How to Find Australian Film Locations, Sound Stages, and Screen Businesses on Ausfilm

Updated

Ausfilm is a membership organisation that connects the global screen industry to Australia, and its website is built around exactly the resources a production needs when scouting the country: a locations library, a sound stage directory, and a listing of Australian screen businesses and government partners. If you are planning a shoot, comparing studio options, or looking for local production partners, the site's main navigation sections — Locations, Sound Stages, and Australian Screen Businesses — are the fastest entry points. The site is in English and is aimed at international film and TV makers as well as the Australian industry.

What each section gives you

Section What it covers Best used for
Locations A library of Australian film locations Finding settings that match a script's requirements
Sound Stages Australia's major film studio complexes and their facilities Comparing studio capacity and facilities for a production
Australian Screen Businesses Australia's screen production businesses and government partners Identifying local companies and public agencies to work with
Australian Talent Local talent information Understanding the talent pool available in Australia
Filmography Record of productions Seeing what has been shot in Australia
Tax Incentives Screen grants and tax rebates Understanding the financial framework before committing

Finding film locations

The Locations section is described as a library of Australian film locations, intended for scouting settings. The site frames it as a place to "find inspiration" rather than a searchable database with filters, so treat it as a curated starting point: browse the library, note locations that resemble what your script calls for, and then follow up with the relevant state or territory film agency for permits and logistics. The site also publishes location-focused editorial — for example, a "Location Spotlight" on New South Wales' industrial and infrastructure screen landscape — which can surface regions you might not have considered.

Comparing sound stages

The Sound Stages section summarises Australia's major film studio complexes and the range of facilities they offer. Use it to shortlist studio complexes that match your production's scale and technical needs, then contact the facilities directly to confirm availability, stage dimensions, and rates. Ausfilm does not publish stage specifications or pricing on the pages described here, so the directory is a routing tool rather than a booking or quoting system.

Connecting with screen businesses and government partners

The Australian Screen Businesses section is where you find Australia's screen production businesses and government partners. This is the practical route for:

  • Identifying local production companies, post, sound, music, and VFX providers
  • Finding the government agencies that administer incentives and support
  • Building a local crew and services package around a shoot

Ausfilm itself is a membership organisation bringing together Australian screen businesses and government agencies, with offices in Sydney and Los Angeles, so the businesses listed here are connected to that network.

Supporting material before you commit

Two further resources help you decide whether Australia fits a project:

  • Tax Incentives — Australia offers a suite of screen grants and tax rebates. Ausfilm publishes factsheets including a Screen Incentives Factsheet, a Post/Sound/Music/VFX Incentives Factsheet, and a Visas Factsheet. These are the documents to read before modelling a budget.
  • Filmography and News — the filmography shows what has been produced in Australia, and the news section covers recent productions and industry activity, useful for judging the depth of local capability.

Practical steps

  1. Start with Locations to build a shortlist of settings that match your script.
  2. Move to Sound Stages to identify studio complexes that fit your production's scale.
  3. Use Australian Screen Businesses to find production companies and government partners to contact.
  4. Download the relevant factsheets (incentives, post/sound/music/VFX, visas) to understand the financial and immigration framework.
  5. Check Filmography and News to gauge recent activity and local capability.
  6. Contact the listed businesses, studios, and agencies directly — Ausfilm's directory routes you to them but does not handle bookings or quotes.

Common sticking points

  • The locations library is presented as inspiration, not a filterable database, so expect to do follow-up research with state film agencies.
  • Studio and business listings are directories; availability, pricing, and terms are confirmed with the facilities and companies themselves, not on Ausfilm.
  • The site offers a Subscribe option for updates, but the pages described here do not state whether subscription is free, so check before signing up if cost matters to you.
  • Ausfilm's own contact details are listed for both its Australian and US offices if you need to reach the organisation directly.