Gold Coast’s star continues to rise as film production paradise
The home of blockbuster productions like Elvis, Aquaman, Godzilla vs Kong amongst many, many more, the Gold Coast continues to dominate as one of the most sought-after locations in Australia for both local and international film and TV productions.
According to a 2023 Ausfilm report, more than one-third of all international productions made in Australia since 2020 have been filmed on the Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast’s booming screen industry contributed approximately $513 million to the local economy between 2021-22, and generated more than 4500 jobs in the same period, as well as astronomically increasing the odds of sighting a celebrity in the local coffee shop line from Chris Hemsworth to George Clooney.
The attractions of the Gold Coast as a film hub are manifold. From the hinterland to the sea, the Gold Coast offers a diverse range of easily accessible filming locations, whether directors are looking for dry and deserted dune landscapes, lushly forested mountains or high-rise urban vista.
It is also home to a cadre of world-class production crews and facilities including Village Roadshow Studios – which is one of the largest international studio lots in the Southern Hemisphere.
In addition to these potent draws, the City of Gold Coast has also invested in multiple incentive programs, including committing to a 300% increase to its Screen Attraction Program funding. The only one of its kind in Australia, the City’s Screen Attraction Program provides financial support for film and television productions located on the Gold Coast , including animations, subscription video on demand, streaming, online production and post-production.
The program aims to grow screen production and post-production numbers on the Gold Coast, attract key industry professionals, and create ongoing employment opportunities for local residents – with a minimum of 50 percent of total crew roles required to be Gold Coast employees. In the past nine years, the Screen Attraction Program has supported more than 60 productions including Ticket to Paradise, San Andreas and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Its popularity as a filming location makes the Gold Coast a natural fit to host the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Festival, the biggest screen festival in Australia. On Saturday February 8, as part of five days of events celebrating Australia’s unique film, television, and pop culture, the festival will be hosting an AACTA Screen Careers Expo at HOTA, Home of the Arts. The Expo will feature information booths on the variety of jobs across the screen industry, education and training booths from the major training and tertiary education providers, as well as employment booths to explore what a career in the screen industry could look like.
Photo: Jasin Boland
The City considers film production to be a high-profile industry for the Gold Coast, which not only provides significant economic benefits from direct expenditure over the course of a production but also generates economic benefits that flow into other industries like equipment rental, construction, travel, accommodation, catering and tourism.
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To further support the industry, the City of Gold Coast has joined the highly regarded Association of Film Commissioners International, a worldwide network of more than 360 film commissions from 40 countries around the globe. Currently the Gold Coast is the only local government area in Australia to be included in the global non-profit organisation.
‘As part of this accreditation, the City also formed the Gold Coast Film Commission (GCFC) which offers a concierge service for the film industry, with expert industry advice on site selection, permitting, booking local crews and streamlining processes and funding.
With significantly increased demand for screen and production facilities over the last decade, the City of Gold Coast introduced the Yatala screen industry project in partnership with international film studio, Shadowbox in 2024.
The proposed Yatala film studio would include 10 sound stages, workshops, office space, a backlot and training facilities with an expected contribution of approximately $195 million towards the economy each year once complete.
