The Australian screen industry employed 45,000 full-time workers last year. This overview details the sector's financial performance, international reach, and production output.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the Australian screen industry employed 45,000 full-time equivalent workers
- Australian feature films' average production time increased to 28 months in 2023 from 24 in 2019
- In 2022-23, Screen Australia allocated $114.9 million in production funding
- In 2023, 12 Australian films won AACTA Awards for Best Feature
- In 2022-23, 28 Australian feature films achieved a theatrical release in cinemas across Australia, marking a 12% increase from the previous year
Australian film industry statistics show strong audience demand and steady production growth nationwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Talent25 stats
01
In 2023, the Australian screen industry employed 45,000 full-time equivalent workers
02
Screen NSW supported 2,500 jobs in 2022-23 through funding
03
12,000 crew worked on Australian TV dramas in 2023, averaging 180 per production
04
Women comprised 28% of Australian film directors in 2022-23, up from 22% in 2018
05
Indigenous screen practitioners numbered 1,200 in 2023
06
VFX artists in Australia reached 4,500 employed in 2023
07
Film editors trained annually: 650 via AFTRS programs 2020-23
08
35% of cinematographers were female in 2023, a record high
09
Production designers: 1,800 active in Australia 2023
10
Actors guild membership: 5,200 professional actors in 2023
11
Sound technicians employed: 2,100 full-time in screen sector 2022
12
Writers' guild reported 1,450 members working on 120 projects in 2023
13
Location managers: 450 jobs created by international shoots in 2023
14
Costume designers: 28% female-led departments in 2023 features
15
Grip and lighting crew: 3,200 employed across 150 productions 2023
16
Post-production supervisors: 820 roles in 2023
17
Stunt performers registered: 650 in Australia 2023
18
Music composers for screen: 1,100 active, earning avg $85k/year 2023
19
Casting directors: 320 operating nationally in 2023
20
DIT operators grew to 450 in 2023 due to digital boom
21
Script supervisors: 1,200 jobs logged in 2023 productions
22
Hair and makeup artists: 2,500 employed, 65% female 2023
23
Screen Australia training programs graduated 450 new talents in 2023
24
Below-the-line crew turnover rate: 18% in 2023
25
Executive producers in indie sector: 780 in 2023
Interpretation
Employment And Talent Interpretation
Across the Employment and Talent landscape, the Australian screen industry supported a growing workforce with 45,000 full time equivalent workers in 2023 and strong pipeline gains like women rising to 28% of film directors in 2022 to 2023 up from 22% in 2018, while specialized talent also expanded with 4,500 VFX artists and 1,200 Indigenous screen practitioners.
02 · Category
Financial Performance28 stats
01
Australian feature films' average production time increased to 28 months in 2023 from 24 in 2019
02
In 2022-23, Australian features grossed $126.5 million domestically at the box office
03
Top Australian film 'Elio' earned $45.2 million globally in 2023
04
Streaming revenue for Australian content reached $450 million in 2023
05
Average budget for Australian features was $5.8 million in 2022-23, up 15% YoY
06
Box office for Australian docs hit $18.7 million in 2022-23
07
Export sales of Australian films totaled $120 million in 2023
08
VOD revenue from Australian titles was $67 million in 2022
09
'The Dry' sequel grossed $22.1 million domestically in 2023
10
Australian TV drama export value reached $250 million in 2023
11
Cinema admission revenue for local films was $89 million in 2022-23
12
Ancillary revenue from DVD/Blu-ray for Aussie films: $12.4 million in 2022
13
Production spend by international films in Australia: $1.2 billion in 2023
14
Local box office share for Australian films: 8.5% in 2022-23
15
Streaming deals for Aussie features averaged $1.8 million per title in 2023
16
Pay TV rights for Australian content: $180 million annually avg 2020-23
17
Festival prize money for Australian films: $4.5 million in 2023
18
Merchandise revenue from top Aussie films: $15 million in 2022
19
Crowdfunding for Australian indie films raised $8.2 million in 2023
20
Tax rebate claims totaled $650 million for film productions in 2023
21
Average ROI for Screen Australia funded features: 1.4:1 in 2022-23
22
Home video sales declined 22% to $9.8 million for local titles in 2023
23
International distribution advances for Aussie films: $55 million in 2023
24
Theatrical rentals for Australian films: $34 million in 2022-23
25
SVOD subscriptions driven by local content contributed $320 million revenue
26
Post-production spend on Aussie projects: $280 million in 2023
27
Soundtrack licensing revenue: $7.1 million from Australian films 2022
28
Equity investment in features: $42 million private funds in 2023
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
Financial performance looks stronger as Australian feature production takes longer, with average time rising from 24 months in 2019 to 28 months in 2023, yet larger budgets of $5.8 million in 2022 to 23 up 15 percent year on year align with solid returns such as $126.5 million in domestic box office and $450 million in 2023 streaming revenue.
03 · Category
Funding And Investment21 stats
01
In 2022-23, Screen Australia allocated $114.9 million in production funding
02
Federal PICS rebate claimed $678 million for 2023 productions
03
Screen NSW invested $65 million in 150 projects in 2023
04
Queensland's Screen Queensland fund disbursed $42 million in 2022-23
05
Victoria's Film Victoria granted $38 million to 85 titles in 2023
06
South Australia's Screen Forever fund: $22 million in 2023
07
Private equity via FFC Australia: $150 million invested 2020-23
08
Export Development Grants totaled $18 million for films in 2023
09
Tax incentives attracted $1.1 billion foreign spend in 2023
10
Crowdfunding platforms raised $12.5 million for 320 projects 2023
11
Screenrights royalties distributed $45 million to creators in 2023
12
WA Screenwest allocated $19 million across 70 projects 2022-23
13
Indigenous funding via Screen Australia: $15.2 million in 2023
14
Women in Film grants: $3.8 million awarded 2023
15
Development funding: $28 million for 450 scripts in 2023
16
Post, Digital & Visual Effects Incentive: $120 million claimed 2023
17
Regional production funds: $8.5 million via state bodies 2023
18
Co-productions with NZ received $25 million AUS investment 2023
19
Philanthropic donations to film: $6.2 million in 2023
20
Bank loans for features averaged $2.1 million per project 2023
21
Festival travel grants: $1.9 million supporting 250 filmmakers 2023
Interpretation
Funding And Investment Interpretation
Across Australia, government-backed film funding is driving substantial investment in projects, with Screen Australia leading at $114.9 million in 2022–23 production funding while other states and programs also put tens of millions into content, including Screen NSW’s $65 million across 150 projects and Screen Victoria’s $38 million to 85 titles in 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
International Reach And Awards23 stats
01
In 2023, 12 Australian films won AACTA Awards for Best Feature
02
'The Power of the Dog' grossed $45 million internationally, 5 Oscar noms 2022
03
45 Australian titles screened at Cannes 2018-2023
04
Berlin Festival hosted 18 Aussie features 2020-23
05
Toronto TIFF premiered 22 Australian films in 2023
06
Sundance accepted 9 Aussie docs 2023
07
Venice Film Festival: 7 Australian entries 2022-23
08
Australian films exported to 120 countries in 2023
09
3 Australian films won Golden Globes 2018-2023
10
Emmy wins for Aussie series: 15 in 2023
11
BAFTA nominations for Australian talent: 28 in 2023
12
US box office for Aussie films: $320 million cumulative 2023
13
Co-productions with US: 12 titles released 2020-23
14
Asian market revenue: $85 million from Aussie content 2023
15
European theatrical releases: 65 Aussie films 2022-23
16
AACTA International Awards: 250 entries from 40 countries 2023
17
Indigenous films at IDFA: 5 wins 2023
18
UK streaming deals: 40 Aussie titles acquired by BBC/Channel4 2023
19
Palme d'Or shortlist: 2 Australian directors 2019-2023
20
Oscar submissions from Australia: 18 features 2023
21
Global festival premieres: 180 for Aussie shorts 2023
22
Netflix original Aussie films: 15 launched internationally 2023
23
Japanese box office: $12 million for 'Mad Max' franchise relaunch 2023
Interpretation
International Reach And Awards Interpretation
Between 2018 and 2023 Australian films showed strong International Reach And Awards momentum with 45 titles screening at Cannes and 22 premieres at Toronto TIFF in 2023, alongside 12 AACTA Best Feature wins in 2023 and 9 Australian docs accepted at Sundance the same year.
05 · Category
Production And Output30 stats
01
In 2022-23, 28 Australian feature films achieved a theatrical release in cinemas across Australia, marking a 12% increase from the previous year
02
Between 2018-2023, Australian documentary features averaged 15 theatrical releases per year, with 2022-23 seeing 18 releases
03
In 2022-23, 67 Australian television drama titles commenced production, totaling 1,892 hours of content
04
From 2017-2022, 142 Australian feature films entered production, with an average budget of $4.2 million per film
05
In 2021-22, 24 Australian feature films were released theatrically, generating over 5.2 million admissions domestically
06
Australian short films numbered 450 productions in 2023, supported by state funding bodies
07
Between 2019-2023, 35 Australian children's feature films were produced, averaging 7 per year
08
In 2023, 12 Australian horror feature films entered production, the highest genre output in a decade
09
2022 saw 56 episodes of Australian scripted series commence production in Queensland alone
10
From 2020-2023, 28 Australian feature documentaries were completed, with themes focusing on environment and history
11
In FY2023, Screen Australia invested in 112 drama projects, including 19 features
12
Australian animation features produced 8 titles from 2018-2023, with $25 million total investment
13
2023 recorded 42 Australian web series launches on streaming platforms
14
Between 2015-2022, 210 Australian TV movies were produced, averaging 26 per year
15
In 2022-23, New South Wales hosted production of 29 feature films, leading the nation
16
17 Australian Indigenous feature films were made from 2010-2023
17
2023 saw 65 Australian music videos produced with Screen NSW funding
18
From 2021-2023, 34 Australian sci-fi features entered development
19
Victoria produced 22 drama series episodes in 2023, totaling 450 hours
20
In 2022, 15 Australian period dramas were released, focusing on colonial history
21
South Australia commenced 8 feature productions in 2023, with $45m spend
22
2022-23 had 26 Australian rom-com features in production pipeline
23
Tasmania produced 5 feature films from 2020-2023 via state rebates
24
Australian Capital Territory saw 7 indie features in 2023
25
Northern Territory hosted 4 doco-features in 2023 on Indigenous stories
26
Western Australia completed 12 features in 2022-23
27
2023 digital shorts by Australian filmmakers reached 320 uploads to festivals
28
Queensland's 2023 output included 18 TV dramas, 720 hours total
29
From 2019-2023, 45 Australian thrillers were produced
30
In 2022-23, 9 Australian biopics entered production
Interpretation
Production And Output Interpretation
In the production and output category, Australian film consistently expanded its pipeline, with 28 feature films hitting theatres in 2022-23, up 12 percent, alongside strong documentary output reaching 18 releases that same year.
report visual · Key figures
Australian screen industry workforce snapshot
Key workforce and specialist employment indicators underline the scale and depth of the sector.
45,000
In 2023, the Australian screen industry employed 45,000 full-time equivalent workers
4,500
VFX artists in Australia reached 4,500 employed in 2023
2,100
Sound technicians employed: 2,100 full-time in screen sector 2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Australian Film Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australian-film-industry-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Australian Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/australian-film-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Australian Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australian-film-industry-statistics.
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