QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: The Queensland Government through Screen Queensland has widened its Post-Production, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Incentive to now include digital games.
The new 15 per cent rebate for games projects, launching in 2022, is aimed at driving more local, interstate and international game developers to bring their valuable titles into Queensland’s experienced and award-winning studios.
Screen Queensland’s current Post-Production, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Incentive is the most competitive on Australia’s eastern seaboard, with the accessibility threshold now lowered from AU$500,000 to AU$250,000 spend within Queensland.
Additionally, in 2022 Screen Queensland will launch a PDV placements program offering paid positions for newly qualified screen practitioners to work in the state’s burgeoning post-production sector.
Today, the Queensland Government also announced support for another seven productions through Screen Queensland’s PDV incentive, including five animated children’s programs, a surfing documentary and a thrilling international feature film, Paramount Pictures’ The Infernal Machine starring Guy Pearce.
- The Infernal Machine by Paramount Pictures | Serve Chilled (Brisbane)
- The Best Surf Movie in the Universe produced by Bronte Pictures | The Post Lounge (Brisbane)
- ScaryGirl produced in partnership with Passion Pictures | Like A Photon Creative (Brisbane)
- LOL Surprise! OMG – The Movie produced by MGA Entertainment and released on Netflix | Pixel Zoo (Brisbane)
- LOL House of Surprises produced by MGA Entertainment and released on Netflix
- The Sloth Life | Like A Photon Creative (Brisbane)
- Baby Alive! produced by Hasbro Australia | Pixel Zoo (Brisbane)
Raising the level of support for the post-production and games sector is part of the state government’s strategy to cement Queensland’s reputation as a post-production and digital powerhouse.
Queensland’s strong health response to the global pandemic, in addition to competitive incentives, diverse locations and talented crew, produced a record breaking 2020-21 year, generating $478 million in direct Queensland Production Expenditure across games, films and series – almost double the previous high of $262 million produced in the 2018-19 financial year.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said that Queensland is home to leading-edge post-production, digital and visual effects companies, as well as award-winning games companies.
“Screen Queensland supported Brisbane-based games studio Witch Beam to create Unpacking, which this month won Australian Game of the Year and an award for Excellence in Accessibility, plus it was wonderful to see Gameloft Brisbane, with whom we have collaborated to offer mentorships and placements, win the award for Excellence in Mobile Games for The Oregon Trail.
“The widening of the PDV incentive will be welcome news to our local games sector, which we support through our Screen Finance and Market programs as well as mentorships, workshops and our SQhub, our subsidised co-working space ideally suited to games developers and start-up studios.
“Across the state, we have a growing base of talented specialists and studio facilities in the post-production, visual effects, animation and games space, and supporting this continued growth, particularly during this recently prolific time for the screen industry, is exactly what this incentive was devised to do,” Ms Munnich said.
Screen Queensland’s new Games Incentive will be offered from 2022 following industry consultation.
Screen Queensland is also currently recruiting for a dedicated Games and SQhub Director, to lead in the administration of games funding programs and the SQhub co-working space at Teneriffe in Brisbane.
For more information about Screen Queensland’s current PDV incentive, as well as current support for the local games sector, visit www.screenqueensland.com.au.
