Vic Govt pledges $2.3m for TV and games projects

The Victorian Government has set aside $2.3 million to support 18 projects across the state’s film, television and games sectors, expected to lead to a total expenditure of almost $30 million.

According to Louise Asher, Victorian Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, the latest round confirms the state government’s commitment to Victoria’s screen industry.

“The projects announced… are estimated to lead to a total expenditure of almost $30 million in the state and to create an estimated 1,400 jobs for Victorians,” Asher said in a statement.

A total of 18 projects will share in the funding through Film Victoria’s Production Investment and Games Investment programs, designed to help screen practitioners create quality content.

Film Victoria provides funding at various stages of development, across a variety of screen platforms, for emerging through to established practitioners.

Its ultimate aim is to position Victoria as leader in Australia’s “knowledge and ideas economy” through the growth and development of the screen industry.

“The total film and television projects, supported by [the] Coalition government… [is now] 39, resulting in almost $200 million in total production expenditure,” Asher said.

Included in this round are six fiction television projects, one fiction feature film, five factual television projects and six games projects.

A total of $2.1 million has been allocated to Production Investment, which supports original, quality projects that are ready to go into production and can attract local and global audiences.

The projects include:

• Dance Academy Series Three
• The Flamin’ Thongs
• A History of Mining
• Australian Encounters
• Dr. Sarmast’s Music School
• Gallipoli From Above
• Long Way for a Good Feed
• Patrick
• Cliff
• The Dr. Blake Mysteries
• Homicide Franchise
• Mystery of a Hansom Cab

Meanwhile, $198,000 has been allocated to Games Investment, helping developers create games for any distribution platform, with an emphasis on technical, creative or design innovation.

The projects include:

• Armello
• Blastpoints
• Dance Off
• Influx
• Man in a Maze
• Splat Attack

Jenni Tosi, chief executive of Film Victoria, says she is “thrilled” to continue to support promising local talent, claiming Victoria’s local screen community is renowned for its creativity.

“As this considerable round of production and games investment testifies, there is an abundance of talent out there,” Tosi says.

“It’s also great to see the independent television sector reading the market and coming up with innovative ideas that are stimulating broadcaster interest.”