HDI Global has launched a modular Film Production Insurance Package in Australia, marking the insurer’s entry into the local film production insurance market from April 1, 2026.
The package is designed for a range of screen production clients, including studio features, independent films, streaming projects, and digital content work. Cover is arranged in six sections that can be placed individually or together:
The structure allows brokers to assemble cover around each production’s risk profile and contractual requirements, rather than use a single, fixed form. The package is intended to sit alongside other classes often required on productions, such as motor fleet, aviation charter, marine cargo, and accident and health insurance for cast and crew. HDI already writes these lines in Australia, so brokers can place film-related and ancillary covers with the same insurer if that aligns with their placement strategy. Chris Milne (pictured), underwriting manager for contingency and entertainment at HDI Global Australia, said intermediary feedback was central to the development of the product. “Brokers have been telling us they are looking for an alternative solution in that market. They’re not only getting an alternative, but one with international capability and the ability to provide a more efficient transaction,” Milne said.
Specialist film production capacity in Australia has contracted in recent years. What was previously three or four local underwriting choices has, for many risks, narrowed to one main provider. Brokers report that this has coincided with tighter coverage terms and higher transaction costs for production clients. HDI describes its move as an extension of an existing global contingency and entertainment portfolio rather than a new class.
The insurer has written these lines internationally for more than three decades. Its Australian branch, now in its fourth year, holds local authority to make underwriting decisions for film production business. “It’s a very transactional class. Productions can need a decision in two or three hours. Being on the ground, in the same time zone, and empowered to underwrite is critical,” Milne said. Claims handling for the package is also based in Australia, supported by specialist loss adjusters and risk management consultants with experience in film and television productions. For shoots already under way, local claims decision-making is aimed at limiting disruption to schedules and associated costs.
The launch comes as Australia’s screen production sector continues to record high levels of activity, supported by federal and state incentives, established crew bases, diverse locations, and new infrastructure projects, including state-backed facilities in Western Australia. Screen-related work contributes several billion dollars a year to the national economy, according to sector data. At the same time, media and entertainment clients are seeking cover for a wider set of exposures. Alongside traditional production risks such as property damage, cast illness, delay, and liability, organisations are dealing with content-related and digital risks, including defamation, copyright disputes, intellectual property conflicts, cyber incidents, and business interruption.
Media insurance programs in Australia frequently combine professional indemnity, public liability, equipment, and errors and omissions cover for broadcasters, publishers, production companies, and digital content creators. Emerging issues include the use of generative artificial intelligence in content creation, the role of social media influencers and brand partnerships, and ongoing litigation over defamation and copyright. These developments influence how brokers structure coverage for clients ranging from freelancers and short‑form producers to major broadcasters and streaming platforms.
The HDI package adds another market when arranging insurance programs for feature films, television series, commercials, and short‑form projects. The modular design can be combined with broader media and cyber placements where clients require a single program spanning production, content, and technology risks. HDI operates as a direct insurer rather than through an underwriting agency. It states that it can insure productions that shoot or distribute across multiple Asia-Pacific jurisdictions under a single arrangement, subject to local regulatory requirements. Milne said the entry is relevant for clients that have been told limited domestic capacity is available. “For brokers who have spent recent years telling clients there is no alternative, that answer has changed,” Milne said.
