SA screen businesses on track for new growth with SAFC Screen Business Accelerator

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SA screen businesses on track for new growth with SAFC Screen Business Accelerator

28 May 2021

South Australian screen companies KOJO Studios and Closer Productions are primed for expansion and new growth by 2023 after being selected for the first round of South Australian Film Corporation’s (SAFC) Screen Business Accelerator Program (SBAP).

Announced today, the two companies will each receive business loans of up to $200,000 per year for up to two years under the program, which supports established South Australian screen businesses to expand, diversify and innovate leading to growth in their business.

The funding can be used for a range of activities including slate funding, business capability, financial planning, engagement and retention of personnel, research and development, marketing, innovation and more.

The SBAP follows on from the first stage of the SAFC’s two-part screen business development initiative launched in 2020, the Screen Business Planning and Mentoring Program (SBPMP), which saw KOJO and Closer undertake specialised business training alongside four other SA screen companies, who each received up to $5,000 for business mentoring.

KOJO has a 30-year track record as one of Australia’s most highly regarded commercial screen businesses. KOJO Studios has delivered seven feature films and television series including the highly acclaimed projects First Day, Top End Wedding and 2067 while the KOJO Studios banner is developing a diverse slate of premium original content for a global market.

Closer Productions is a creator-led company known for its distinctive, compelling and innovative content including television series Aftertaste (ABC) and The Hunting (SBS), web projects Are You Addicted to Technology (SBS On Demand)and F*!#ing Adelaide (ABC iView) and feature films Animals, 52 Tuesdays, Sam Klemke’s Time Machine and Shut Up Little Man.

Minister for Innovation and Skills The Hon. David Pisoni MP said: “The Marshall Government’s support of South Australian screen businesses is designed to foster growth and attract increased investment. I congratulate both KOJO Studios and Closer Productions on being selected for the SAFC’s Screen Business Accelerator Program, and look forward to seeing what they achieve in the years ahead.”

SAFC CEO Kate Croser said: “The SAFC is committed to enabling entrepreneurship in South Australian screen businesses and supporting them to increase inward investment and export revenue as key aims of our agency’s Strategic Plan.

“The Screen Business Accelerator Program is an important part of the SAFC’s strategy to support established and prolific screen businesses like KOJO Studios and Closer Productions innovate, grow and expand in a way that delivers success with positive flow-on effects across the whole the sector.

“I congratulate both companies on being selected for this significant investment, which will set them on a path for growth and enable more production of quality South Australian screen content.”

KOJO Studios Executive Producer Linda Üjuk said: “This program is critical in accelerating our ambitious goal to become South Australia’s first fully independent and female-led self-financing studio, that unapologetically prioritises ingenuity, fearlessness, agency and authorship of diverse voices in storytelling.”

KOJO Studios Producer Kate Butler said: “Linda and I are proud to lead KOJO Studios. These funds are vital for our own growth by boosting our Originals slate, fostering and escalating key creative talent, and expanding our capacity and global partnerships. We’re thrilled to be playing our role in the collective growth of the South Australian creative sector.”

Closer Productions said: “We are thrilled to be selected for the SAFC’s inaugural Screen Business Accelerator Program. These funds will support the strategic growth of our business, increasing Closer’s capacity to produce contemporary content with creative ambition, relevance and scale in South Australia. We are excited to forge new international partnerships and to continue our successful collaborations with talented local screen businesses, cast, crew, and creatives and to foster opportunities for diverse voices and build pathways for new talent.”

For more information on the SAFC’s Screen Business Accelerator Program go to safilm.com.au/industry-and-skills#sbap

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