Ausfilm chief executive Mark Woods today said that he will not seek an extension of his two-year contract when it expires in August.

Ausfilm is the government-industry partnership that has responsibility for talking international producers into using Australia 's locations, crews and facilities for their film and television productions.

Woods, who was previously chief executive of the Irish Film Board, said he has achieved the two-year plan he had in mind when he took the top job at Ausfilm and it is now time to move on.

One of Ausfilm's most significant recent achievements was convincing the Federal Government to improve the financial incentives available to foreigners: in May year it was announced that the rebate available for productions spending more than $12.7m (A$15m) on shooting in Australia would be increased from 12.5% to 15%.

At the same time the rebate was extended to include post production and digital effects work, providing at least $4.2m (A$5m) was spent in Australia.

Woods and his team have also put a lot of effort into marketing, including a new-look website.

The next 12 months will see Film Finance Corporation Australia, the Australian Film Commission and Film Australia combined into a new super agency but Ausfilm will remain independent.

The latest foreign films to shoot in Australia are director Carter Smith's horror-thriller The Ruins and fantasy/adventure film Nim's Island, an adaptation of Wendy Orr's children's book to be directed by husband-and-wife team Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett.

Crews are also gearing up for the 10-part war series The Pacific, companion piece to the 2001 mini-series Band of Brothers. It is believed to be the most expensive television series to film in Australia.

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