City of Albany eyes starring role in cinema as council set to vote on Film Friendly City title

Albany could get more silver screen time, with the City of Albany hoping to promote the region as a prime destination for film and television productions.

City of Albany councillors are set to vote next week on whether Albany should become a Film Friendly City and adopt a streamlined approval process to make it easier for movies to feature the region.

Becoming a Film Friendly City would mean Albany being promoted by the State’s peak film body, ScreenWest, as one of WA’s key filming destinations.

Several feature films have been shot in the region in recent years, including H is for Happiness, Breath, and Rams.

In June, the State Government unveiled a $16 million boost for the industry over the next four years, in a bid to bring film and television productions to the regions to help stimulate local economies post COVID-19.

According to a report put to the council ahead of next week’s meeting, the City has been “routinely approached” by production teams for support, but has no formal process to field requests from the industry.

“The beautiful natural environment of the Great Southern region lends itself to unique cinematic experiences, and consequently there has been an increase in the professional film and television industry’s interest in filming in Albany and surrounds,” the report said.

The report said there were many benefits to opening up the region to the film industry, including destination marketing and promoting Albany to visiting production crews.