Indigenous programs

Indigenous filmmakers may apply to any Screen Australia program in addition to the funding programs of the Indigenous Department.

Indigenous Department programs

The funding programs of Screen Australia's Indigenous Department support creatively ambitious projects and people, and imaginative, resonant stories authored by Indigenous Australians.

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 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.

Past special initiatives

• Indigenous Crossover 2
  
  
• Crossover (closed Dec 09)
  
  
• Long Black Feature Program