Screenwest launches new Film Friendly Western Australia resources and workshops for 2025
Screenwest’s new Film Friendly Western Australia resources and free workshops for local government authorities are set to further establish Western Australia as a film friendly state.
Screenwest is pleased to launch new Film Friendly Western Australia resources and workshops for 2025.
Demand for Western Australia is booming thanks to our striking locations, talented creatives and crew and competitive production incentives. Coupled with the world class Perth Film Studios set to open in 2026, Western Australia is well and truly establishing itself as a major screen production destination.
Screenwest’s new Film Friendly Western Australia resources and free workshops for local government authorities are set to further establish Western Australia as a film friendly state.
The Film Friendly Western Australia certification program assists local governments to work with filmmakers, promote their locations and prepare themselves for incoming film and television productions. It also helps filmmakers find ‘production-ready’ communities in Western Australia.
Becoming film friendly “certified” sends a clear message to filmmakers that a community is serious about attracting productions.
Interested local government authorities are invited to attend an upcoming Film Friendly workshop in March. Register for the Perth metro workshop or the regional WA workshop.
The free workshops will cover:
- Film production processes.
- The social, economic and tourism benefits generated by screen productions.
- What to expect if a production comes to town.
- How to support filmmakers.
- How to adopt a clear, streamlined permissions process.
- How to identify and promote locations within your area.
Western Australia already has five “certified” film friendly communities including the City of Albany and the City of Busselton.
The City of Albany recently welcomed survival thriller We Bury the Dead starring Daisy Ridley, (Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens) which has been selected to make its world premiere at the iconic South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas next month.
“The City of Albany is proud to be part of the Film Friendly program, ensuring filmmakers have seamless access to our unique landscapes while delivering opportunities for local businesses, schools, and residents. Albany becomes a vibrant place to be when a production takes place in town, where the excitement can be felt across the region and a positive impact can be felt on local business, tourism, and economic development. Feature productions such as We Bury the Dead and H is for Happiness have reaped the benefits of Albany as a premium location, and the City looks forward to welcoming more productions to our amazing city.” said City of Albany Mayor, Greg Stocks.
The City of Busselton recently hosted psychological thriller The Surfer starring Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage (Dream Scenario, Leaving Las Vegas). The film has been selected to make its North American premiere at the 2025 South by Southwest Festival in Austin, following its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival where it received an 8-minute standing ovation.
“As a Film Friendly local government, we are proud to support Screenwest’s relaunch of the ‘Film Friendly’ initiative. Hosting productions like The Surfer brings social, economic, and tourism benefits to our community, boosting local business and employment, and showcasing our beautiful region to a wider audience.” said City of Busselton Mayor, Phill Cronin.
“Participating in the Film Friendly training provided me with the knowledge and skills to work confidently with production companies and understand their needs, as well as manage impact on our host communities. It was a positive experience and definitely worth undertaking.” said City of Busselton Film Liaison Officer, Peta Pulford.
“The production boom in Western Australia is showing no signs of slowing down, and we are excited about welcoming more local government authorities into our program and making them Film Friendly certified. The more Film Friendly communities we have, the more our screen industry will grow, creating job opportunities and economic benefits across the entire state.” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO.
The Film Friendly Western Australia resources for filmmakers, local government authorities and the WA community are available on the Screenwest website here.
Contact Screenwest
T: +61 8 6169 2100
E: info@screenwest.com.au
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with Screenwest.