History[edit]

The Australian Film Commission was established by the Whitlam government on 7 July 1975 as the successor to the Australian Film Development Corporation set up by the Gorton government.^[1] In the first year of its existence, its budget was $6.5 million.^[2] The AFC acted as a funding and development agency for the Australian film industry. With the Australian Film Commission Amendment Acts passed in 1980 and 2003, the AFC shifted focus onto funding and promoting Australian film both locally, and in international markets.^[3]


The AFC was funded in part by the national government and in part from its return on investments in film production as well as interest on film development loans. It financially assisted film and television production and also produced films generally intended for government purposes, through its production arm, Film Australia,^[4] previously known as the Commonwealth Film Unit. A Film Australia feature film for children, Let the Balloon Go, was released in 1976. The Commission generally covered Australian national and Indigenous identity through film and documentaries, and had developed the Documentary Development Fellowship scheme in 1984.


For 1979 to 1980, the Commission's budget was $10 million, and received $2.5 million from its investments.^[2]


In 1998–99, Film Finance Corporation Australia was set up as a government-owned corporation and took over the major role of financing feature film and television production, with the AFC concentrating on the funding of development, marketing and research work for the media. Film Australia Limited became a separate entity.


On 1 July 2003, the Commission undertook the effect of the transfer of the National Film and Sound Archive's (NFSA, also known as ScreenSound Australia) contractual rights and obligations as enforced by the Australian Film Commission Amendment Act. The AFC introduced a "Directions" plan to guide operations of ScreenSound Australia, before it was disputed and revised in 2006 upon the change of government.^[4] The merger between ScreenSound and the AFC was reversed in 2008, with the introduction of the Screen Australia Bill 2008.^[5]


The AFC had offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane.^[1]


The Screen Australia Bill 2008 marked the creation of the new government film agency, Screen Australia, which merged the major government film bodies Film Finance Corporation Australia, Film Australia Limited, and the Australian Film Commission into a single body, albeit with slightly different functions, roles and financing methods. Screen Australia commenced operation in July 2008 and overtook the Commission's role supporting and investing in Australian film and other media.


The Commission merged with Australia's federal film agencies in 2008, bringing the cease in its operations.