Definitions and specifications

SCOPE

The database includes Australian drama and documentary projects as follows:

• Projects under Australian creative control (ie where the elements are predominantly Australian and the project was originated and developed by Australians). Includes projects with these characteristics which are 100 per cent foreign financed.
  
  
• Co-productions where creative control is shared between Australian and foreign partners, and where there is a mix of Australian and foreign elements in the creative positions. This includes projects made under the official co-production program ie pursuant to an agreement between the Australian Government and a similar authority or government of another country.

The database covers:

• Features since 1970
• TV drama mini-series since 1980, series/serials since 1988, telemovies since 1970
• Documentaries since 1980
• Shorts since 1988 (limited scope since 2009)
• Selected interactive titles since 2009

FORMAT

Documentary: Screen Australia’s definition of documentary follows is in line with that of the Australian Content Standard ie “a program that is a creative treatment of actuality other than a news or current affairs, sports coverage, magazine, infotainment, or light entertainment program”. See Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) website. Includes one-off titles and series.

Feature: A film made for cinema release which is 60 minutes or longer. Can be drama or documentary, but the Find a Film database classifies feature-length documentaries under ‘Documentary’.

Short: A film which is 59 minutes or shorter, excluding documentaries or telemovies. Includes short features, defined as 45-55 minutes in length. Screen Australia ceased comprehensive tracking of short film production in 2009, so the scope of the database since then is limited to projects which:

• received Screen Australia funding
• won an award at selected Australian film festivals or awards events
• were selected for screening or won an award at selected international film festivals
• have been submitted by the filmmakers for inclusion in the database.

TV drama: A 'drama program' according to the Australian Content Standard guidelines (see ACMA website). Includes series/serials, mini-series and telemovies (see below), for both adults and children.

Interactive: Includes games, websites, apps and other interactive projects. Incorporated since 2009, with scope generally limited to projects funded by Screen Australia.

LENGTH

Programs made for TV (either drama or documentary) are categorised as follows:

• Series: Comprises a potentially unlimited number of episodes, each being a self-contained plot which can be screened in any order.
  
  
• Serials: Comprises a potentially unlimited number of episodes and contain a number of interweaving and overlapping plots continuing from one episode to the next.
  
  
• Mini-series: A limited series of drama which is less than 13 hours in total length, and which is either made to be broadcast in several sequential parts featuring a major continuous plot for which there is an expectation of an ending resolving the major plot tensions, or an anthology of drama works for television made to be broadcast under one generic title. Individual episodes must be 55 minutes or longer unless the material is for children in which case it must be 25 minutes or longer.
  
  
• Telemovies: Drama made for television. Usually the producer's intention prior to release is the main indicator. Telemovies can be 52 minutes (commercial TV hour) or longer.

Note: In categorising titles as either mini-series or series, Screen Australia has followed the definitions used for Division 10BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. This occasionally means that a mini-series which might be classified as a series according to industry definitions has been defined as a mini-series in order to retain parity with data from other government agencies.

YEAR

Refers to year title completed (or was anticipated to complete, in the case of projects listed as being in pre-production, production or post-production).

GENRE

Generally nominated by the producer. Up to three genre categories can be selected from a pre-determined list.

SALES CONTACT

Sales contacts generally handle sale of the title to distributors or other parts of the distribution chain, either locally or internationally.

If you’re looking for a title for personal or non-industry use, check out our Find a Copy FAQ.