Australian Drama Production Spending Surges by 43% to Reach New Record of $1.8B, Yet Concerns Persist About Domestic Industry

Australian drama production expenditure surged to A$2.7 billion ($1.8 billion) in 2024/25, driven by high-budget films, streaming series, and international projects, marking a record high. Despite this growth, industry insiders remain cautious about the health of local production.

The latest Screen Australia Drama Report highlights a 43% year-on-year increase, signaling robust activity in the sector but masking some underlying issues. Out of 174 projects entering production in 2024/25, 71 were domestic, receiving A$1.1 billionup 14%though this came with a decrease in the total number of local productions from 89 the previous year. Consequently, the share of domestic production spend dropped from 50% to 40%.

The most significant rise occurred in international projects, which grew from A$944 million in 2023/24 to A$1.6 billion, an increase of A$678 million. International films, totaling 20 titles, accounted for over A$1.1 billion, while international TV and streaming projects contributed A$458 million.

Screen Australia frames these figures as evidence of a dynamic production ecosystem where both domestic and international projects support economic growth, infrastructure development, training, and employment. However, CEO Deirdre Brennan emphasized that the data also reflects commissioning challenges and a decline in TV projects across broadcast and streaming platforms.

This strong outcome reflects the creativity and effort of Australian screen professionals navigating a rapidly changing industry, Brennan said. While local drama spending shows modest growth, fewer TV projects across free-to-air, subscription streaming, and childrens programming indicate ongoing shifts in commissioning patterns. This represents both challenges and opportunities to explore innovative collaborations and elevate Australian storytelling.

The sector is at a pivotal moment with recently confirmed streaming quotas by the federal government and incentives like the updated Location Offset drawing international productions to Australia.

Kate Marks, CEO of Ausfilm, added: In a time of global disruption, the combination of local and international work helps maintain a resilient, sustainable, and competitive Australian screen industry.

Nevertheless, Screen Producers Australia (SPA) cautioned that the 20% drop in domestic productions points to deeper structural concerns. SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said: The headline numbers suggest strength, but fewer Australian titles and hours produced reduce employment opportunities. Reliance on work-for-hire projects does not guarantee long-term stability.

Deaner also highlighted challenges around producers intellectual property rights being diminished or lost in commissioning agreements, a factor not reflected in expenditure figures. High spending does not equal industry resilience, he noted. If producers cannot retain meaningful rights in their stories, production activity does not translate into sustainable business, reinvestment, or cultural independence.

Author: Ethan Caldwell