Digital Originals 2026

Applicants and projects must meet Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, any general eligibility or other requirements listed on the agency’s website (see Information for Applicants and Information for Recipients), as well as the specific eligibility criteria set out in these guidelines.

Specific requirements apply to projects which involve First Nations community participation or content.

To be eligible, an applicant must:

• an applicant company must be an incorporated company carrying on business in Australia, with its central management and control in Australia;
• an individual applicant must be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident (holding a permanent visa);
• be registered for the purposes of GST if required by law;
• control the rights necessary to carry out the project, meaning that it must have clear chain of title and must generally be party to any underlying rights agreements;
• demonstrate that the project is written, directed and produced by Australian citizens or permanent residents;
• have an active ABN at the time of application. Teams can apply with a company ABN or if the team has not yet established a company, they can elect one individual to apply as the lead applicant with their individual ABN for the workshop phase. Note, if successful for development funding, teams will require a company ABN to be established prior to contracting. If you do not have an ABN, please click here for information about how to apply for an ABN;
• Applicant teams must be made up of at least two key creatives (which must include at least one writer);
• At least one writer must identify as one or more of the following: First Nations Australian; culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD); d/Deaf or disabled; a woman or gender diverse; LGBTQIA+; or located in a regional or remote area.

Experience in writing for screen is not necessary. In recognition of the barriers and lack of professional pathways into the screen industry, applicants who do not have screen industry experience, but who can evidence the relevant skills and potential to take advantage of screen industry career opportunities will also be considered.

• While you can be attached to more than one project that applies for Digital Originals, we strongly recommend you carefully consider which project or projects are best suited to your skill set when applying. It is strongly recommended that individuals are not attached to more than two projects as a key creative.
• For teams provided with funding to develop their project after the workshop and pitch day, the requirement is that two out of the three key creatives (writer, director, producer) identify as one or more of the following: First Nations Australians; culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD); d/Deaf or disabled; women or gender diverse; LGBTQIA+; or located in a regional or remote area.
• For First Nations projects, this means at least two out of three key creatives must be First Nations Australians in line with NITV commissioning guidelines. Noting key creatives are defined as writer(s), director(s), producer(s).

The workshop will be held in Sydney 27 – 29 October 2026, with a Pitch Day, also in Sydney, following on 17 November 2026.

All applicants must be available in person for this workshop and pitch day to be eligible for the initiative (maximum of up to three team members per project).

For full eligibility information, including information about ineligible entities, project eligibility, and additional eligibility criteria, please refer to the attached guidelines.

Before applying, applicants must read and understand these guidelines, Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, Information for Applicants, Information for Recipients, and preview the application form on SmartyGrants.

Through the application form, applicants must:

• provide all the information requested and answer the application questions;
• meet, where required, all eligibility criteria; and
• include all required supporting materials.

For full details on the application process, including required materials for each project type, please refer to the attached guidelines.

Applications will be assessed against the aims of the program, the following equally weighted criteria, against other applications in the round and in the context of Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade:

• Creativity. The creative strength of the project, and its ability to successfully engage or grow the SBS and/or NITV audience;
• Team. The track record of the key team members and the likelihood that this program will develop their skills in content production;
• Writing. The standard of the supplied writing sample, and its demonstration of the capabilities and skills of the writer(s); and,
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The alignment of the team and project with the diversity and inclusion aims of the initiative and with the SBS Charter, SBS Codes of Practice, SBS & NITV Commissioning Inclusion Guidelines, and Editorial Guidelines.

Other factors may be considered including the:

• availability of funds;
• range of projects in receipt of production funding from Screen Australia, inclusive of a project’s scale, budget, intended audience, genre, themes;
• range of applicants in receipt of production funding from Screen Australia, inclusive of applicant, applicant company and geographic diversity; and,
• extent to which a project is likely to effectively and properly increase and amplify equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.