Written by Joe Jackson on Nov 15, 2021. Posted in Production News

Cairns site unveiled for Queensland’s new studio complex

The Queensland Government and Screen Queensland have announced that a new film and television studio complex will open in the city of Cairns from mid-2022. The new Screen Queensland Studios is set to complement a similar construction in Brisbane as well as the Village Roadshow Studios on the Goldcoast. Together, the three complexes will create a state-wide studios network in one of Australia’s most popular states for media production.

“With this new complex in Cairns, Screen Queensland will soon be operating a network of studios across the state – that’s massive for Queensland and welcome news for local crew and creatives,” declared Screen Queensland’s head of studios, Derek Hall.

The 6,500 square metre (69,965sqft) building site by is situated on a 4.8 hectare (11.9 acres) footprint, five minutes from the Cairns CBD and 13 minutes from the airport. Once completed, the new studio complex will house support facilities (including: production offices, construction, wardrobe, hair and makeup departments) alongside a sound stage, an events space, and permanent creative tenancy opportunities.

“Queensland is open for business for the screen industry,” stated Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich, “and this new studio complex in Far North Queensland adds to an impressive offering of world-class studio facilities, unbeatable locations, some of the most competitive incentives and exceptional local crew.”

Queensland is known for its tropical rainforests, white sandy beaches and remote islands. This latest announcement follows a record year of production activity for the state, which secured 41 domestic and international productions in 2020-21, including Thirteen Lives, Escape from Spiderhead, Young Rock (Seasons 1 & 2), The Wilds (Season 2), The Portable Door, True Spirit and Nautilus.

During the same year, the Queensland Government, via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy, incentivised nine international productions, including four feature films and five TV series, and six domestic productions, including two features and four series. Universal Studios Group’s Joe Exotic is currently in production at Screen Queensland Studios in Brisbane, where Young Rock (Season 1) also filmed earlier in the year.

“Currently filming at Mission Beach south of Cairns is Screen Queensland-supported drama series Irreverent for Universal Studios Group, about a criminal who poses as the new church reverend in a small reef town,” commented Munnich.