Production Records Smashed! - MCTV Talent Agency

Despite the drama of the pandemic, Australia’s Film and TV industry has had a bumper year with $1.914 billion total Australian expenditure – a new record spend, and nearly double last year’s, driven by Australian and foreign features.

The figures, contained in Screen Australia’s annual Drama Report, cover the production of feature films, TV drama (mini-series, telemovies and series/serials) and online drama programs by financial year.

With 48% of the total Australian spend, New South Wales accounted for the greatest share of total expenditure. Spend of $912 million was almost double last year and a new record high.

There was also record expenditure by Australian titles – $874 million, or 46% of total expenditure was triggered by Australian titles that started principal photography during 2020/21.

42 Australian features – $500 million, a significant increase on last year and 57% above the 5-year average.

63 foreign projects – $1.04 billion a record total, more than double 2019/20’s foreign project spend, comprised of:

Record spend of $793 million on three features, two TV dramas and five online dramas that commenced shooting in Australia, significantly up on last year’s spend.

This is a great result for our local industry and demonstrates once again that Australia is a worldwide centre of film and TV production.

MCTV has provided talent for projects across the spectrum of content outlined in the report. Congratulations and thank you to all our members who have worked so professionally under the difficult circumstances of the pandemic. For the full report, you can head to Screen Australia.