Written by Tom Deehan on Mar 8, 2017. Posted in General Interest / Incentive News

Screen Queensland unveils new horror film funding initiative

Just over a week after the reveal of the Straight out of the Straits initiative, Screen Queensland has announced a new funding programme exclusively for domestic horror productions. Entitled SCREAM! Queensland, the programme will provide funding and production assistance to three successful teams.

Detailing the programme, Screen Queensland CEO, Tracey Vieira explains: “Screen Queensland is partnering with Screamfest in Los Angeles to offer three Queensland filmmaking teams a chance to develop and produce a short horror film of 8-10 minutes with funding of up to AUD40,000 per film.”

She continues: “the three completed films, to be produced in Queensland, will premiere in October at Screamfest, the largest and longest running horror film festival in the United States. Screen Queensland will provide hands-on development assistance and advice to the three successful teams who will then travel to Los Angeles for the world premieres of their short films at Screamfest.”

Australia has an esteemed history with the horror genre, producing such critically acclaimed films as The Babadook (pictured) and Wyrmwood.

SCREAM! Queensland is only but a part of a larger initiative to expand Queensland’s domestic production industry. The previously announced Straight of the Straits programme will provide support to eager production professionals working in the Torres Strait.

Domestic projects can benefit from Australia’s Producer Offset incentive, which provides a tax rebate of up to 40% for eligible productions. The country also employs an incentive programme dedicated to international productions, offering a 16.5% tax rebate when a minimum spend of AUD15 million is met.

Under the governance and film-friendly attitude of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland has become an increasingly popular location for international shoots. Recent productions include Kong: Skull Island and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

All applications for SCREAM! Queensland must be submitted by March 31^st 2017.