Above The Line Accounting Pty Ltd

26/05/2026

The 2025 Screen Australia guidelines aren’t new anymore: but they are shaping projects right now.

Producers in the middle of projects are now being impacted by changes. Avoid getting caught out and find out what changed last year that is impacting your film productions moving forward.

This guide breaks down what’s changed and what it means in practice:
https://abovethelineaccounting.au/what-filmmakers-need-to-know-about-the-new-2025-screen-australia-guidelines/

21/05/2026

When the documentary film Brabham needed additional investors, Above The Line Accounting helped Aurora Films set up a public company for crowdfunding, raising an additional $150,000 for the film.

Producer Antony Waddington says it well: "Crowdsourced funding was a steep learning curve for me. Because the last thing you want is to do anything incorrectly when it comes to tax law or ASIC."

Getting the structure right from the start makes all the difference.

Read the full Brabham case study: https://abovethelineaccounting.au/case-studies/

12/05/2026

The Australian film industry moves fast. ATO updates, Screen Australia guideline changes, super rate rises - our newsletter rounds it all up so you don't have to chase it down yourself.

Explore past issues and subscribe: https://abovethelineaccounting.au/newsletters/

08/05/2026

🎬 Heading to Cannes this May?

ATLA's Matthew Carter will be at the festival from 12–23 May. If you're making the trip, Matt would love to catch up with Aussie filmmakers over a coffee!

Let us know if you'll be there!

07/05/2026

Most filmmakers don’t get into the industry because they love spreadsheets. But at some point, someone’s going to say the A-word: audit.

If you’re applying for the Producer Offset or have investors on board, an audit is part of the process. But it doesn’t have to be painful.

At ATLA, we’ve supported more than 150 productions through it. Our blog gives a straightforward look at what to expect and how to prepare for it.

Read the full blog on the ATLA site and learn how we can support your post-production accounting: https://abovethelineaccounting.au/preparing-for-audits-ensuring-compliance-in-the-australian-film-industry/

03/05/2026

This month wraps up our year as a partner of the 2025 Ones To Watch program, and it's been a genuinely great one to be part of.

A few months ago, Matthew hosted a session for the cohort on the financial foundations every emerging producer needs to understand: budgets, cost reports, cashflow, and how to structure a project so the numbers actually work.

Because the creative vision is only half the picture. The producers who build lasting careers are the ones who get across the business side too.

To the 2025 cohort - we've loved watching your journey this year. We can't wait to see what you make next!

Read more about why we back this program: https://abovethelineaccounting.au/why-we-support-ones-to-watch-5-reasons-we-back-emerging-producers/

30/04/2026

The wrap party is over. The edit suite is humming. And somewhere on your to-do list is a very long financial checklist.

Post-production accounting is where a lot of productions get caught out: not because the work wasn't done on set, but because the paperwork didn't keep up.

How are you tracking across these five?
✔️ Post-wrap payroll and expenses sorted
✔️ Cost reporting continuing through post
✔️ QAPE spreadsheet being built
✔️ Final Certificate underway
✔️ General ledger clean and audit-ready

If any of these feel uncertain, we can step in - even if we weren't involved during the shoot.

https://abovethelineaccounting.au/production-accounting/

26/04/2026

💡 Funding rounds, development labs, fellowships, state agency grants: it's all in one place. Bookmark this handy rundown of every major screen industry opportunity available to Australian producers in 2026.

Discover all the major funding and professional development opportunities for professionals in the Australian screen industry.

24/04/2026

Q&A with ABOVE THE LINE ACCOUNTING'S MATTHEW CARTER

Q:What’s one piece of financial advice you wish every filmmaker knew before starting their first production?

A: Reach out and have a chat with an accountant and a lawyer before you start your first production - even if you don’t hire them at that stage.

You’ll find accountants and lawyers are always happy to have a quick chat and you might get some great advice!

🎥

Learn more about what you need to do before you start a production, with our guide to pre-pre-production on the ATLA site.

https://abovethelineaccounting.au/series-tax-accounting-and-filmmaking-pre-pre-production/