IF is currently on holiday, but will return to providing you with the latest screen news from January 7th, and our newsletter will resume on January 13th.
We’re excited to report on a very dynamic industry. This year was more important than previous years.
One of the first articles I wrote for IF in 2016, which was quite leafy, was titled ‘SPA makes new call to foreign SVOD services to commission Australian content’. Nearly a decade later, that long-running debate has finally translated into policy, with the federal government moving this year to impose local content requirements on streaming services with more than 1 million subscribers. This marked a significant structural change for the industry, even if the mandate fell short of what many had long advocated.
It was also a difficult year for Australian films at the local box office, despite some bright spots such as Kangaroo. 2025 also saw major changes to Screen Australia’s funding guidelines, with a record surge in international production activity. The ‘Creator Economy’ was the key word this year, and short films were also making a comeback, reflected in the return of Screen Australia’s support and the return of Tropfest.
These moments and trends are reflected in the stories our readers are most interested in. To wrap up the year, we’ve created two lists: the most read news stories and the most read features and op-eds.
Thank you to all our readers, contributors, and advertisers for sticking with us this year. As I always say, we really can’t do it without you all. We are a small team, but IF has been around for a long time, and as we approach our 30th anniversary, it is an amazing accomplishment that is only possible thanks to your continued support.
I wish you a happy holiday season and a happy new year.
I wish you good luck,
Jackie Keast, Sean Slatter, Tom Solis, Hannah McMahon
Top 10 News of 2025
Robbie Williams biopic ‘Better Man’ hits $2.88 million at box office; Government introduces local content mandate for streaming services with over 1 million subscribers; Toni Higginbotham casting suspends workshops following joint statement from CGA and MEAA; time runs out on big-budget series ‘Territory’, which will not be renewed on Netflix; Screen Australia reviews funding, reinstates support for short films, introduces $500,000 LOI for non-market attached films Screen Australia announces $7.6 million in production and development funding for more than 100 projects BBC Studios Production’s ‘Ghost’ haunts Western Australia; Crown Prosecution Service applies for $127 million to film and TV studio in Sydney’s south-west Cameras roll on next MonsterVerse installment on Gold Coast Stan announces 14 new commissions, including ‘Jack the Whale Shark’, series ‘He Had It Coming’ and ‘Watching You’
Most-read features and editorials in 2025
‘I don’t think there was any clarity in the industry about what our role was’: Deirdre Brennan sets a new direction for Screen Australia Mikey, Mike and Michael O’Neill – remembered Everything producers need to know about Screen Australia’s new guidelines: Part 1 Rising talent in 2025: Actors Local film industry urged to rethink strategy to widen audience appeal Rising talent in 2025: Producers 2025 Rising Talent: Cinematographers 2025 Emerging Talent: Directors 79 ideas to improve the screen development process (and more) ‘In many ways we are now in a new normal’: Goalposts, Matchbox and Werner Film Productions to survive in 25 years
