Screen Canberra and the ACT Government have announced the inaugural recipients of its newly-established Canberra Screen and Games Fund, with local game studios and screen production companies set to be supported.
Canberra Screen and Games Fund – quick links
Canberra-based game studios set to receive support
Three local Canberra game studios have been supported by the new Canberra Screen and Games Fund, with each awarded a Games Production grant to ‘help bring their projects to life’. The studios are:
- Uppercut Games – best known for for Submerged and City of Brass, and now working on its next major project.
- Space Dragon Games – currently developing a ‘satirical deckbuilding tower defence’ game called Null and Void.
- Anecdote Games – currently developing Outpost, a game where you ‘must escape an Antarctic research station plagued by infinite versions of yourself’.
In addition, early stage concept projects from new studio Moon Jump, and developer James Wakeham, will also receive Games Development funding.
Per a Screen Canberra spokesperson, the Canberra Screen and Games Fund’s inaugural funding round received ‘overwhelming interest’ from the digital games and TV and film production sectors, ‘reflecting Canberra’s growing reputation as a hub for world-class digital games and visual storytelling’.
Film and TV production companies also receiving support
In addition to the game studios and developers supported under the Games Production banner, several film and TV production companies are also being supported by the new Canberra Screen and Games Fund.
That includes WIldBear Entertainment, which is currently developing the next season of ABC series Stuff the British Stole; Ronde Media, known for Bondi Rescue, which is developing an ‘observational documentary’ for broadcast; Olympia Pictures, which is co-producing a feature film; and Good Shout, which is developing a ‘one-off special’ focused on sports.
‘We all know Canberrans who grew up dreaming of a job making video games or a career in film and television,’ said Michael Pettersson, ACT Minister for Business, Arts and Creative Industries.
‘Supporting the success of these industries in Canberra doesn’t just help grow and diversify our economy. It helps some Canberrans get their dream job, right here at home.’
‘Under the former Canberra Screen Investment Fund, the ACT Labor Government’s investments have helped Canberra’s TV and Film sector thrive. That is why it is exciting to see such a strong response to the first round of funding under the new Canberra Screen and Games Fund. This first round of recipients demonstrates the depth of talent, innovation and ambition thriving in the ACT.’
Holly Trueman, CEO at Screen Canberra, said: ‘By backing established players like WildBear, Uppercut Games and Ronde Media alongside innovative studios and production companies like Space Dragon Games and Good Shout, we are ensuring Canberra continues to be represented in the global creative economy.’
We look forward to seeing what results from this newly-established, essential screen and games fund.
Also on ScreenHub: Pokémon Pokopia has already sold 2.2 million copies – and it’s no wonder why
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By all accounts, Pokopia has been a major success. You only need to go on TikTok, Instagram or BlueSky to see just how far the game has spread, from memes to fun little videos of content creators discussing some new, hidden secret or another. You can see videos of people purchasing Nintendo Switch 2 consoles just to play Pokémon Pokopia. Those that aren’t playing it are creating videos lamenting the fact.
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