VicScreen (previously Film Victoria II 2001 - 2022)

Full description

Establishment and Function

Film Victoria (Film Victoria II, VA 4788] was established in 2001 under the Film Act 2001 (No. 87/2001). The Film Act 2001 abolished Cinemedia Corporation (VA 4117) and established Film Victoria and the Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) as separate statutory authorities.

The first incarnation of Film Victoria (Film Victoria 1, VA 1071) was established in February 1982 under the Film Victoria Act 1981 (No.9716). It was to be responsible for the functions previously undertaken by the Victorian Film Corporation, the State Film Centre and the Audio-Visual Resources Unit of the Education Department. However, following a change of Government in April 1982 the responsibilities of Film Victoria were largely restricted to those previously exercised by the Victorian Film Corporation (VA 2723). Film Victoria was responsible for promoting and assisting in the production, distribution, exhibition and broadcasting of films and sound recordings, research into ways of improving the quality of films, and facilitating the financing of film production. It also produced films in its own right.

The Cinemedia Corporation Act 1997 (No.2) established the Cinemedia Corporation and section 35 of this Act declared it to be the successor in law of Film Victoria and the State Film Centre of Victoria Council. In 1997 the functions of Film Victoria were amalgamated with those of the State Film Centre of Victoria (VA 2325), to form Cinemedia Corporation (VA 4117), under the Cinemedia Corporation Act 1997.

The major responsibilities of Film Victoria (II) as defined in the Film Act 2001 were:

- to provide financial and other assistance to the film, television and multimedia industry in Victoria

- to promote the use of locations or services in Victoria for the production of any film, television or multimedia project

- to provide financial assistance to organisations, events or activities including festivals, conferences, publications or exhibitions, where film or other screen-based programs are made, seen or discussed

- to establish and facilitate relationships for the development of film, television of multimedia programs

- to provide leadership to the film, television and multimedia industry in Victoria

- to develop strategic plans for the development and improvement of the film, television and multimedia industry in Victoria

- to advise the Minister on matters relating to the film, television and multimedia industry in Victoria

- to develop relationships or enter into partnerships with other organisations, including government bodies, to improve the film, television and multimedia industry in Victoria

In 2022, Film Victoria changed its name to VicScreen.  The name change was undertaken to better reflect the diversity of screen activity that the agency supported from film, television, online, virtual reality (VR), and digital games. 

Location of Records

Some records are presumed to have been transferred to the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.