Minister Barr: Funding to help Canberra continue to be a TV star
- Written by ACT Government
Released 05/06/2016
Tonight’s starring role for Canberra in FOXTEL’s Secret City is likely to be one of many, with funding for the Territory’s film facilitation body.
Backed by government funding, ScreenACT has been hard at work in recent years attracting film and television productions to the capital, making tonight’s premiere just the latest in a series of small screen appearances for our beautiful city.
The ACT Government has committed $250,000 in 2016-17 for ScreenACT base funding to support its work in attracting and supporting the diverse range of productions we are now seeing. ScreenACT has in recent years worked hard to promote Canberra’s credentials to Australia’s top screen production companies and this is paying off with productions flocking to the capital.
Secret City, a new six-part television series by Matchbox Pictures, premieres on FOXTEL tonight giving audiences a front row seat to enjoy Canberra’s stunning landscape and physical beauty.
Strongly supported by the ACT Government and ScreenACT, Secret City is a Canberra based political drama which was filmed here last year. It is based on The Marmalade Files and The Mandarin Code, political thrillers written by well known journalists Chris Uhlmann (ABC) and Steve Lewis (The Australian).
Secret City is the latest release in growing number of quality productions being made in Canberra which, apart from great drama, showcase our city to national and international audiences. It follows with series one and two of The Code, Joe Cinque’s Consolation and the ABC commissioned Canberra Confidential and Art + Soul II, all supported and facilitated by the ACT Government’s screen sector programs, ScreenACT and the Screen Production Fund.
“The rest of Australia is now recognising what local film makers have known for years - that Canberra is a fantastic under-utilised filming location,” Monica Penders, Director of ScreenACT said.
“Secret City has demonstrated that Canberra is an amazing back drop for good quality story-telling, with ease of access, world class recognisable locations and clear unpolluted high altitude light.
“Furthermore, we have a collaborative filmmaking community in the ACT, and compared with other jurisdictions it is easy to make a film or television series here.
“All of these factors make Canberra a location of choice for more top quality producers and productions.”
Secret City will be broadcast on Sunday nights at 8.30pm on FOXTEL’s Showcase channel.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
