February 21, 2025 IF magazine
Host Russell Crowe speaks during the 2025 AACTA Awards (Image: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)
The Australian Film Institute, which runs the annual AACTA awards, posted a 24 per cent increase in annual revenue last year to $6.03 million as government funding and other grants surged.
The annual financial results, which were filed with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), shows “a “government and other grants” increased to $2.75 million from $1.84 million the previous year. Sponsorship also increased to $2.44 million from $2.20 million.
The last time revenue passed the $6 million mark was in 2020.
Nonetheless, the registered charity still posted a $48,616 loss in 2024 compared to a $62,298 loss in 2023 partly due to increases in employee expenses, production expenses, and other expenses.
The AACTA awards were held on the Gold Coast this month over five days and across more than 110 events including panels, premieres, awards ceremonies, workshops, and careers expos. The event attracted more than 22,000 attendees at HOTA on the Gold Coast.
AACTA Awards sponsors include Foxtel Group, as well as the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, Screen Queensland, and Experience Gold Coast. The 2023 AACTA Awards also received $366,000 from Screen Australia according to its last annual report.
The AFI’s remuneration paid to two unnamed key management personnel for the year rose 2.1 per cent to $534, 513. The ACNC lists the responsible people as CEO Damian Trewhella and board members. The board is typically unpaid in a registered charity.
The AFI has 11 full-time employees, six part-time employees, and two casual employees. It also lists 20 volunteers according to its annual information statement.
By way of comparison, former Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason was paid total remuneration of $467,681 in 2022-23 (the 2023-24 remuneration results were split across Mason and new CEO Deirdre Brennan).