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The City of Port Phillip enjoys a rich array of streetscapes, landscapes, seascapes and parklands. The city's natural heritage is its greatest physical asset. Parklands and open space along the foreshore together with tourist attractions are in high demand as film locations. The city's architectural heritage reflects the history of Melbourne as well as the industrial and maritime heritage of the port.
The City of Port Phillip is highly regarded and sought after as a film location. The growth in demand for locations in Port Phillip is on the increase with a range of work produced including, music video clips, documentaries, television commercials, television series, student films and feature films.
Film Liaison Unit
The Council's Film Liaison Unit is a central point of contact for film and television producers interested in filming within the City of Port Phillip. The unit provides the film industry with advice on guidelines and procedures and evaluates and processes film location permit applications. The service encourages location managers and film producers to provide ongoing information about filming activities to provide a coordinated service for film crews as well as looking after the interests of residents and traders.
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Film Location Policy
The  Film Policy provides guidelines and an application form for filming within the City of Port Phillip including:
- Television
- Feature films
- Advertising
- Student film projects
- Documentaries
- Music videos
- Commercial stills photography
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Filming Permits
The City of Port Phillip's local laws provide guidelines for the use of roads, footpaths and other public spaces for filming activity. This activity is subject to the council's approval based on the film location application and evidence of adequate public liability insurance. Permits must be carried on location. Filming without a permit is subject to penalty.
The timeframe for the issue of permits correlates to the location and the activity's potential impact on the amenity of residents, traders and traffic. To apply for a permit, please complete the Filming Unit Permit Application Form (updated 08/07/08)and return it via the contact details listed below.You should also view the Filming Guidelines to become familiar with your responsibilities whilst filming.
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Filming Permit Fees
The Film Liaison Unit is financially sustained by charging location fees. A standard fee is applied for filming in the municipality limited to those areas under the council's jurisdiction. A lower fee applies to commercial stills photography.
There is an initial charge for the first day of filming for any one project. A daily rate applies for any subsequent days. The phrase 'any one project' relates to one feature film, one television commercial, one season of a television series or one season of a television serial.
Motion Picture Photography
$710.00 for the first day
$ 412.00 for half day (4 hours)
$141.00 for subsequent days
$141.00 for unit base use only.
Commercial Stills Photography
$319.00 for the first day
$141.00 for subsequent days.
$141.00 for 'pack shots' only.
In the majority of applications, the location fee charged covers the full service provided by the City of Port Phillip. Additional fees may be charged where film crews park in restricted or metered parking areas. In some instances, a fee is payable internally. A user-pays system applies where additional external services are required.
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Filming Fee Waiver
Filming fee waivers may apply to:
- Projects of demonstrable community benefit
- Projects related to charitable activities
- Documentaries which are specific to the cultural heritage of the City of Port Phillip
- Emerging producers and/or directors who have made no more than two films (including short films)
This support is treated as a sponsorship by the City of Port Phillip. The film maker is required to acknowledge the City in the end credits. Sponsorship must be requested in writing, see the contact details listed below. The location acknowledgement will read “Filmed in the City of Port Phillip” or “Thanks to the City of Port Phillip”.
Fee waivers will generally only be available once. Fees will not be waived retrospectively.
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Notification Timetable
In order to maintain a balanced level of residential and trader amenity, film makers are required to notify in writing persons and businesses which may be affected by their presence.
The timeframe for this notification is:
- For low impact on residential areas: A minimum of twenty four (24) hours in advance but preferably at least forty eight (48) hours in advance
- For strip shopping centres: A minimum of seven (7) days for high impact activity.
- For other commercial areas, high density residential areas and those under the jurisdiction of other authorities which impact on council-controlled areas: A minimum of seven (7) days is preferred.
The Film Liaison Unit works in close conjunction with the Melbourne Film Office and the Film and Television Office of the Victoria Police in administering this service.
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Insurance
All applications for a filming approval permit are required to provide evidence of appropriate public liability insurance cover through presentation of their Certificate of Currency prior to a permit being issued. Please note that we now require Certificates of Currency to note the City of Port Phillip as "co-joint insured" or "interested party".
Film applications using the services of stunt performers are required to provide evidence of appropriate specialised risk insurance or workcover.
Film applications requiring the use of roads or road closure must provide a traffic management report.
All filming activity must comply with common law.
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Coordination of Council Departments
Filming activity impacts on many council departments and the Film Liaison Unit will co-ordinate the approval of the application across the relevant council departments. Internal liaison between all of these departments to support filming activity is essential in the provision of an efficient, effective service which develops and maintains excellent relationships between the film industry, the city and its residents, traders and visitors.
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Damage to Council Property
All costs associated with clearing litter and other waste generated by their activities, and for any damage to parks, irrigation, roads and other council property will be borne by the production company.
For more information about film locations in the City of Port Phillip and Melbourne, please visit the Melbourne Film Office website at www.film.vic.gov.au/MFO.
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St Kilda Film Festival
This popular, annual film festival is celebrated in June each year at the Astor Theatre and the George Cinemas. Entries close at the end of January. For further festival information, please go to the St Kilda Film Festival.
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Contact the Film Liaison Unit
- Telephone (03) 9209 6217 or 0412 015 911
- Fax (03) 9536 2717
- Postal Film Liason Unit, City of Port Phillip, Private Bag 3, St Kilda VIC 3182.
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Film Liason Unit.
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