First Nations Funding

Programs that support creatively ambitious projects and people, and imaginative, resonant stories authored by Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners

• First NationsDevelopmentFirst Nations Feature Development

  First Nations Feature Development about First Nations Feature Development

  Fund Amount:

  Up to $30,000, or $45,000 if producer attached

  Application Close:

  5pm Thursday 25 June 2026

  View Fund
• First NationsDevelopmentFirst Nations Documentary Development

  First Nations Documentary Development about First Nations Documentary Development

  Fund Amount:

  Up to $20,000, or $30,000 dependent on project type

  Application Close:

  5pm Thursday 25 June 2026

  View Fund
• First NationsDevelopmentFirst Nations TV Drama Development

  First Nations TV Drama Development about First Nations TV Drama Development

  Fund Amount:

  Up to $65,000

  Application Close:

  5pm Thursday 25 June 2026

  View Fund
• First NationsSector DevelopmentFirst Nations Internships

  First Nations Sector Development Internships about First Nations Sector Development Internships

  Fund Amount:

  Up to $20,000

  Application Close:

  Always open

  View Fund
• First NationsIndustry DevelopmentSector DevelopmentFirst Nations Industry SupportFirst Nations Industry Support

  First Nations Sector Development Industry Support about First Nations Sector Development Industry Support

  Fund Amount:

  Up to $50,000

  Application Close:

  Always open

  View Fund
• First NationsSector DevelopmentFirst Nations Travel GrantsFirst Nations Travel Grants

  First Nations Sector Development Travel Grants about First Nations Sector Development Travel Grants

  Fund Amount:

  Up to $3,000 within Australia or $6,000 international

  Application Close:

  Always open

  View Fund

Eligibility Information

To ensure Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators and businesses control their own stories, Screen Australia and its dedicated First Nations Department empowers creatively ambitious people and projects. To be eligible for assistance from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department:  

• a sole applicant must be an Australian Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander practitioner;
• projects must have Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander practitioners in key creative roles, at least as writer and director and, in the case of writing teams, the lead writer must be First Nations Australian;
• applicants and their projects must meet:
  • the general eligibility requirements set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, and the eligibility requirements of the particular program.
  • Applications must be made via the Application Portal on the Screen Australia website and include all supporting material listed.

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

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen content makers may apply to any Screen Australia program in addition to the funding programs of the First Nations Department.

Funding Information

Find key information for funding applicants and recipients, including Screen Australia’s Pathways & Protocols and Terms of Trade.

Information for Applicants

Find out about the eligibility requirements for Screen Australia funding.

View Information for Applicants

Information for Recipients

Key funding conditions that outline the expectations and other commercial terms related to the provision of funding.

View Information for Recipients

Pathways & Protocols

A filmmaker’s guide to working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts.

View Pathways and Protocols

Terms of Trade

A broad outline of the core terms on which Screen Australia will transact.

View Terms of Trade