Documentary Production
In the archive

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Documentaries with Film Finance Corporation (FFC) investment, 1991/92–2007/08

2006/07–2007/08 | 1991/92–2005/06

The Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC) provided finance for an average of 36 documentaries per year between 1991/92 and 2007/08, with total production budgets averaging $16.4 million per year.

In 2006/07, the Accord system of financing documentaries was phased out and replaced with financing through the domestic door and international door strands.

Accord documentaries were made as part of an agreement between the FFC and Australian domestic broadcasters. The domestic door strand requires a local television presale, with the FFC and the broadcaster each contributing 50 per cent of finance. The international door strand requires a local television presale as well as international presales/guarantees.

Accord documentaries to 2005/06 averaged 23 titles totalling $6.7 million per year, with FFC investment contributing 69 per cent of budgets ($4.7 million per year). Non-Accord titles to 2005/06 averaged 12 titles totalling $8.3 million per year, with FFC investment contributing 49 per cent of budgets ($3.7 million per year).

In 2007/08, 23 documentaries worth $11.3 million were financed through the domestic door, with 41 per cent of the finance from the FFC, and 15 documentaries worth $15.4 million were financed through the international door, with 29 per cent of finance from the FFC. This is down slightly from 2006/07.

In addition, the FFC again invested in two titles under the National Indigenous Documentary Fund (NIDF) and five films under the Special Documentary Fund in 2007/08. These funding programs were counted with non-Accords before 2006/07.

Figures quoted reflect FFC investment into projects contracted in those financial years.

In 2008/09 the FFC became part of Screen Australia, and its funding for documentaries was incorporated into Screen Australia’s National Documentary Program.

No. documentaries with FFC finance	Production value (total budgets)
Finance for FFC documentaries

2006/07–2007/08

Source: Screen Australia.

Notes:
1. Other includes National Indigenous Documentary Fund and Special Documentary Fund.
2. Total production budgets.
3. FFC investment into projects contracted in those financial years.

1991/92–2005/06

Source: Screen Australia.

Note: 1. Total production budgets.
2. FFC investment into projects contracted in those financial years.