Screen & film

Filming locations and production facilities in Cairns

Cairns and Far North Queensland is renowned for its unique and stunning locations including lush tropical rainforests, white sandy beaches and remote island oases.

Explore our locations at the Screen Queensland Location Database

Screen Queensland Studios in Cairns is a state-of-the-art film and television studio complex open to Australian and international productions. The Cairns facility complements Screen Queensland Studios Brisbane and other production facilities on the Gold Coast.

Read more about Screen Queensland Studio Cairns

A range of professional development opportunities are offered to local filmmakers as part of the Understory Film Festival. Aspiring young filmmakers in Cairns can also access the screenPLAY program annually, and see their films on a big screen at Cairns Children's Festival.

Understory Film Festival

The Understory Film Festival encourages local independent, student, emerging and professional film makers in the North Queensland region to create short films to enter a competition for screening opportunities, awards and prizes.

The objectives of the film festival are to showcase local talent, build local industry capacity, award achievement and develop the short film culture appetite and audience.

The competition culminates in a red carpet event; the Understory Film Festival Screening and Awards Night, held annually.

The festival also features additional events, including premiere screenings, industry gatherings, workshops, Q&A sessions with professional filmmakers, and support for emerging talent through initiatives like Understory High.

screenPLAY

screenPLAY is our film development program for filmmakers aged 8 to 15. The program includes school holiday workshops as well as the opportunity to submit films to be screened at the annual Cairns Children’s Festival and the Understory Film Festival.