Screenwest is Western Australia’s not-for-profit screen funding organisation, dedicated to supporting the development and production of film, television and digital games projects in Western Australia.
Our funding plays a pivotal role in driving screen industry growth. It has resulted in the doubling of scripted productions annually and enabled Western Australian documentary producers to continue to produce hit series and award-winning programs.
Productions recently made in Western Australia include:
• Feature films:
– The Surfer starring Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas, Dream Scenario). The film premiered at the 77th Festival de Cannes in France.
– We Bury the Dead starring Daisy Ridley (Star Wars sequel trilogy). Written and directed by Western Australian filmmaker Zak Hilditch.
– The Travellers written and directed by Academy Award-winning director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Mao’s Last Dancer), and starring Bryan Brown and Luke Bracey.
– Runt starring Jai Courtney (Terminator Genisys, A Good Day to Die Hard) and Celeste Barber (Wellmania, The Letdown). Based on Western Australian author Craig Silvey’s best-selling novel.
• Series:
– Mystery Road: Origin season 2 starring Mark Coles Smith (This Too Shall Pass, Last Cab to Darwin). Season 1 was the most watched drama launch on ABC iview ever.
– The Twelve seasons 2 and 3 starring Sam Neill (Apples Never Fall, Jurassic Park). A Binge Original drama series.
– Ghosts Australia, a BBC Studios Productions Australia series for Network 10 and Paramount+ is an Australian version of critically acclaimed British and US comedy, Ghosts.
– Ningaloo Nyinggulu. The series has received multiple awards including Best Natural History of Wildlife Program at the Asian TV Awards 2024.
– Aussie Gold Hunters. Broadcast in over 140 countries the factual series is Warner Bros. Discovery’s highest rating Australian commission.
– Our Medicine, a documentary series shining a spotlight on First Nations healthcare, including ancient healing practices in WA’s Kimberley region. Commissioned by NITV.
Ghosts cast with Sophia Zachariou, Kylie Washington, Sophia Mogford, Hon. Minister Simone McGurk, Rikki Lea Bestall, John Driscoll. Photograph credit Simon Westlake.
Western Australia is well positioned to grow our screen industry, thanks to its competitive advantages in training and talent, spectacular locations and safety.
Our vision is for Western Australia to be widely recognised as the preferred destination for high-quality screen productions. A place where local talent is identified, nurtured and retained and can build long lasting careers in the screen industry.
Our three strategic priorities focus on making Western Australia a hub for screen production, innovation and excellence:
1. Grow the scope and profile of Western Australian production. We seek out and support new screen productions, partnerships, infrastructure and funding.
2. Build local talent, crew and production companies. We invest in locals to help build a vibrant Western Australian-based screen industry. A place where our talented screen creatives can tell Western Australia’s unique stories and share them with the world.
3. Expand focus on digital storytellers. We are deepening our support of digital games and online storytelling to help screen creatives reach wider audiences. The digital games sector can provide significant economic and cultural benefits to Western Australia.
We have set bold targets. By 2028, we aim for production expenditure in the state to reach $300 million per annum, 4.5 times larger than it is today.
Since 2003, we have assisted the development and growth of Western Australian First Nations creatives, crew and production companies through a series of targeted strategies. By 2028, we want the hours of Western Australian First Nations-led screen content produced annually to have tripled and for a First Nations screen incubation hub to be established.
We will work with our government and industry partners, which include the Perth Film Studios, to reach our targets and build a brighter future for our screen industry, one that is bold, creative and uniquely Western Australian. Opening for business in 2026 the new multi-million-dollar Perth Film Studios will house 90,000 sq ft of N25 acoustic sound stages, workshops and a five-acre backlot.
“With our bold vision and clear priorities Screenwest is driving the growth of Western Australia’s screen industry, amplifying its cultural and economic impact, and empowering our storytellers to captivate the world,” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest Chief Executive Officer.
To learn more about Screenwest and its funding incentives visit www.screenwest.com.au
Ningaloo Nyinggulu.Camera man Jake Parker with camera assistant Sara Barbieri. © D.Parer & E.Parer-Cook.
