Film New Zealand welcomes industry growth figures

Media release from Film New Zealand

1 May 2009

Film New Zealand welcomes screen production industry growth figures released by Statistics NZ

Statistics New Zealand today released Hot Off The Press 2008 Screen Industry Survey results that indicates positive growth trends in screen production – including postproduction/ digital/visual effects – coinciding with a very strong New Zealand dollar.

The 2007/08 Survey results indicate the breadth of screen production’s economic impact:

• Screen production sector increased gross revenues by 18% to $1,266 million; this rate of increase exceeds the overall 11% increase for the entire screen industry (including also television broadcasting, distribution and exhibition).

• Gross revenue generated from overseas by screen production companies rose 79% to $542 million, with the United States contributing $481 million; other major overseas contributors were Australia and Asia.

• Regional economic growth benefits are also tracked through the Survey’s expenditures by screen production companies. Wellington region experienced an increase of $157 million to $285 million (over 100%), and Auckland region increased by $37 million to $491 million (up 8%). Outside these two main industry centres Otago/Southland recorded the next highest regional expenditure at $37 million (down 5%); Canterbury/West Coast recorded $20 million (up 66% ); the Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui region $6 million (up 200%); and Northland recorded $4 million, Waikato $4 million, Bay of Plenty $3 million and $1 million for both Gisborne/Hawkes Bay and Tasman/Nelson/Marlborough.

“Film New Zealand is very pleased that New Zealand’s competitive advantage as a destination for all types of screen production from feature films, television dramas, documentaries, reality shows and commercials overcame the strength of our dollar during a period of some turmoil in the global entertainment market, “ said Chair of the Film NZ Board of Trustees Julian Grimmond. “Indications are that with a lower dollar, and with the expanded range of incentives, New Zealand’s screen industry is continuing this growth trend into 2009."

In 2007, Film NZ was appointed the screen industry representative on the Statistics New Zealand stakeholders committee for the Survey. “This annual survey is building an increasingly accurate and comprehensive profile of the screen industry’s economic impact within New Zealand”, said Film NZ CEO Judith McCann. “The work that we do as the national film office, in partnership with the production industry and the network of regional film offices, supports the screen production industry’s ability to generate revenue and export dollars from overseas clients that is being spent here on industry services and facilities, employment and within local communities."

Film NZ is the independent industry-led national film office, supported by Government with core operating funding from the Ministry of Economic Development, supplemented by the New Zealand Film Commission, project funding from NZ Trade & Enterprise/Investment NZ, and contributions from key sponsors and screen production industry members. Its services are accessed by New Zealand filmmakers as well as those from overseas.

For more information about Film New Zealand visit www.filmnz.com

ENDS

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