The Australian film industry faces challenges as the US government under Donald Trump announces 100% tariffs on film productions made outside the US. Trump claims that other countries offering incentives are drawing filmmakers away from the US, leading to devastating effects on Hollywood and other areas. Australia, known as “Hollywood Down Under,” attracts foreign film productions with its popular locations, with recent projects like The Fall Guy, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Thor: Ragnarok.
To support the industry, the Australian federal government provides a 30% rebate for big-budget film projects shot in Australia, alongside post-production rebates and additional incentives from state governments. However, the new tariffs may make these incentives less appealing for productions targeting the massive US market. Screen Producers Australia (SPA) warns that Trump’s decision will have global industry repercussions, causing uncertainty and shock waves.
Amidst this situation, industry stakeholders, including SPA chief executive Matthew Deaner and Arts Minister Tony Burke, are closely monitoring developments and pledging to defend the Australian screen industry’s rights. Foreign productions play a significant role in the local screen industry, with nearly half of the $1.7bn spent on screen production in Australia during 2023-24 attributed to international projects. The potential impact of the tariffs on Australian content exports to the US market, including iconic productions like the Mad Max series, remains uncertain. Trump views film incentives as a national security threat and aims to protect the US film industry from foreign competition.
