convergent television: DOCUMENTARies
general Documentary program

The General Documentary Program (GDP) supports quality, audience-engaging projects that have cultural relevance. The program is based on matched funding with a broadcaster, acknowledging the key role played by free-to-air and subscription television in providing access to Australian documentaries.

Post-production funding: Applications for matched post-production funding will be considered up to a maximum of $100,000, provided that the project has a post-production presale to a domestic broadcaster with a licence fee of at least $30,000 per broadcast hour or part thereof.

Funding allocation:
$3.5 million for 2011/12 to be distributed in four rounds. 

Broadcaster allocations:
Access to funds in the domestic programs (NDP and GDP) will be split between broadcasters, with an indicative allocation of 50 per cent to the ABC, 40 per cent to SBS and 10 per cent to ‘other’ including commercial broadcasters and subscription television channels. This allocation will be reviewed in two years based on track record of the broadcaster including historical delivery against any charter obligation, connection with audiences and critical acclaim. The 2011/12 allocation will be re-assessed before the final funding round based on broadcaster demand.

Browse the guidelines below,
or download as a PDF at right

Eligibility

Format and duration

Both one-off projects and series are eligible.

Screen Australia will not fund more than 26 broadcast hours of any one program, which may include multiple series. (This includes hours already funded as of 30 June 2011.)

Marketplace attachment requirements

A local presale for Australian free-to-air or subscription television rights is required, with a minimum licence fee of $135,000 per broadcast hour. This floor price must not include:

• any equity component for the broadcaster;
  
• broadcast rights for New Zealand or any other Rest of World territory;
  
• subscription television or exclusive satellite rights (if the presale is to a free-to-air broadcaster), or free-to-air rights (if the presale is to subscription television).
  

Screen Australia expects the project to be made available on at least one digital media platform other than broadcast television (free-to-air or subscription). At a minimum, this could be a catch-up television service, but producers are also encouraged to consider mobile or other online platforms as part of their release strategy.

No international marketplace attachments are required but producers are encouraged to develop a marketing strategy for international sales.

Project funding available

The domestic licence fee will be matched by Screen Australia up to a maximum of $250,000 for a one off program and $500,000 for a series. For example, a five-part (5 x 1 hour) series will require a licence fee of at least $675,000 to which Screen Australia may invest to its maximum of $500,000.

Limits also apply to the level of direct funding as a proportion of the project’s budget; these limits are set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade.

Third-party finance can be used to enhance the budget, but the contributions of the broadcaster and Screen Australia must remain equal and must not drop below the minimum requirements.

Although no international marketplace attachments are required, producers are encouraged to develop a marketing strategy for international sales, and where applicable an educational distribution strategy for Australia.

Budget requirements

Budgets should earmark a minimum of $10,000 for the first hour and $5,000 per subsequent hour for promotions and marketing purposes. Line items for specific promotional materials must include professional stills photography and press kit. For other budget requirements, see General information for applicants.

Investment decision-making

Applications are considered by Screen Australia executives, with industry specialists consulted as required. Investment decisions will be made against the following criteria and in the context of Screen Australia's published investment and slate management principles:

• strength of the proposal, including its national and cultural significance;  
  
• the project’s potential to connect with its target audience;
  
• track record and capacity of the creative team;
  
• strength of the marketplace (ie level of co-finance excluding Screen Australia and the state agencies);
  
• diversity of slate, including balance of one-off documentaries and series.
  

Preference will be given to original formats over programs based on foreign formats.

Screen Australia will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application. Where an application is unsuccessful, the reasons will be conveyed to the applicant, with a written statement of reasons provided on request.

Terms of Trade

Details of Screen Australia and NFSA delivery items, recoupment, rights and other requirements, including special requirement for projects that involve Indigenous Australians, are available in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade.
Refer to Doing Business with Us for more information about the Terms of Trade and Screen Australia’s funding agreements for documentary production.

[These guidelines were issued on 3 May 2011.]