Weta FX expands global operations with new technology hub in Melbourne, Australia | News
Peter Jackson-founded Weta FX will be expanding its global footprint by opening a new screen technology hub in Melbourne, Australia.
Weta FX has more than 2,000 global staff across its studio production facilities in New Zealand, Canada and Australia. The Australian office will create more than 80 new roles and has attracted support from the Victorian state government.
The 30-year-old visual effects innovator had been operating in Melbourne during 2024, setting up a temporary facility to conduct the visual effects for feature films, Better Man and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
The Robbie Williams biopic, Better Man, represents the biggest production to be filmed in Victoria, to date, creating around 3,000 jobs and injecting US$88m (A$142m) into the Victorian economy.
Weta FX Melbourne hub manager, Sharna Hackett said: “The Victorian government’s recognition of the economic and cultural benefits of a strong screen industry, and their commitment to supporting its growth and innovation, was critical to our decision to invest further in Victoria.”
The Victorian government anticipates that Weta FX will accelerate its contribution to the state’s screen industry, stimulating screen industry job growth and professional development opportunities in production, VFX and animation and establishing Victoria as a destination for world-class post-production and VFX services.
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said that Weta’s decision to choose Melbourne as the location for its Australian hub was “proof that Victoria has the outstanding tech and creative talent world-class companies are looking for.”
In the competitive state versus state battle to attract inbound productions, securing Weta FX is a coup for Victoria as global and local productions can benefit from the Australian government’s 30% location offset, designed to encourage big budget screen projects and the 30% post, digital and VFX offset.
VicScreen, is expected to reap an estimated A$89m in economic expenditure from post, digital and VFX projects in 2024/25 which includes additional funding for the Victorian Screen Rebate.
