THE Film and Television Institute is also pulling out of Fremantle, perhaps permanently.

FTI marketing manager Michael Ellis told the Herald this week the organisation will almost certainly move closer to Perth while the roof of its heritage-listed digs is repaired.

“We have looked around at some places in Fremantle, but it does look likely that we’ll be moving out for at least a year,” Mr Ellis told the Herald.

Fremantle city council, which owns the former boys’ school FTI has called home for 40 years, has promised the film industry incubator it’ll have first option to move back in once repairs are finished.

But Mr Ellis says a lot will depend on where FTI ends up over the next few months. It’s expecting to make an announcement within weeks.

Perth is the hub of WA’s indie game developers, an industry Mr Ellis says is going “gangbusters”.

FTI churned out many of the current crop of game developers in recent years and recently stepped up a notch by hiring Kate Raynes-Goldie as director of interactive programs. Dr Raynes-Goldie has had a stellar career in games development and internet education.

Mr Ellis says regardless of where FTI ends up, the organisation will always maintain its historical connections with Fremantle because of the support it’s received over the years from the council and community.