Australian screen industry as 'intergenerational' as housing
The 2026 Screen Forever conference on the Gold Coast highlighted the importance of preserving Australia's screen industry as a matter of intergenerational equity, comparable to housing and environmental issues. Industry leaders welcomed new streaming content quotas requiring major platforms to spend 10% of their Australian program expenditure on local productions, though impacts are expected to take time. While cinema attendance is rebounding and demand for Australian content is growing, local films still struggle for box office share amid dominance by major international releases.
- ▪The Communications Legislation Amendment Bill, passed in late 2025, requires streaming services with over 1 million subscribers to spend at least 10% of their Australian program expenditure on local content.
- ▪Streaming platforms affected include AppleTV, Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video, and Stan.
- ▪Australian box office revenue reached nearly $1 billion in 2025 and is up 14% in early 2026 compared to the previous year, according to Hoyts CEO Damian Keogh.
- ▪Local Australian films accounted for only 2% of the domestic box office, according to Madman CEO Paul Wiegard.
- ▪The ABC will receive $50 million over three years to boost drama and children's programming as part of the new legislation.
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More IP, more content, more jobs: What we learned at Screen Forever 40By Velvet WinterABC ArtsTopic:Television Industry22m ago22 minutes agoFri 1 May 2026 at 2:07am"This week it is an important moment to pause and share the achievements and think deeply about the challenges ahead," SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said at the opening of Screen Forever. (Supplied: Screen Producers Australia)abc.net.au/news/screen-forever-40-gold-coast-industry/106629446Link copiedShareShare articlePreserving Australia's film and TV industry is as important as fixing the housing crisis or saving the environment.That was one of the key messages from the 2026 Screen Forever conference, which saw key decision-makers gather on the Gold Coast to discuss the future of the industry."At a time when social cohesion is under…
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