Big-budget Chinese television drama series If Time Flows Back starring one of China’s biggest stars has recently wrapped on three episodes set and shot in South Australia.

Iconic locations from the bustling Adelaide CBD to the stunning wine region of the Barossa Valley will be showcased to an audience of more than 90 million people via Chinese television and streaming platforms.

Based at Adelaide Studios, If Time Flows Back is the latest Chinese production to be secured by Adelaide-based 57 Films following the first Chinese drama series shot in Australia, Speed. This pipeline of production is cementing South Australia as a key partner for the multi-billion dollar Chinese screen industry.

This follows recent news of Adelaide-based Ausfilm member VFX company Rising Sun Pictures finishing its first Chinese production for international release in fantasy adventure feature film Animal World for which they completed 86 visual effects shots.

Leading Australian TV production companies Screentime, a Banijay Group (Underbelly, Wolf Creek TV Series) and NBC Universal’s Matchbox Pictures (Safe Harbour, The Slap, Glitch) have both opened offices at Adelaide Studios to produce high end drama as well as factual projects in the state.

Netflix’s first two Australian television drama series were produced and post produced in South Australia with Pine Gap shooting on location and at Adelaide Studios before moving on to picture post and VFX with Ausfilm member Kojo. While Tidelands is currently having its VFX work produced exclusively by Ausfilm member Resin, also based in Adelaide.

World leading VFX supervisor Seth Larney‘s cli-fi drama 2067 will begin production at South Australia’s Adelaide Studios shortly. Seth made his directorial debut on the box office hit action film Tombiruo (2017) after a long career in VFX working on Hollywood blockbusters including both sequels of The Matrix, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Superman Returns and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

As well as this, critically acclaimed first Australian Netflix Original Comedy Special, Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette, was directed by South Australia’s Madeline Parry.

South Australia offers international productions an excellent production base showcasing incredible diverse locations just a few miles from the capital city of Adelaide, outstanding incentives, state of the art facilities at the Adelaide Studios and world class post production and VFX companies. With the states unique 10% PDV Rebate on top of the federal PDV offset South Australia offers the best rebates in the country with a combined total of 40% rebate.

If Time Flows Back – Zonghan LI (Cast), Xin JIANG (Cast), Dong JIN Naiwen LI \, shooting in Cleland Wildlife Park

View the production funding guidelines here.

View the PDV rebate guidelines here.