Film Victoria And City Of Greater Geelong Launch Film Strategy For The Geelong Region
Monday 15 November, 2004
CEO of Film Victoria, Sandra Sdraulig, and City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Cr Ed Coppe, have launched a new Film and Television Policy for the Geelong region. Ms Sdraulig also announced Film Victoria will continue financial support in 2005 for The Shoot Out Geelong: a 24-hour filmmaking festival based in the region.
The Film and Television Policy will allow the City of Greater Geelong to promote locations, fast track enquiries and protect the interests of the Geelong community. It is the result of collaboration between the two organisations, industry members and the Geelong community to assist the Council to maximise opportunities for filming in the region.
Ms Sdraulig stated, "as the state's film commission, Film Victoria attracts productions to the state by promoting the locations, facilities and talent available. The Geelong Film and Television Policy is the next step in this process: it ensures that productions interested in filming in the Geelong area have all of the information and support they require to make their project a reality. I congratulate Cr Coppe and the City for their proactive approach in managing the attraction of production to their region."
Attracting productions to Victoria provides direct economic benefits to the state and can deliver flow-on benefits to regional areas such as tourism. Film Victoria administers two grant programs to assist in the attraction of film and television production to Victoria: the Production Investment Attraction Fund (PIAF) and Regional Victoria Film Location Assistance Fund (RLAF). In the last financial year, these incentive funds provided a direct economic spend in Victoria almost $15 million.
The film and television industry will benefit from the Policy, providing a 'one-stop shop' for all film related enquires, with streamlined approval processes that fast track queries through Council. Geelong is one of the leading regions utilised by local and international productions. In the last 4 years, Geelong has been the location for a significant number of productions. These productions include the television series Sea Change and Secret Life of Us and feature films One Perfect Day and Ned Kelly.
City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Cr Ed Coppe, welcomed Film Victoria's partnership approach to film and television opportunities in the region as a significant and positive relationship.
"We see the strengths of working with Film Victoria as a major positive in the City, achieving key actions and outcomes for the Film and Television Policy. We also recognise that there are significant benefits in Council aligning itself closely with Film Victoria in terms of building a relationship that provides a foundation for collaboration, linkages, networking, and identifying and maximising opportunities."
"We look forward to an ongoing, positive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Film Victoria in the coming months and years, as we continue to roll out the key actions of our Policy," stated Cr Coppe.
Ms Sdraulig added, "our work with the City of Greater Geelong over the last year is an indication of Film Victoria's commitment to regional Victoria. We support regional councils through our Regional Film Strategy and regional filmmakers through our investment funds, such as our support for projects like The Shoot Out Geelong."
Film Victoria provided a $3000 grant to The Shoot Out Geelong in 2004, and has agreed to continue support for the festival in 2005. The festival enables Geelong-based filmmakers to make their own short film, to network and develop their skills. Film Victoria supports this film festival through its audience development program.
CEO of Film Victoria, Sandra Sdraulig, and City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Cr Ed Coppe, have launched a new Film and Television Policy for the Geelong region. Ms Sdraulig also announced Film Victoria will continue financial support in 2005 for The Shoot Out Geelong: a 24-hour filmmaking festival based in the region.
The Film and Television Policy will allow the City of Greater Geelong to promote locations, fast track enquiries and protect the interests of the Geelong community. It is the result of collaboration between the two organisations, industry members and the Geelong community to assist the Council to maximise opportunities for filming in the region.
Ms Sdraulig stated, "as the state's film commission, Film Victoria attracts productions to the state by promoting the locations, facilities and talent available. The Geelong Film and Television Policy is the next step in this process: it ensures that productions interested in filming in the Geelong area have all of the information and support they require to make their project a reality. I congratulate Cr Coppe and the City for their proactive approach in managing the attraction of production to their region."
Attracting productions to Victoria provides direct economic benefits to the state and can deliver flow-on benefits to regional areas such as tourism. Film Victoria administers two grant programs to assist in the attraction of film and television production to Victoria: the Production Investment Attraction Fund (PIAF) and Regional Victoria Film Location Assistance Fund (RLAF). In the last financial year, these incentive funds provided a direct economic spend in Victoria almost $15 million.
The film and television industry will benefit from the Policy, providing a 'one-stop shop' for all film related enquires, with streamlined approval processes that fast track queries through Council. Geelong is one of the leading regions utilised by local and international productions. In the last 4 years, Geelong has been the location for a significant number of productions. These productions include the television series Sea Change and Secret Life of Us and feature films One Perfect Day and Ned Kelly.
City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Cr Ed Coppe, welcomed Film Victoria's partnership approach to film and television opportunities in the region as a significant and positive relationship.
"We see the strengths of working with Film Victoria as a major positive in the City, achieving key actions and outcomes for the Film and Television Policy. We also recognise that there are significant benefits in Council aligning itself closely with Film Victoria in terms of building a relationship that provides a foundation for collaboration, linkages, networking, and identifying and maximising opportunities."
"We look forward to an ongoing, positive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Film Victoria in the coming months and years, as we continue to roll out the key actions of our Policy," stated Cr Coppe.
Ms Sdraulig added, "our work with the City of Greater Geelong over the last year is an indication of Film Victoria's commitment to regional Victoria. We support regional councils through our Regional Film Strategy and regional filmmakers through our investment funds, such as our support for projects like The Shoot Out Geelong."
Film Victoria provided a $3000 grant to The Shoot Out Geelong in 2004, and has agreed to continue support for the festival in 2005. The festival enables Geelong-based filmmakers to make their own short film, to network and develop their skills. Film Victoria supports this film festival through its audience development program.
