The ACT government will invest more than $800,000 in a sound stage and virtual production studio in Canberra, as part of efforts to boost the local screen sector and attract more film and television shoots to the city.
The funding, to be included in this month's territory budget, will be a joint investment with the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, which will build and operate the facility at its site in Watson.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the facility would boost growth in local creative industries. The government hopes it will attract more screen productions to Canberra and create ongoing work for people in the ACT.
"Creative industries are a growth sector globally, generating 3 per cent of global [gross domestic product] and contributing around $90.1 billion to our national economy," Mr Barr said.
"Having a local state-of-the-art sound stage and virtual-effects studio right here in Canberra will enable the ACT to attract a bigger proportion of that investment into the local economy."
Academy of Interactive Entertainment chairman and chief executive John De Margheriti said the government's funding would complement the academy's own investment in the facility.
"We will generate and retain more film jobs that will build up a specialised skill base in Canberra. It will cement Canberra as the new go-to destination for virtual production in Australia," Mr De Margheriti said.
The academy approached the Barr government about buying and developing the old Watson school site in 2014, pitching a $111 million vision which included plans to build new student accommodation, create a new sound stage and refurbish the existing buildings.
The government agreed in 2019 to start exclusive negotiations with AIE after community feedback showed broad support for the precinct's redevelopment as an education-focused campus, provided the adjacent park was retained.
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Alongside the $839,400 for the sound stage and production studio, the forthcoming budget will also include extra funding for Screen Canberra to boost industry development and attract more productions to the capital.
Screen Canberra chief executive Monica Penders said the new facility would make Canberra nationally competitive in the screen industry.
"It's a simple equation. The package of studio space and a location incentive means we are now competitive in the Australian screen landscape and leads to more jobs and a truly diversified ACT economy," Ms Penders said.
Canberra has attracted significant attention from overseas film producers, with the relative lack of restrictions and the success of a recent car chase sequence filmed locally drawing attention to the city.
Ms Penders in May said she was excited about the possibilities for Canberra to expand its screen industry.
"People have been calling saying, 'We didn't know you had a lake, we didn't know you had an observatory.' We're now one of the top locations to come and film," Ms Penders said at the time.
