specialists and seasoned professionals who have moved to the region for a lifestyle change. This highly skilled and motivated creative community are passionate, committed, and ready to work hard.

For further information about accessing Canberra’s local talent, please contact Screen Canberra’s Locations & Production Manager, details below.

World-Class Facilities

Construction of a state-of-the-art Virtual Production Studio and soundstage in partnership with the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) are also well underway in Canberra. Additional financial support has recently been received from the ACT Government’s Priority Investment Program and budget, to fast track the project which is expected to be up and running by mid-2022.

Visiting productions will soon be able to take advantage of these world-class facilities in addition to existing location shooting incentives, cementing Canberra as a one-stop-shop for filmmakers.

Expressions of interest regarding the forthcoming facility can be sent to Screen Canberra’s Locations & Production Manager, details below.

Funding & Initiatives

For productions that require additional funding or support, Screen Canberra offers a number of funding initiatives, including the CBR Screen Investment Fund and the soon to be announced CBR Screen Attraction Fund.

The CBR Screen Investment Fund is multipurpose and strategic, enabling Screen Canberra to remain responsive to continuous change and innovation. The CBR Screen Investment Fund has funding available for:

• Production investment: equity, debt and structured funding
• P&A funding

The CBR Screen Attraction Fund is an initiative of ACT Government that will offer grants to screen projects spending over AU$2 million in the ACT. Details of the Screen Attraction Fund are to be confirmed shortly, but it is expected to award qualifying productions up to 10% of their Qualifying Australia Capital Territory Expenditure.

For more information about Screen Canberra incentives, please contact Screen Canberra’s Fund Manager, details below.

Canberra’s untapped potential is starting to shine through, with a number of major series and feature films recently shooting in the region. Recent projects include Total Control (2019– ) and Blacklight (in post-production) starring Liam Neeson. With all of the benefits of a regional city, combined with the infrastructure capacity of a capital city, Canberra can boost the productivity of productions with its stunning, diverse locations, world-class facilities, numerous funding opportunities, and skilled professionals, all at your fingertips.

For further information about Screen Canberra’s locations and facilities, please contact:
Alex Ringland
Locations & Production Manager
[email protected]
+61 438 483 899

For further information about Screen Canberra incentives, please contact:
Sophie Harper
Fund Manager 
[email protected]
+61 432 446 938

Featured Image: Stromlo ACT. Credit Lydia Downe