Screen NSW

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Screen NSW
PredecessorNSW Film & Television Office, New South Wales Film Corporation
TypeGovernmental organisation
PurposePromotion and development of NSW screen and digital games industries
Location
Head of Screen NSW
Kyas Hepworth
Websitewww.screen.nsw.gov.au

Screen NSW, formerly known as the New South Wales Film and Television Office, or FTO, and before that the New South Wales Film Corporation, is the NSW Government's screen agency, which supports the screen and digital games industries through a range of initiatives and promotes New South Wales as a premier screen destination.[1][2] Screen NSW sits within the 24-Hour Economy, Screen and Sound division, as part of the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport.[3][4]

Between 1 April 2017 and 31 October 2024, it was part of Create NSW, an NSW Government agency that is responsible for supporting and promoting the arts, artists and the various cultural bodies within the state of New South Wales in Australia.[5] The name "Screen NSW" ceased to exist within Create NSW between 1 April 2017 and September 2019, when a restructure resurrected the brand.[6] On 1 November 2024, a department restructure split Screen NSW and Sound NSW from Create NSW, and now Screen NSW sits within a new 24-Hour Economy, Screen and Sound division.[7]

As of July 2022, Kyas Hepworth is the Head of Screen NSW.[8]

History

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The New South Wales Film Corporation was established as a statutory body in 1977. It was dissolved by the Film Industry Act 1988, with all of its functions taken over by the newly created New South Wales Film and Television Office[9] (known as the FTO[10]).

On 5 June 2009, the FTO announced a name change to Screen NSW, to reflect the age of digital media, and from 1 July 2009 Screen NSW was transferred from the Department of Arts, Sport and Recreation to the Department of Industry and Investment. From 4 April 2011, when the department name was changed, Screen NSW became a branch of the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services.[10]

The agency was led by chief executive Courtney Gibson from November 2015. Under the old structure, the chief executive was responsible to the executive director of Arts NSW, who was in turn responsible to the Secretary of the Department of Justice. The agency previously advised the Minister for the Arts.[citation needed]

On 1 April 2017, Screen NSW was amalgamated with Arts NSW to form Create NSW.[11] The Screen NSW banner was removed, CEO Courtney Gibson left the role, and Michael Brealey, then acting executive director of Arts NSW, became CEO of the new agency.[12]

Create NSW fell within the Arts, Screen and Culture Division of the Department of Planning and Environment (abolished on 1 July 2019[13]).[14] As a result of a government restructure in April 2019 after a state election, Create NSW was moved to the Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts, then held by Don Harwin and administered through the Community Engagement portfolio[15] of the Department of Premier and Cabinet[16] headed by Deputy Secretary, Community Engagement, Clare Foy.[15]

In September 2019, a restructuring of the leadership team of Create NSW led to the resurrection of the Screen NSW brand, and Grainne Brunsdon appointed head of that team, which remained part of Create NSW.[15]

After Harwin's resignation on 10 April 2020,[17][18] the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, took over the arts portfolio.[19]

In July 2022, respected screen and arts executive Kyas Hepworth was appointed Head of Screen NSW.[20][21]

Following the 2023 NSW state election,[22] on 6 April 2023 John Graham was appointed Minister for the Arts.[23]

On 1 November 2024, a department restructure split Screen NSW and Sound NSW from the arts agency, Create NSW, into a new division.[24] Screen NSW now sits within the 24-Hour Economy, Screen and Sound division, as part of the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport.[3]

The NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy 2025-27 was announced on 16 October 2024.[25]

Description

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Screen NSW aims to promote Australia's cultural identity, encourage employment in all aspects of screen production, encourage investment in the industry, enhance the industry's export potential, encourage innovation and enhance quality in the industry.[26]

It receives recurrent funding on an annual basis from the NSW Government; it then allocates funding across its programs for that year. It provides funding for items such as production finance, festival travel and an industry development fund.[27] It offers incentives for filming in the state of New South Wales,[28] and helps to provide opportunities for Indigenous Australian filmmakers.[29]

Production funding allocations are guided by ratios linking the Screen NSW contribution to the amount spent by the production in NSW state.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About Us | Screen NSW". www.screen.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  2. ^ "NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy". www.screen.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b Commissioner, Office of the 24-Hour Economy (21 May 2025). "What's the Strategy? 24-Hour Economy, Screen and Sound | NSW Government". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "About Us | Screen NSW". www.screen.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  5. ^ Keast, Jackie (4 September 2019). "Grainne Brunsdon to head Screen NSW in Create NSW reshuffle". IF Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  6. ^ Keast, Jackie (4 September 2019). "Grainne Brunsdon to head Screen NSW in Create NSW reshuffle". IF Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  7. ^ Slatter, Sean (16 October 2024). "'A step in the right direction': SPA welcomes NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy". IF Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  8. ^ "KYAS HEPWORTH APPOINTED HEAD OF SCREEN NSW". FilmInk. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  9. ^ "New South Wales Film Corporation". Research Data Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b "New South Wales Film and Television Office (1988-2009) Screen NSW (2009- )". Research Data Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  11. ^ "who-are-arts". Create NSW. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  12. ^ Keast, Jackie (11 January 2017). "Courtney Gibson departs Screen NSW ahead of Arts NSW merger". IF Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Public Service Agencies) Order 2019 [NSW] (159)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 7-8. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Cultural Infrastructure Plan 2025+" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. 2018.
  15. ^ a b c Keast, Jackie (4 September 2019). "Grainne Brunsdon to head Screen NSW in Create NSW reshuffle". IF Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Public Service Agencies) Order 2019 [NSW] (159)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 7-8. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Statement from Don Harwin". NSW Government. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  18. ^ Kelly, Vivienne (10 April 2020). "NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin resigns". Mumbrella. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Ministers and Public Service Agencies) Order 2020" (PDF). 15 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  20. ^ Blong, Emma (11 May 2022). "Kyas Hepworth appointed Head of Screen NSW". Create NSW. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  21. ^ "KYAS HEPWORTH APPOINTED HEAD OF SCREEN NSW". FilmInk. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  22. ^ "2023 NSW State election results". elections.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  23. ^ "The Hon. John GRAHAM, MLC". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  24. ^ Morris, Linda (15 October 2024). "Hollywood hotline: NSW minister on call to help state's screen production". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  25. ^ Slatter, Sean (16 October 2024). "'A step in the right direction': SPA welcomes NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy". IF Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Stakeholder Report 2014/2105" (PDF). Screen NSW. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  27. ^ "Funding & Incentives". Screen NSW. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Filming in NSW". Screen NSW. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Opportunities". Screen NSW. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
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