FILMING IN SA
Incentives
Gain the benefits of using South Australia for your next production – unique locations, innovative funding incentives, experienced and dedicated crews and flexible, purpose-built studios. The SAFC will work with you to tailor a package that best suits your project.
State Incentives
South Australian state incentives on offer for screen production are:
- Production Investment: Receive 10% of your South Australian production spend as a grant;
- Post-Production Support: Receive 10% of your South Australian Post Production, Digital and Visual Effects spend provided as a rebate – which can be combined with the Federal Government’s 30% Post, Digital & Visual Effects (PDV) Offset for a total rebate of 40% on PDV expenditure;
- Payroll Tax Exemption: The South Australian Government offers a payroll tax exemption to producers shooting feature films in South Australia, which may reduce a project’s total payroll liability by up to 4.95%;
- Revolving Loan Facility: Up to 90% of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) can be provided as a loan.
Find out more about state incentives and eligibility requirements here.
“It’s an industry and the South Australian Government recognises that, so they are right there with you saying ‘OK, what can we do to help?’. You don’t get that in the eastern states.”
— E Bennett Walsh, Executive Producer, Mortal Kombat
Federal Incentives
Federal government financial incentives are administered via Screen Australia.
They include:
- Producer Offset: A refundable tax offset on Qualifying Australian production Expenditure (QAPE) for producers of Australian feature films, television and other projects equal to 40% for feature films and 30% for television productions;
- Post, Digital & Visual Effects (PDV) Offset: 30% offset on Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) that relates to post, digital and visual effects production, which can be combined with the South Australian PDV Rebate for a total rebate of 40% on post production work undertaken in South Australia;
- Location Offset: 16.5% offset on Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) for film and television projects filmed in Australia with an Australian spend of over $15 million;
- Location Incentive: A merit-assessed grant of up to 13.5% of a production’s Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) which complements the 16.5% Location Offset. To be eligible, the production must also be eligible for the Location Offset.
On 1 December, 2021 the Australian Government passed changes to the Producer Offset, which come into effect from 2 January, 2022 and apply retroactively for productions that commenced principal photography on or after 1 July, 2021. Find out more here.
Note that the Federal Producer Offset, Location Offset, the Location Incentive and the PDV Offset are mutually exclusive. Therefore, a company is not eligible to claim the Producer Offset for a project if that project has received a final certificate for the Location or PDV Offset.
For more information about Australia’s Federal incentives visit Screen Australia or Ausfilm.
Local Crews and Industry
The South Australian screen sector features some of the most experienced crew in the country, renowned for their can-do attitude and award-winning results.
The SAFC can put you in touch with location managers, line producers, casting directors, production managers and others to help guide your project with commitment and passion. Their expert knowledge of local environments, conditions and personnel will ensure you get things done on time and within budget.
The SAFC has long-established relationships with local businesses specialising in the provision of equipment hire, legal services, financing, insurance, accounting and more.
Unlock added incentives and maximise the value of your production by co-producing with a local partner.
Find out more about South Australian Crew & Services.
“The crews were extremely hard working and made it such a rewarding and successful experience.”
— Todd Garner, producer, Mortal Kombat
Main image: Zac Efron and Anthony Hayes in Gold (2022), photo by Ian Routledge
