Screen Tasmania's priorities in regards to its distribution of state funding to filmmakers have been questioned by the Greens and Labor.
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During a budget estimates hearing on Thursday, Greens arts spokeswoman Dr Rosalie Woodruff raised the case of Tasmanian filmmaker Ted Wilson who unsuccessfully sought completion funds from Screen Tasmania to finish his film Under the Cover of Cloud.
"Ted is Tasmanian. His film was filmed in Tasmania and it is a story about returning to the state, yet your response to him said that Screen Tasmania funding is to attract expatriate filmmakers back to Tasmania to promote the state," Dr Woodruff said.
"Mr Wilson returned to Tasmania from Melbourne to film, and his cast was Tasmanian and it showcased only Tasmanian locations including the Spirit of Tasmania.
"Isn't that Tasmanian enough for you?"
Screen Tasmania executive manager Alex Sangston said he had spoken to Mr Wilson about his project and the reason he was not granted funds was because he was ineligible to apply.
"The issue with that was Mr Wilson was not able to secure distribution so he did not meet the terms of the guidelines, Mr Sangston said.
"I have seen the film myself a couple of times and I think it is great but it did not fit within the way our program is set up which is very much about attracting additional marketplace support on top of what is already provided."
Dr Woodruff said Mr Wilson was caught in a catch-22 situation.
"Can't you see this is a situation where there is a real gap here?" Dr Woodruff said.
"Mr Wilson had to take out a personal loan to complete the project that you wouldn't provide funding for because he didn't have a distributor but he could not get the distributor without being able to finish the film for funding."
Labor leader Rebecca White questioned if large film productions, such as The Gloaming, received funds through Screen Tasmania.
Arts Minister Elise Archer said funding was by no means confined to large, medium or small productions.
"The Screen Innovation Fund is a fund that is set up to benefit the whole of sector and major productions such as The Gloaming and Aussie Lobster Men have benefited from that particular fund," Ms Archer said.
"What we also look at is the return benefit to the state. For example, it is usually a one to four ratio in that regard."
The committee heard of the state contributed $1 million to The Gloaming and $80,000 to three short from documentaries through a partnership with SBS.
Dr Woodruff said the way funding was distributed was all about priorities.
"... where you give $1 million to the largest screen production ever to come to Tasmania, The Gloaming, but something (Mr Wilson's film) which is so internationally and Australia-acclaimed by a Tasmanian, about a Tasmanian, nearly didn't get off the ground for a relatively paltry sum of money, $20 000," Dr Woodruff said.