Screen Tasmania Explained

Screen Tasmania
Predecessor:Tasmanian Film Corporation
Established:-->
Founders:-->
Founding Location:Tasmania
Dissolved:-->
Purpose:Promotion and development of Tasmanian screen industry
Focus:-->
Location:Hobart, Australia
Region Served:-->
Leader Title:Executive Manager
Leader Name:Alex Sangston
Publication:-->
Parent Organisation:Department of State Growth
Parent Organisation:-->

Screen Tasmania is the Government of Tasmania’s film, television, and digital media funding and support body. It aims to promote the growth of the screen industry in Tasmania, assist local talent, and attract production projects to the state.

History

Screen Tasmania was founded in 1999 under the Department of State Growth to support the development of Tasmania’s screen industry. Its establishment marked the revival of dedicated screen industry support in Tasmania, following the closure of the Tasmanian Film Corporation in the early 1980s.[1] [2]

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a broader cultural push in Tasmania under Premier Jim Bacon’s government, which included the establishment of Screen Tasmania and the launch of Ten Days on the Island, Tasmania’s first international arts festival. This period of renewed cultural investment provided a foundation for the state’s growing screen industry.

Initially operating with a modest budget of approximately $1 million, Screen Tasmania focused on supporting local storytelling and encouraging collaboration with national and international production companies. Early funding initiatives prioritised documentaries, which explored Tasmania’s unique cultural and natural heritage.[3]

Infrastructure and training programs also played a significant role in building the local industry. The Mobile Media Access Facility offered accessible resources and training, while partnerships with organisations such as the Australian Film, Television and Radio School provided professional development opportunities for Tasmanian practitioners.[4]

Screen Tasmania’s strategic plan, released in the mid-2000s, emphasised fostering collaboration between local filmmakers and external industry stakeholders, while creating opportunities for emerging talent. The plan reflected the organisation’s goal of nurturing a sustainable and professional screen industry in the state.[5]

By the mid-2000s, Screen Tasmania had supported a variety of productions, from feature films and television series to documentaries that highlighted Tasmania’s distinct narratives and landscapes. Collaboration with the Tasmanian Screen Network further strengthened the industry’s professional infrastructure and representation.

Today, Screen Tasmania continues to facilitate the development of the state’s screen industry through funding, training, and resource support for both local and visiting productions.

Major productions

Screen Tasmania has supported a range of film, television, and digital media productions in Tasmania.

Feature Films

Television Series

Documentaries

Emerging Talent

Screen Tasmania supports emerging filmmakers through funding initiatives and local film festivals such as the BOFA (Breath of Fresh Air Film Festival).[17]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Report 1986 . Australian Film, Television and Radio School . 16 November 2024 .
  2. Web site: The making of a Tasmanian film industry . Simon . Sellars . Realtime . 16 November 2024.
  3. News: Funding for Devil film . . 23 . 12 . 16 December 2003 . 16 November 2024 . 3 .
  4. Web site: Annual Report 1986 . Australian Film, Television and Radio School . 16 November 2024 .
  5. Web site: Screen Tasmania's strategic plan . Screen Tasmania . 16 November 2024 .
  6. Web site: The Nightingale . Screen Tasmania . 16 November 2024.
  7. Web site: How Lion captured the stunning Tasmanian wilderness . The Guardian . 12 December 2016 . 16 November 2024.
  8. Book: Smith, Ian Hayden . International Film Guide 2012 . 2012 . 978-1908215017 . 66 .
  9. Web site: Willem Dafoe: Tassie Tiger Hunter . 702 ABC Sydney . 27 September 2011 . 21 June 2013.
  10. Web site: Van Diemen's Land: A stark portrayal of history . Forty South Tasmania . 16 November 2024.
  11. Web site: Filming starts on Bay of Fires . Tasmanian Times . 10 June 2022 . 16 November 2024.
  12. Web site: How Tasmania became the gothic muse of Australian film and TV . The Guardian . 24 November 2016 . 16 November 2024.
  13. Web site: Rosehaven: Tasmania's quirky charm . ScreenHub . 7 October 2021 . 16 November 2024.
  14. Web site: The Kettering Incident puts Tasmania on the map . IF Magazine . 15 July 2016 . 16 November 2024.
  15. Web site: David Attenborough’s Tasmania . BBC Earth . 1 June 2018 . 16 November 2024.
  16. Web site: The Survivors Netflix drama filmed in Tasmania and Victoria . ScreenHub . 5 May 2024 . 16 November 2024.
  17. Web site: Supporting emerging Tasmanian filmmakers . Screen Tasmania . 16 November 2024.