Ausfilm, Australia’s industry association for screen service businesses responsible for attracting big budget film and television productions to Australia, has appointed Kate Marks as its Chief Executive Officer.
Marks has served as Ausfilm’s Executive Vice President, International Production in the Ausfilm Los Angeles office for the last five years tasked with attracting international production to Australia, promoting Australia as a production destination, marketing Australia’s production incentive schemes and matching Australian creative teams with US executives all to increase production activity across Australia’s screen sector.
Marks will commence in the CEO role immediately and also continue to serve in the EVP role in Los Angeles until she returns to Australia in early 2020 to lead the team of seven from Ausfilm’s Sydney headquarters at Fox Studios Australia.
“Ausfilm is a very effective organisation that represents both Government and industry, with this successful and supportive partnership, it has achieved a great deal for its membership and the screen sector and this is due to the strong, knowledgable and expert team driving it,” says Ausfilm Chair, Sam Mostyn. “Kate’s appointment follows a strategic succession plan developed by the Ausfilm Board that has facilitated a smooth transition from her role in the L.A. market back into Australia, following the departure of Ausfilm’s previous CEO, Debra Richards at the end of August.”
“Australia has a fantastic story to tell the global screen market and we have an innovative and highly creative screen sector to back it up and I’m leading one of the most dynamic and committed teams in our industry to drive more production to Australia, create jobs for Australians and our industry and investment into Australian businesses,” said Kate Marks.
Indeed Marks has seen an impressive list of productions attracted to Australia since the Australian Government’s announcement of a AU$140 million Location Incentive fund to help ensure Australia remains a globally attractive film destination in a very competitive screen industry landscape saying, “There are 97 jurisdictions that have established screen production tax credits or rebates demonstrating that governments around the world recognise the value in screen production to their economies, infrastructure and screen sector,”
“Ausfilm and our membership are very grateful for the support from the Australian Government and state governments in understanding this opportunity. Australia is in a unique position to capitalise on the increased interest from global markets and I’m energised and excited to lead the organisation in this new period.”
Projects secured for Australia since Marks’ appointment include Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Thor: Love & Thunder; Dora and the Lost City of Gold; Monster Problems; Godzilla vs. Kong; The Whistleblower; Alien: Covenant; Thor: Ragnarok; Pacific Rim Uprising; Kong Skull Island; Bleeding Steel and The Shallows. And television series Shantaram; Reef Break; Season 4 of Preacher; and Season 3 of The Leftovers. Prior to Ausfilm, Marks was General Manager, Incentives, Locations and Production Services at Film Victoria.