Screen Australia settles appeal with Beyond

Screen Australia has reached a settlement with Beyond Productions over its decision to reject its Producer Offset application for factual series Taboo.

In 2009 Screen Australia rejected Beyond’s application for season five of Taboo because it didn’t meet the criteria as significant Australian content and was not a new creative concept. The series looks at bizarre and controversial aspects of human behaviour and airs on National Geographic.

Encore notes the Administrative Appeals Tribunal upheld the decision, but it was appealed by Beyond and supported by the Screen Producers Association of Australia. The initial rejection cost Beyond an expected rebate of $873,000 (not including legal costs).

Both parties have now reached an agreement but the terms have been kept confidential.

It isn’t the first time a production company has questioned Screen Australia’s decisions. Earlier this year Essential Media won a Administrative Appeals Tribunal appeal that LifeStyle series Lush House qualified as a documentary. However Screen Australia is now taking the matter to the Federal Court but contributes to the legal costs of Essential Media’s appeal.