Written by new-contact on Oct 25, 2011. Posted in Incentive News

Ausfilm Week in LA sets out to boost Australia-US co-productions

Australia wants more US co-productions coming its way and Ausfilm is having a week of events in Los Angeles to stoke up business. There are screenings, development lunches, and renewed focus on Australia’s filming incentive schemes that include a 40% Producer Offset.

The Australian film industry has some momentum at the moment. Baz Luhrmann’s in the midst of filming his version of The Great Gatsby in Sydney, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan, while Alex Proyas’ performance-capture adaptation of Paradise Lost is scheduled to start filming in 2012.

As an Australian filmmaker living in Los Angeles, I’ve found Ausfilm to be that often crucial link between our industry at home and here.

Shane Abbess, Australian Director

Shane Abbess is an Australian Director living in Los Angeles: “As an Australian filmmaker living in Los Angeles, I’ve found Ausfilm to be that often crucial link between our industry at home and here. Their events are a must for anyone looking to bridge the gap between two of the strongest film communities on the planet.”

In addition to the Producer Offset, Australia offers incentive schemes for location searches, as well as digital and post-production work. Up until only a few months ago Steven Spielberg’s Terra Nova was the only recent major international project to have filmed in Australia. Many in the industry were blaming an unfavourable exchange rate for the slowdown in international activity.