NSW Hunts Partner for Second Sydney Film Studio

A second major film studio is on the way in Sydney as the state seeks proposals to build and operate the facility thanks to $100 million in funding.

Expressions of interest opened this week for eight weeks seeking private sector partners to deliver the world-class studio.

Applicants can propose sites on private or government-owned land, including three government-owned locations—at Bungarribee, Eastern Creek and Prospect.

Proposals must include at least six sound stages, be within Greater Sydney and show experience operating screen infrastructure.

The studio aims to strengthen NSW’s film industry, create jobs and ensure the state remains a key destination for international productions, the NSW Government said.

Recent international projects filmed in NSW include Netflix’s Apex (pictured at top), Legendary Pictures’ Street Fighter, Apple Original Film’s Greyhound 2, and Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

NSW arts minister John Graham said the new studio would “support long-term growth and create new job opportunities for the sector, support local stories, and attract international blockbusters to the state”.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the $100 million capital fund “gives industry confidence… so we can continue to grow and develop a world-leading screen industry”.

Producers welcomed the move. Bruna Papandrea, who co‑founded the production company Pacific Standard with actress Reese Witherspoon, where she helped produce hit films such as Gone Girl and Wild, said that “if we want to attract both Australian and international talent… investing in world-class studio facilities is essential”.

▲ Simu Liu in a scene from Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which was shot in Sydney.

And See-Saw Films chief executive Emile Sherman said additional sound stages would mean “more jobs, more training, and more investment from international and Australian productions”.

Sydney currently has limited studio space, with the only major facility at Moore Park, forcing some productions to move interstate or overseas.

The EoI process allows non-conforming bids and locations outside the identified sites, provided applicants demonstrate suitability and landowner consent.

The initiative aligns with NSW’s three-year Screen and Digital Games Strategy, which prioritises expanding production capacity and attracting investment to the state.