- McGowan Government supports Screenwest with $7.7 million Lotterywest grant
- WA screen industry continues to share unique Western Australian stories
- Screen industry an integral part of economic diversification strategy and commitment to create new jobs
The McGowan Government has confirmed its commitment to the continued development of the screen industry in Western Australia, providing Screenwest with a $7.7 million Lotterywest grant to support the production of film, television and interactive projects in WA.
The funding will also support skills and business development opportunities for local screen practitioners, Indigenous programs, and help promote diversity and inclusion.
Together the funding will provide valuable funding for local documentary and scripted productions and practitioners, and help develop a robust, inclusive and dynamic WA screen industry.
Projects supported include feature films How to Please a Woman, Sweet As, Blueback (screening in cinemas from 1 January); documentary series Our Law (screening on NITV on 5 January), Shipwreck Hunters Australia; and drama series Mystery Road: Origin.
For more than 27 years the State Government has supported the WA film industry, through Screenwest, with more than $140 million in Lotterywest grants.
This funding rounds out a year of significant activity for the WA screen industry. This includes the announcement of the preferred location for the new Screen Production Facility, the McGowan Government’s $2 million games and interactive industry investment and the $20 million WA Production Attraction Incentive commitment.
The McGowan Government’s investment in the State’s creative industries aims to diversify the economy through the attraction of film, TV, and screen projects to WA and will be led by the WA Screen Industry Strategy. The strategy is being developed to guide the WA screen industry for the next 10 years.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“I’m proud that the McGowan Government is supporting our incredible Western Australian screen industry through Screenwest.
“Ensuring we have a robust and flourishing industry with the right incentives and infrastructure will allow local creatives to continue to pursue their screen dreams in WA.
“It will also attract more world-class productions to take advantage of the spectacular landscapes and incredible talent we already have to offer, providing an economic and employment boost for our State.”
