ANNUAL REPORT
2023-24 Annual Report
This annual report will be presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of South Australian Film Corporation Act 1972 and the requirements of Premier and Cabinet Circular PC013 Annual Reporting.
This report is verified to be accurate for the purposes of annual reporting to the Parliament of South Australia.
Submitted on behalf of the South Australian Film Corporation by:
The Hon Mike Rann AC
Chair
A message from the Chief Executive
The 2023-24 financial year marked an exciting 12 months of production, achievement, and international recognition for South Australia’s screen industry.
Productions supported through the South Australian Film Corporation’s (SAFC) funds and programs this year alone enabled South Australia’s screen sector to directly contribute more than an anticipated $132 million to our state’s economy, creating an anticipated 3,508 jobs across crew and performers, with the majority of SAFC Screen Production Funds awarded to South Australian owned projects.
A strong pipeline of film and TV production activity
2023-24 was a strong year for screen production activity with multiple films and TV series underway at Adelaide Studios and around the state and increased demand for the SA Video Game Development Rebate.
Feature film Jimpa from SA director Sophie Hyde and starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow filmed at locations across the city, while Bring Her Back, the A24-backed film from SA’s Danny and Michael Philippou, got underway at Adelaide Studios.
Production started up on dramas Kangaroo Island and With or Without You, feature documentary Mockbuster, and animated comedy Lesbian Space Princess – the latest film supported through the SAFC’s Film Lab: New Voices program, with funding partners the Adelaide Film Festival and Screen Australia.
The SA-ABC Content Pipeline Fund supported an ongoing pipeline of quality TV production for the state with period drama series Ladies in Black taking over Adelaide Studios and locations around Adelaide, and factual series Teenage Boss: Next Level also going into production.
And our ongoing fruitful production partnership with the Northern Territory continued with cross-border TV dramas Territory, the largest Netflix series ever made in SA; Stan Original series Thou Shalt Not Steal; and Top End Bub, the Prime Video spin-off series of hit film Top End Wedding.
South Australia shining on screen
South Australia’s screen sector talent and capability shone on screens globally with the release of SAFC supported feature films Talk to Me, The Royal Hotel and The New Boy; feature documentaries The Speedway Murders, The Defenders, You Should Have Been Here Yesterday, Rewards for the Tribe and The Musical Mind: A Portrait in Process; and TV series Beep and Mort S2, Eddie’s Lil’ Homies, Gold Diggers, Australia’s Sleep Revolution with Dr Michael Mosely and Stars on Mars.
SA made and SAFC supported productions were honoured on the national stage, winning 14 AACTA Awards off the back of 50 nominations including Best Film for Talk to Me, and earning three Logie Award nominations for Eddie’s Lil’ Homies, Beep and Mort S2 and Gold Diggers. SAFC funded short film Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) added to its already considerable awards list by winning the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network Award at 2024 SPA Awards.
Locally, SAFC supported productions and SA screen practitioners took home four trophies at the 2023 Ruby Awards and shared in prizes across 27 categories at The Mercury’s South Australian Screen Awards (SASAs), including Best Game for Super Bawk Bawk Chicken and the SAFC sponsored Grand Jury Prize for short film Blame the Rabbit.
SA practitioners and SAFC supported productions were recognised at the highest levels internationally too, with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny earning an Academy Award nomination for Visual Effects for work by Rising Sun Pictures, supported by the SAFC’s SA PDV Rebate. The Video game darkwebSTREAMER from SA developer We Have Always Lived in the Forest, was exhibited at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco and was one of seven from around the world selected for the prestigious 2024 Tribeca Festival.
Putting First Nations first
The SAFC continued its support for First Nations screen practitioners with a number of initiatives, including the launch of round two of the First Nations Short Film Production Program, which boosted the careers of First Nations South Australian filmmakers through script development, mentoring and the opportunity to gain above-the-line short film credits.
The SAFC helped First Nations practitioners to take their work to the world, with two First Nations filmmakers supported to travel to the Marché du Film at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival as part of the Adelaide Film Festival’s AFF x Cannes initiative, and First Nations led video games studio Cerulean Creative Studios supported to travel to Wānaka Whare Karioi ā-Whenua 2024, the International Indigenous Digital Games Summit in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Back home a series of workshops on business leadership and networking were held specifically for First Nations creatives, and emerging First Nations practitioners were hosted on a tour of Adelaide Studios and a set visit to Beep and Mort S2 as part of 2023 NAIDOC Week celebrations. The SAFC took steps towards drafting and implementing the new Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2024-26.
Working to grow and diversify South Australia’s workforce
The SAFC returned its Master/Apprentice crew career mentorship program, this year with more than 50% of participants from under-represented backgrounds, and launched round three of the successful Film Lab: New Voices feature film skills development program, supporting three new teams of diverse, first-time SA writers, directors and producers to develop new work.
Emerging SA crew from under-represented backgrounds were upskilled with hands-on, on-set training through four Targeted Diversity Attachments. 17 diverse SA screen practitioners were also supported to learn, grow, and expand their professional networks by attending national industry conferences including Screen Forever, AIDC, the International Children’s Content Summit and GCAP.
And in July the SAFC held its second ever SA Screen Industry Careers Day at Adelaide Studios, with a full-day program of screen production crew, HODs and industry experts presenting 31 free information sessions about jobs and career pathways attracting more than 1,700 attendee registrations.
Supporting SA games to level up
The SAFC presented the second SAGE: SA Game Exhibition (16-17 February) as part of the 2024 Adelaide Fringe, more than doubling in size with a two-day extended program, twice the exhibition space and two new awards.
A record 2,000+ ticket holders turned out to Adelaide Studios to play games from 32 local developers and studios, and meet the people behind them, and enjoy a program of panel discussions featuring industry heavyweights, while the accompanying “SA Games Creatives” digital download brochure promoted SA sector members to new audiences.
Seven new SA made video games were supported through the SA Video Game Development (VGD) Rebate, while the SAFC also supported seven SA games studios to attend international markets including Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.
Partnering for success
The SAFC was proud to support the Adelaide Film Festival as an Industry Sponsor for its 2023 program, which featured 11 SAFC supported films including opening night gala The Royal Hotel and continued to provide funding for The Mercury’s activities to support the emerging screen sector, including through the Quicksilver short film program.
The SAFC also welcomed a new group of champions and advocates for the SA screen industry in its new members group the Screen Circle, launched in December by Patron Her Excellency Hon Frances Adamson, Governor of SA.
Staff and Board changes
The SAFC welcomed a number of new staff this year: Leanne Saunders as Head of Production and Development, Emma Henderson as Head of Finance, Elyse Lawson as Production Executive, James O’Connor as Games Development Executive, Julia Light as Program Coordinator, Alex Knopoff as Communications and Marketing Coordinator and Anita Kimber as SDIN Project Officer.
We also farewelled a number of staff who contributed greatly to SAFC’s outcomes for industry: Head of Operations Robyn Jones, Head of Production and Development Beth Neate, Program Manager Jess Cahill, IT Manager Tony Young, Game Development Executive Patrick Webb, and Administration Assistant Ellen Williams-Ralfe.
The SAFC Board welcomed new member Clara Reeves and farewelled outgoing member Miriam Silva AM after nine years of service.
A positive investment in screen
The financial year ended on a positive note for the state’s screen industry, with the State Government’s 2024-25 State Budget announcement of $7.2 million over three years to extend the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund.
This show of support for the SAFC and the SA screen industry was a welcome end to an incredible year of success, achievement, and progress.
Kate Croser
Chief Executive
South Australian Film Corporation
Overview: about the agency
Our strategic focus
Our Purpose
The SAFC is a statutory body established under the South Australian Film Corporation Act 1972. Its purpose is to support, position, and champion South Australian screen businesses to achieve creative excellence and prosperity, contributing to a robust South Australian economy and creative vibrancy.
Our Vision
The SAFC is the state’s leading screen authority and investment body. We focus on creating the conditions for the growth and prosperity of all components of the South Australian screen industry. Our industry-led approach ensures a return on government investment with minimal bureaucracy, exceptional service, and the agility to respond to changing industry conditions.
The SAFC leverages its deep knowledge of the unique strengths and comparative advantages of the South Australian screen landscape to connect South Australia to the global market.
The SAFC works with established talent and market partners to deliver a strong pipeline of production. We support and coordinate with The Mercury and other partners to ensure a growing pool of outstanding and diverse emerging talent.
The SAFC operates custom-built facilities at Adelaide Studios which enhance the capacity of the local sector and the state’s attractiveness as a production location and generate funds for industry activities.
Our Values
- SUPPORTIVE: We nurture and enable success.
- TRUSTWORTHY: We are expert, transparent and reliable in our advice and actions.
- PROFESSIONAL: We are accountable, fair, respectful, and service-oriented.
- “CAN DO”: We are flexible, innovative, proactive. Doing business with us is easy and fast.
- OPEN: We collaborate and communicate in a timely and relevant way.
- INCLUSIVE: We promote diversity and representation.
Our Functions, Objectives and Deliverables
- Enable Entrepreneurship
- Grow Capability
- Champion South Australia
- Deliver Operational Excellence
Our organisational structure
The South Australian Film Corporation has a governing Board. At 30 June, 2024 members of the Board were:
- Hon Mike Rann AC (Chair) – term expires 15 February, 2026
- Mr Austin Taylor OAM – term expires 1 December, 2024
- Ms Angela Heesom – term expires 7 December, 2025
- Ms Lauren Hillman – term expires 7 December, 2025
- Mr Shouwn Oosting – term expires 7 December, 2025
- Ms Rachel Gardner – term expires 7 June, 2026
- Mr Brian Hayes KC – term expires 15 March, 2026
- Ms Clara Reeves – term expires 29 November, 2026
As at 30 June, 2024 the organisation structure was:
Changes to the agency
On 1 October 2023 a machinery of government change transitioned the support function for the SAFC from the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
There were no changes to the Corporation’s objectives as a result of internal reviews and no significant changes made to the agency’s organisational structure.
Our Minister
The Honourable Andrea Michaels MP is the Minister for Arts.
Our Executive team
The Executive team is responsible for the management and administration of the SAFC. The members of the Executive team as at 30 June 2024 were:
- Chief Executive Officer – Kate Croser
- Head of Operations – Robyn Jones
- Head of Finance – Emma Henderson
- Head of Production and Development – Leanne Saunders
- Head of Communications and Marketing – Petra Starke
Legislation administered by the agency
South Australian Film Corporation Act 1972
Other related agencies (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility)
N/A
The agency’s performance
Performance at a glance
During 2023-24 key achievements included:
- Productions approved through the SAFC’s funds and programs in 2023-24 enabled the South Australia’s screen sector to directly contribute more than an anticipated $132 million to the state’s economy, creating an anticipated 3,508 jobs across crew, cast and extras*.
- SAFC Screen Production Fund to South Australian Screen Production Expenditure was approved at a ratio of 1:14 to enable $38,967,462 in direct production spend into the South Australian economy*.
- Projects supported through the ABC-SAFC Content Pipeline Fund initiative in 2023-24 generated an additional $5,407,320 in direct production spend into the South Australian economy*.
- The SA Post-Production, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Rebate was approved at a ratio of 1:10 to enable $91,168,418 in direct post-production expenditure into the South Australian economy.
- The SA Video Game Development (VGD) Rebate was approved at ratio of 1:10 to enable $9,394,344 in direct game development expenditure spend into the South Australian economy.
- 63% of projects with funds committed through the Screen Production Fund in 2023-24 were to South Australians holding at least 50% of the underlying rights to the projects.
- 64% of crew members employed on productions funded by the SAFC Screen Production Fund and the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund were South Australian residents. 77% of Heads of Department (HODs) employed on productions funded by the SAFC Screen Production Fund and the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund were South Australian residents*.
- The SAFC’s Matched Market Development funding stimulated inward marketplace investment into 16 South Australian owned projects of $424,895.
- Growth of South Australian screen businesses continued with a recipient of the SAFC Screen Business Development Loan program commencing principal photography on two new productions.
- In the second year of the SAFC’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2032, 10-year targets were met or exceeded across half of all diversity categories being tracked, with half of all categories also showing increases from 2022-23.
*Due to the timing differential between commitment and delivery – figures contain both audited and unaudited amounts and are current as at 30 August 2024.
Agency specific objectives and performance
*Due to the timing differential between commitment and delivery – figures contain both audited and unaudited amounts and are current as at 30 August 2024.
Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2022-2032
The SAFC’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2032 sets out ten-year targets for the employment of key creatives and crew from under-represented backgrounds on SAFC supported projects and productions, reflecting South Australian population demographics.
South Australian Above-the-Line key creatives funded across the SAFC’s production and development funding
Above-the-Line key creatives are Game Developers, Writers, Directors, Producers and Executive Producers. Data Source: The SAFC collects this diversity data via its online funding application portal Smarty Grants from applicants who self-disclose as part of their grant/program application for Screen Production Fund, Film Lab: New Voices and ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund.
PRODUCTION
|
2032 Target |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
|
|
First Nations |
5% |
0% |
2% |
|
Female* |
50% |
35% |
23% |
|
LGBTQIA+ |
8% |
17.1% |
9% |
|
Regional or Remote |
10% |
0% |
6% |
|
CALD |
25% |
14.3% |
2% |
|
Deaf or disabled |
10% |
2.9% |
2% |
DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
|
|
2032 Target |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
|
First Nations |
5% |
15.7% |
8% |
|
Female* |
50% |
43.2% |
71% |
|
LGBTQIA+ |
8% |
10% |
8% |
|
Regional or Remote |
10% |
5.7% |
10% |
|
CALD |
25% |
7.1% |
24% |
|
Deaf or disabled |
10% |
0% |
5% |
*Writers and Directors only – female producers are not under-represented for production or development funding.
South Australian Below-the-Line crew employed on SAFC funded productions
Below-the-Line crew encompasses craft and technical roles.
Data Source: The Everyone Project. The SAFC is a signatory of this nationwide initiative to measure diversity and the inclusion of historically under-represented and excluded voices in the screen industry. All productions funded through Screen Production Fund, Film Lab: New Voices, and ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund are required to register their project with The Everyone Project as a condition of their funding. This data includes all projects registered and verified by SAFC within the financial year.
Note: Whilst all SAFC funded productions are required to register for The Everyone Project, crew participation is voluntary, and responses are self-identified.
Note: Data collected through The Everyone Project is dated at Verification of the Project which is prior to completion of SAFC funding agreements.
Note: Crew location data is currently unavailable via The Everyone Project. The SAFC is reviewing data collection methods for future reporting.
|
2032 Target |
2023-24 |
|
|
First Nations |
5% |
0% |
|
Female |
50% |
51% |
|
LGBTQIA+ |
14% |
27% |
|
Regional or remote |
10% |
n/a |
|
CALD |
15% |
44% |
|
Deaf or disabled |
8% |
10% |
Corporate performance summary
In October 2023 a Machinery of Government change saw the SAFC transferred from the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC)
During 2023-24 the SAFC continued its focus on improving internal processes with a full review of the organisation’s policies and procedures finalised, ensuring clear directives for all staff.
An extensive review of the SAFC’s cyber security and IT systems was also conducted with work on an IT and Cyber Security Strategy commenced to reduce risk and increase efficiency.
Employment opportunity programs
|
Program name |
Performance |
|
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
Agency performance management and development systems
|
Performance management and development system |
Performance |
|
The performance management and development system includes alignment of work outcomes to the SAFC’s 2020-23 Strategic Plan and 2023-24 Business Plan. Discussions are undertaken twice a year, including an annual planning and review discussion and a mid-point review Compliance is measured by the number of employees undertaking and documenting a performance agreement discussion during the financial year. |
Total number of employees who had a performance and development review attributable to the 2023-24 year: 13 (65% of eligible employees) (Due to turnover of executive staff, not all SAFC employees had a performance and development plan established and reviewed in 2023-24) In 2023-24 the SAFC’s performance and development system was used to determine individual staff training and development opportunities, develop training calendars and to ensure training was undertaken to develop team members based on their individual needs. In 2023-24 the SAFC’s budget for staff training and development was 95% utilised. A whole of government People Matter Employee Survey was conducted in March 2024, with 100% of SAFC staff respondents indicating they feel their manager values their contribution to the agency. |
Work health, safety and return to work programs
|
Program name |
Performance |
|
Work Health and Safety (WHS) Program |
The program is based on the Department of the Premier and Cabinet WHS program and includes the local WHS group operations, corrective action register, internal audits, building inspections and governance reporting. No claims were made in the 2023-24 financial year resulting in zero lost time claims. |
|
Workplace injury claims |
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
% Change |
|
Total new workplace injury claims |
0 |
0 |
0% |
|
Fatalities |
0 |
0 |
0% |
|
Seriously injured workers* |
0 |
0 |
0% |
|
Significant injuries (where lost time exceeds a working week, expressed as frequency rate per 1000 FTE) |
0 |
0 |
0% |
*number of claimants assessed during the reporting period as having a whole person impairment of 30% or more under the Return to Work Act 2014 (Part 2 Division 5)
|
Work health and safety regulations |
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
% Change |
|
Number of notifiable incidents (Work Health and Safety Act 2012, Part 3) |
0 |
0 |
0% |
|
Number of provisional improvement, improvement and prohibition notices (Work Health and Safety Act 2012 Sections 90, 191 and 195) |
0 |
0 |
0% |
|
Return to work costs** |
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
% Change |
|
Total gross workers compensation expenditure ($) |
0 |
0 |
0% |
|
Income support payments – gross ($) |
0 |
0 |
0% |
**before third party recovery
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/organization/about/south-australian-film-corporation
Executive employment in the agency
|
Executive classification |
Number of executives |
|
SAES 2 |
1 |
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/organization/about/south-australian-film-corporation
The Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment has a workforce information page that provides further information on the breakdown of executive gender, salary and tenure by agency.
Financial performance
Financial performance at a glance
The following is a brief summary of the overall financial position of the agency. The information is unaudited. Full audited financial statements for 2023-2024 are attached to this report.
|
Statement of Comprehensive Income |
2023-24 Budget $000s |
2023-24 Actual $000s |
Variation $000s |
2022-23 Actual $000s |
|
Total Income |
17 949 |
15 776 |
(2 173) |
7 791 |
|
Total Expenses |
17 949 |
19 876 |
(1 927) |
16 615 |
|
Net Result |
0 |
(4,100) |
(4 100) |
(8 824) |
|
Total Comprehensive Result |
0 |
(4 100) |
(4 100) |
(8 824) |
|
Statement of Financial Position |
2023-24 Actual $000s |
2022-23 Actual $000s |
|
Current assets |
7 584 |
8 421 |
|
Non-current assets |
331 |
304 |
|
Total assets |
7 915 |
8 725 |
|
Current liabilities |
3 744 |
474 |
|
Non-current liabilities |
216 |
196 |
|
Total liabilities |
3 960 |
670 |
|
Net assets |
3 955 |
8 055 |
|
Equity |
3 955 |
8 055 |
Consultants disclosure
The following is a summary of external consultants that have been engaged by the agency, the nature of work undertaken, and the actual payments made for the work undertaken during the financial year.
Consultancies with a contract value below $10,000 each
|
Consultancies |
Purpose |
$ Actual payment |
|
All consultancies below $10,000 each – combined |
Various |
$7,700 |
Consultancies with a contract value above $10,000 each
|
Consultancies |
Purpose |
$ Actual payment |
|
BDO Service Pty Ltd |
Cyber Security Audit and IT Review |
$ 29,000 |
|
Ella McNeill |
Philanthropy Report and Research |
$19,500 |
|
Compton School Pty Ltd |
Film Fund Report |
$15,600 |
|
Roderick Macdonald Allan |
Facilities Consultant |
$12,225 |
|
Total |
$76,325 |
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/organization/about/south-australian-film-corporation
See also the Consolidated Financial Report of the Department of Treasury and Finance for total value of consultancy contracts across the South Australian Public Sector.
Contractors disclosure
The following is a summary of external contractors that have been engaged by the agency, the nature of work undertaken, and the actual payments made for work undertaken during the financial year.
Contractors with a contract value below $10,000
|
Contractors |
Purpose |
$ Actual payment |
|
All contractors below $10,000 each – combined |
Various |
$62,564 |
Contractors with a contract value above $10,000 each
|
Contractors |
Purpose |
$ Actual payment |
|
Redman Entertainments |
Acting Head of Production and Development |
$55,149 |
|
ABCG |
Public relations services |
$43,720 |
|
EP Australia |
Recruitment |
$30,884 |
|
Pauline Clague |
First Nations Screen Strategy Executive |
$26,720 |
|
WhiteFalk Films |
Film Initiative Mentor |
$24,500 |
|
Gaelle Mellis |
Disability Screen Strategy Executive |
$17,627 |
|
57 Productions |
Film Initiative Mentor |
$13,500 |
|
Entrée Recruitment |
Recruitment |
$11,958 |
|
Ian Sutherland |
Archiving services |
$11,825 |
|
Pauline Clague |
Film Initiative Mentor |
$10,000 |
|
Melonhead Games |
Game Development Strategy Executive |
|
|
Total |
$256,683 |
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/organization/about/south-australian-film-corporation
The details of South Australian Government-awarded contracts for goods, services, and works are displayed on the SA Tenders and Contracts website. View the agency list of contracts.
The website also provides details of across government contracts.
Risk management
Risk and audit at a glance
The Board of the South Australian Film Corporation oversees a robust risk and audit framework which includes:
- Annual review of the risk management framework
- Regular updates of existing and emerging risks
- Annual internal audit program
- Review of financial statements and interim audits form the Auditor-General
- Detailed and effective Financial Management Compliance Framework
Fraud detected in the agency
|
Category/nature of fraud |
Number of instances |
|
Financial
Fraud |
0 |