Indigenous programs
OVerview

We aim to assist the career development of talented writers, directors and producers who have the potential to make a significant contribution to screen culture and the national cultural life by actively engaging at all stages with key creatives in the development and production of their works.

The Indigenous Department proactively strives to support Indigenous projects and practitioners through providing:

• script development funds, for drama, documentary and digital media
• production investment in targeted initiatives, one-off  projects, or in collaboration with broadcasters  or other funding entities
• support for Indigenous practitioners to attend conferences, markets and festivals, nationally and internationally
• support and facilitate internships and mentorship programs with more experienced practitioners.

Other key roles of the Indigenous Department are:

• to work with the Indigenous filmmaking community in developing strategies for enhancing employment and professional development opportunities, and the creation of a vibrant screen sector for Indigenous filmmakers
• to provide assessment and guidance to projects with Indigenous content that are submitted to other Screen Australia divisions.
• to contribute to Screen Australia and industry policy development.
  
  

Eligibility for Indigenous Department programs

To be eligible for assistance from Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, applicants and their projects must:

• meet the general Screen Australia funding criteria, and
• have Indigenous Australians in key creative roles; a minimum of the writer and director must be Indigenous.

Funding is not intended for projects by non-Indigenous filmmakers with Indigenous content.

Funding provided as a grant

Note that for all documentary projects approved after 1 March 2010, Screen Australia funding of $200,000 or under will be provided as a grant, rather than recoupable investment, and will not have to be repaid unless the terms of the grant agreement are breached. Screen Australia’s contribution will be agreed upfront and not varied other than in exceptional circumstances.

‘Screen Australia funding’ in this case means production finance through the National Documentary Program, Domestic & International Documentary programs, the Special Documentary Program, Indigenous Department documentary programs and other initiatives such as jtv docs. If a project has received development funding from Screen Australia or its predecessor agencies, the development funds will be added to the production funds for the purpose of determining whether the $200,000 grant threshold has been reached. Support provided through Screen Australia’s marketing programs is not included.

Screen Australia will hold 1% copyright in all documentary projects where its investment is greater than $100,000.