Natalie Portman film to inject $25 million into Australian economy

Upcoming feature film Days of Abandonment, starring Academy Award® winner Natalie Portman, is the latest production to be drawn to Australia with the assistance of the Morrison Government’s $540 million Location Incentive program.

Days of Abandonment, which has received support of $3.4 million, is based on the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante. Natalie Portman plays Tess, a woman who abandoned her own dreams for a stable home life, and in turn abandoned by her husband. As a result, her world is thrown off its axis.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the production is expected to generate more than $25 million of local economic activity.

“Days of Abandonment will directly create more than 200 jobs for cast and crew, 500 extras roles, and use the services of an estimated 400 businesses across New South Wales when they begin filming in July,” Minister Fletcher said.

To date, the Morrison Government has distributed $224 million under the Location Incentive to attract 24 productions to Australia, generating more than $1.74 billion of expenditure in the economy, providing an estimated 16,000 jobs for Australian cast and crew, and creating work for over 15,600 Australian businesses.

New South Wales Minister for the Arts, the Hon Don Harwin MLC, said securing Days of Abandonment cemented NSW’s place as Australia’s film production powerhouse.

“NSW is the creative heart of Australia, employing 56 per cent of the people in our screen industry and there is no better place for production of this feature film,” Minister Harwin said.

‘The NSW Government’s Made in NSW fund is supporting Days of Abandonment. This production will showcase the talent and expertise of our incredibly talented actors, producers and crew to showcase, and at the same time stimulate our local economy by bringing jobs right across the trades, hospitality and transport sectors who support them.”

Filming is expected to take place in Sydney and regional New South Wales, commencing this month.

Led by a strong female team including Maggie Betts, who wrote the script and is directing the film, Days of Abandonment will employ female creatives and crew across all levels of the production, and work with industry on events to promote women’s leadership in the screen sector. 

“We are very appreciative to have the opportunity to safely film in Australia alongside the talented people who live and work in the country,” said Executive Producers Maggie Betts, Celine Rattray, Sophie Mas and Len Amato. 

“Everyone has been so welcoming and we look forward to a successful production.”

The production is strictly adhering to the screen industry’s best-practice COVID-Safe Guidelines and all government protocols relating to COVID-19.

For more information on the Location Incentive Program please visit: www.arts.gov.au/what-we-do/screen/australian-screen-production-incentive