Western Sydney could soon be home to the state’s second largest film studio, as New South Wales fights to regain its status as the leader of Australian film production.
The Minns Government is seeking expressions of interest to invest in the Greater Sydney site, which would need a minimum of six sound stages.
“We are looking to the future here; we really want to invest more in what is possible with our display sector.”
Arts Minister John Graham said.
The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling (right), is among the films shot at Sydney’s Disney studios. (Supplied: Universal Pictures Australia)
The state’s film production spending fell 51 per cent in 2024/25, reaching a total of $832 million, according to Screen Australia.
Queensland led spending in the same period, growing 16 per cent and leading the country at $925 million.
Local industry leaders said they were desperate for an alternative to the Disney studios at Moore Park, which in recent years has been home to Hollywood blockbusters including The Fall Guy and films from the Marvel universe.
Last Cab to Darwin director Jeremy Sims said international productions had left little room for local film and TV production.
Jeremy Sims says the industry wants to be able to produce content that is at the lower-middle end of the budget. (ABC News)
He said he had been forced to film productions in warehouses near noisy train stations and under flight paths due to a lack of studio space in Sydney.
“They are [international productions are] “It’s fantastic for the crews, it means all the Australian crews are the best in the world,” he said.
“But we want to have TV shows here that are on the lower or middle end of the budget (high concept, high quality) but don’t cost as much as some of the bigger international shows.”
Australian Writers’ Guild chief executive Claire Pullen said a second studio would ensure a steady flow of work for the local industry to survive.
“We need to make sure we have a pipeline of talent, not just in writing but in directing, editing and all parts of the industry where there is work,” he said.
“This will help us balance the industry between big-budget foreign productions and smaller local productions that people love to see.“
Claire Pullen says a second study would ensure there is “a pipeline of talent”. (ABC News: Berge Breiland)
Western Sydney on the world stage
The Minns Government has designated three government-owned sites in western Sydney as potential locations for the study: Bungarribee, Eastern Creek and Prospect.
It had previously announced that the second studio would have to be within a 35 kilometer radius of the CBD, but removed that requirement on Sunday.
Graham said he wanted “all offers on the table.”
Business Western Sydney chief executive David Borger said travel times between the CBD and the studio location had not been a barrier to overseas film productions.
David Borger says it would be great if the next Mad Max movie was made in western Sydney. (Supplied: Warner Bros. Pictures)
He noted that the U.K.’s Pinewood Studios, home of the Bourne and Harry Potter film franchises, was about an hour’s drive from London’s central business district.
“It would be great to see the next Mad Max made in Western Sydney,” Borger said.
“And if there is interest in trying to do Bollywood in western Sydney, there is also a connection there with our large Indian diaspora here.”