Foxtel’s major new Australian four-part television drama, Lambs of God, starring Emmy Award-winning US actress Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale) has recently wrapped filming in NSW.

The production received Create NSW investment of $550,000 from the Made in NSW fund and a further $100,000 from the Regional Filming Fund, with the production injecting $8.7m into the NSW economy.

“This is a big budget epic production that will screen in 2019 on Foxtel in Australia and on international broadcasters and platforms,” said Create NSW Director of Screen Investment, Engagement and Attraction Sophia Zachariou.

Lambs of God generated 547 jobs for cast, crew and extras in both Sydney and regional NSW and its high production values will once again showcase the strength of the NSW screen industry to the world.

Alongside Ann Dowd, Lambs of God stars Essie Davis (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) and UK actress Jessica Barden as three nuns locked away from the world, in a remote convent, whose lives are turned upside down when a young priest (Sam Reid) arrives to explain the Church has sold their dilapidated home to developers.

Over a ten-week shoot, the series filmed at Sydney’s Fox Studios Australia, at various locations across the city and in regional NSW (including Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains and Kiama on the NSW South Coast), in addition to Tasmania.

Foxtel’s Head of Drama Penny Win said: “Lambs of God is a truly exciting new series for Foxtel and we’re extremely grateful to the Made in NSW initiative for the funding assistance and the commitment of the NSW government and Create NSW to creating quality Australian drama. Our cast and crew have been working tirelessly to bring our viewers a unique and captivating new event series which will premiere in 2019.”

Jason Stephens from Lingo Pictures, the producer of Lambs of God, said:

Government initiatives like this are essential for production companies to be competitive in a market that is becoming increasingly global. Lingo welcomes and appreciates the support which allows us to make a drama such as Lambs of God in our home state.

CEO of Fox Studios Australia Wayne Borg added: “The commitment the NSW Government has made is crucial and ensures NSW remains competitive in securing major marquee local and international film and TV productions and associated activity for the state. It also acknowledges the significant economic and cultural contribution and benefits the screen sector and industries deliver to NSW.”

Since its announcement in June 2016, Create NSW’s Made in NSW fund has brought in a spend of over $422m from producers across 35 different productions, created over 14,500 jobs and delivered $21 for every dollar invested by the NSW Government.

The fund was extended in June this year to provide up to $10 million a year, for the next four years, to help attract the biggest productions to the state.

Ausfilm members Cutting Edge supplied dailies, offline, grade, online and deliverables for the production, with cameras and lenses supplied by Panavision Sydney.

Sophia Zachariou, Jason Stephens, Ann Dowd, Minister Harwin, Penny Win, Wayne Borg – Photographer: Fiora Sacco