Fresh faces in the Director’s chair with new Screen and Digital Games Advisory

The new Screen and Digital Games Industries Act 2025, commenced on 1 July 2025, will ensure better cooperation across NSW Government agencies, reduce red tape to support the state’s screen and digital games industries, and increase opportunities for screen and digital games production.

The Act includes a new Screen and Digital Games Industries (Advisory Committee) Regulation 2025, which expands the focus of the former Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee to specifically include representation of the digital games industry.

The new committee, drawing on experts from both screen and digital games industries, will provide advice to Government on screen and digital games on the strategic needs of the sector, and make recommendations on investment priorities.

The Screen and Digital Games Industries Advisory Committee is:

• Zareh Nalbandian (Chair), CEO, Animal Logic Entertainment and Truant Pictures
• Bruce Meagher (Deputy Chair), Head of Public Affairs, Tattarang
• Nathan Anderson, Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Producer, New Canvas
• Naresh Hirani, Head of Studio, Riot Games Sydney
• Andrew Undi Lee, Writer, Director, Producer
• Jodi Matterson, CEO, Silent Firework Group
• Gillian Moody, Head of First Nations Engagement, National Film & Sound Archive of Australia
• Josh Pomeranz, Managing Director, Spectrum Films, and Executive Producer
• Debra Richards, Director APAC Policy, Studio & Production Affairs, Netflix
• Nick Sinclair, Head of Legal and Business Affairs, Curio Pictures

The introduction of a new industries advisory committee complements a tranche of regulatory and legislative reform. Key elements of these updates include:

• A new focus on digital games, affirming the NSW Government’s support for and commitment to the digital games industry.
• Reducing filming approval timeframes. Councils must now acknowledge receipt of filming applications within 2 business days, rather than the previous requirement of ‘within 7 days after a filming proposal is lodged’. Approvals for filming are now outlined in the updated NSW Local Government Filming Protocol.
• Screen production friendly council accreditation. Reflecting and recognising the key role councils play in supporting the film sector, the Act allows for local councils ‘screen production friendly’ accreditation and support.
• Reasonable fees and location access. Vital amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 set out principles which NSW Government agencies and local councils must consider when making a decision about screen or digital games production. This ensures that government approval is timely, fees are reasonable and access to locations is supported wherever possible.
• State government support for location filming. The Premier’s Memorandum - NSW: Always Screen Ready ensures government processes are ‘screen-ready’ and supports state government agency cooperation with location filming.
• Location filming guidance for local government. The revisions to the NSW Local Government Filming Protocol make local government processes more contemporary, responsive and screen friendly. The Protocol provides clear guidelines and information for making and approving applications for filming in NSW, and supports councils and filmmakers.
• Futureproofing the sector for growth. The Screen and Digital Games Industries Act 2025 renews and modernises terminology to reflect current and emerging technologies in both industries.
• Simplifying location filming approval timeframes. Filming requires less red tape thanks to changes to State Environmental Planning Policy Subdivision 4 have increased the period filming may be carried out within a 12-month period at a particular location from 30 days to 90 days before a Development Application is required.

Minister for the Arts John Graham said:

“I would like to thank the outgoing members of the previous Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee, and welcome the incoming members of the new Screen and Digital Games Industries Advisory Committee. Our screen sector is not only an important part of our cultural landscape, it contributes $1 billion a year to our economy and supports jobs across the state.

“NSW is the single biggest contributor to the national screen industry – half of Australia’s screen production happens here in NSW.

“Digital games are an increasingly important part of the screen sector, 81% of Australians are now playing digital games. This is why we have taken the important step to update our legislation and introduce a new Screen and Digital Games Industries Advisory Committee.

“By bringing the screen and digital games industry legislation into the twenty-first century, we will make sure NSW continues to be a global powerhouse for screen, including supporting local stories and storytellers, attracting blockbuster movies to our state and creating award-winning digital games that are played by people around the world.”

Screen and Digital Games Industries Advisory Committee Chair Zareh Nalbandian said:

“I welcome the NSW Government’s recognition of the significance of our Screen and Digital Games sectors and industries to the State’s culture and economic prosperity. The initiatives Minister Graham is advancing will support, strengthen and expand these industries and provide a strong foundation for their continued success.

“I’m pleased to Chair the Screen and Digital Games Industries Advisory Committee, which brings together respected leaders representing all facets of our industry across Sydney and New South Wales.”

Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth said:

“The wealth of experience and expertise the members of the Screen and Digital Games Industries Advisory Committee bring with them is exceptional. Their guidance and industry know-how will be invaluable as we continue to support both sectors, creating new opportunities and encouraging long-term sustainable growth in NSW. Screen NSW would like to welcome the members of the new committee, including chair Zareh Nalbandian, and thank the members of the former Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee, including chair Patrick Fair, for all their support and advice over the years.

“Coupled with the recent updates to make NSW an even more desirable filming location, the future is looking bright for screen and digital games in our state.”