SQ News

Queensland Government keeps screen culture thriving across the state


July 23, 2025

STATEMENT FROM
QUEENSLAND PREMIER AND MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND THE ARTS, THE HONOURABLE JOHN-PAUL LANGBROEK

Image: Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2024

  • 21 screen festivals and events will share in $259,000 through Screen Queensland’s Screen Culture Fund. 
  • Screen events supported through this funding round are expected to attract more than 30,000 Queenslanders between July and December 2025.   
  • Applications are already open for the next round of the Screen Culture Fund and will close on Thursday 28 August 2025.

Queensland’s jam-packed schedule of film festivals and screen events will continue to thrill movie lovers for the rest of the year, after the Crisafulli Government invested in the latest round of Screen Queensland’s Screen Culture Fund. 

21 film festivals and events from the Gold Coast to Port Douglas and Hervey Bay to Karumba will share in $259,000 through the latest grant round.  
 
More than 30,000 people are expected to attend the film festivals and events, which also involves immersive technology showcases, youth-focused workshops and industry development summits.

Recipients include the Understory Film Festival which celebrates the thriving screen community of Far North Queensland, the Very Remote Queensland Youth Screen Production Tour which delivers practical filmmaking workshops to young people in remote and regional areas, and Immersive Realities: XR Games & Screen Industry Showcase which demonstrates Queensland excellence in digital innovation and interactive storytelling. 

Applications are now open for the next round of the Screen Culture Fund for events occurring between Thursday 1 January and Tuesday 30 June 2026.

Applications close on Thursday 28 August 2025, 9am AEST.

Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the Crisafulli Government was proud to invest in film festivals and events across Queensland. 

“Backing these events is vital for the continued growth of Queensland’s expanding screen sector,” Minister Langbroek said. 

“Screen Queensland’s Screen Culture Fund ensures that Queenslanders from major cities to our most remote communities have access to diverse, inspiring and high-quality screen content. 

“The Crisafulli Government continues to support Queensland’s cultural landscape by creating jobs, showcasing homegrown talent and investing in professional development through festivals, summits and screening events. 
 
“Nobody else does it better than Queensland and we encourage other applicants to come forward and push their case to be included for the next round of funding for 2026.” 

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said the latest Screen Culture Fund recipients reflect the remarkable creative communities across the state, with a strong focus on regional audience engagement and local industry access. 

“From inspiring the next generation of filmmakers through hands-on training opportunities to showcasing the best in local and international cinema, these events offer crucial networking and pitching opportunities for Queensland screen creatives. 

“Our Screen Culture Fund supports an annual calendar of festivals and events, that encourages audiences to see the work of emerging and established Queensland storytellers alongside international filmmakers. We’re pleased to support two new events in this latest round—Films in the Forest, Fraser Short Film Festival and the Very Remote Queensland Youth Screen Production Tour.” 

Events supported by the Screen Culture Fund for July – December 2025:  

  • Asia Pacific Screen Awards
  • Australia Independent Film Festival
  • Australian International Movie Convention
  • Brisbane 48 Hour Film Project
  • Bus Stop Films Queensland Tour
  • CrewCon
  • Films in the Forest
  • Fraser Short Film Festival
  • Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival
  • Immersive Realities: XR Games & Screen Industry Showcase
  • Iranian Film Festival
  • Irish Film Festival
  • Mackay International Film Festival
  • Outback by the Sea Film Festival
  • Port Shorts Film Festival
  • Showfest 2025 – Screen Industry Summit
  • Sydney Travelling Film Festival
  • Taiwan Film Festival
  • Underdog Film Festival
  • Understory Film Festival
  • Very Remote Queensland Youth Screen Production Tour 

– ENDS –

Media contact
Carrie Barber, Marketing and Communications Manager
07 3248 0500
media@screenqld.com.au 

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Screen Queensland acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Traditional Custodians of Australia. We recognise their 65,000 years of custodianship that pre-dates colonisation. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and recognise the cultural and historic connection to land, sea, cosmos (the inclusion of the constellations that are part of a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spiritual and environmental narrative) and community. Screen Queensland is committed to elevating the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners to continue to share their rich cultures and perspectives with the Queensland and global community through screen storytelling. Screen Queensland understands the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and practitioners to be leaders in their own narratives to promote inclusion, collaboration and authenticity. Always was, always will be.