by FilmInk Staff
Applications are open for a stake in the $5 million Screen Capacity Building Fund to help the Western Australian screen industry scale up infrastructure and services ahead of the opening of the Perth Film Studios next year.
Screenwest is offering funding between $250,000 and $1 million for big ticket projects to fast-track capacity and support screen business growth in the state to help service rising levels of production.
Funded by the WA Government, the Screen Capacity Building Fund will enable businesses to scale up to provide infrastructure and services and respond to rising levels of production over the next five years with the opening of the Perth Film Studios next year.
Grants will help commercial operators across the screen ecosystem expand their operations, maintain or gain a competitive edge, create screen jobs, and manage rising local demand.
The two-stage fund is now calling for expressions of interest before a select number of applicants are invited to submit supporting material for their proposals. Successful applicants will be sourced from the second stage.
Screenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said: “We want to hear from industry providers with bold business ideas that will allow us to grow the local screen sector to ready Western Australia for large-scale film and television productions.
“This is a great opportunity for locals to leverage funds to expand businesses and help to plug current shortfalls in the industry, whether through services or infrastructure, so we can continue to meet the rising production demands of the screen industry.
“Not only will this enhance the competitive advantage of small to medium screen businesses but also create jobs and diversify the local economy.”
The Western Australian screen industry has been gaining momentum in recent years, and the upward trajectory is expected to surge even further when the Perth Film Studios opens in Malaga early next year.
Latest data shows Screenwest supported 46 projects in the 2023-2024 financial year, amounting to 76 hours of film, television and online content and directly employing 340 full-time employees in the motion picture and sound recording sector.
In addition, Screenwest-supported productions returned $64.59 million to the Western Australian economy, including $8.96 million to regional areas.
Guidelines for the Screen Capacity Building Fund can be found here on the Screenwest website.
Photo: Behind the scenes on Runt. Photography by Court McAllister.
